26-01-2025
25 Underrated Pet Products That Are Actually Worth Purchasing
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
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A dog toy they can't destroy, a window hammock for nosy kitties, and a meal tracker are just a few things we think you need to see.
1. An allergy supplement to give your pup probiotics and other nutrients that can help improve their immune system, aid digestion, and even promote healthy skin and a shiny coat. If your pooch suffers from unavoidable allergies making them itchy, this could provide them with some much-needed relief.
Promising review:"I never write reviews but this one deserves it. My dog was compulsively licking herself and losing her hair. I had tried several other brands before Zesty Paws and none of them helped at all. Took her to the vet and after several hundred dollars of testing they had no idea what it could be. They didn't feel allergies could be THAT bad in a dog but all bloodwork and testing came back perfect. They told me to just keep watching her and hoped as the seasons changed so would the problem if it actually was allergies. Three seasons later and nothing had changed, it was actually getting worse. Finally tried these and WOW! She's been on these for a month and her hair is coming back and she isn't licking herself at all now. The first product to actually help! As others have said it does take a few weeks for a change to be noticeable, but when that change happens you won't be disappointed. Would definitely recommend when all else has failed!! Will be keeping her on these long term." — hgb
Get a pack of 90 from Amazon for $29.90 (also available in versions for puppies, senior dogs, and at vet strength, and in other pack sizes).
2. A length-adjustable broom for pet hair that might end up replacing your vacuum (just kidding, you'll still want to vacuum because of dirt, dust, and surface pet hair), but its rubber bristles will remove all the embedded pet hair your vacuum misses. Just look at those pet-sized piles of hair in the photos! 😭
Promising review:"Nothing else would take pet hair off of my outdoor porch furniture cushions. This broom took it all off easily. One of the best brooms I have ever had for pet hair removal on floors and furniture." — Kelli Thompson
Get it from Amazon for $16.05.
Check out our FURemover broom review for more satisfying before and after photos!
3. A simple stuffed duck because reviewers swear this plush dog toy holds up to even the fiercest of puppy teeth. So much so that your pup may even go from tough love to building a fur-ever friendship with it.
If you need even more convincing, here's a review by my colleague AnaMaria Glavan on why the Multipet yellow duck toy is the best $8 she's ever spent (plus, cute photos of her pup!)
Promising review:"My dog Hazel LOVES this duck! She has had it for nine months now, and it's still intact! It somehow made it through her teething as a puppy. She rips and tears apart all of her toys, but this one still looks decent!" — Emily Ann
Get it from Amazon for $7.24.
4. A mounted brush for the cat who's obsessed with rubbing up on furniture or receiving those good scratches that only you can deliver. Now, you can give your hand a break without leaving them begging for more pets.
Promising review:"None of my cats like to play with toys and it was driving me wild! They have so much energy but would get bored with any toy within days. I tried rotating them and interactive toys, anything and everything for hours and at different times. There is nothing that has kept my cats busy like these grooming tools! I have literally never seen any of them sit and mess with something for more than a few minutes but my cats will rub on this for like 20 minutes at a time. 100% worth the money!" — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
5. A bestselling stain and odor eliminator that's created with an enzymatic formula, so it goes beyond erasing the dirt of the stain to *literally* eating up the smell-causing compounds, too. If you have a pet or child and have to deal bodily messes (read: blood, vomit, urine, etc.), an enzyme cleaner like this one is the best choice to banish them — preserving your carpet, furniture, and upholstery, so you don't have to replace it completely. Basically, this will be your new secret weapon.
All you have to do is spray, walk away, and then return with a cloth to blot and lift up the remnants of grossness and cleaner. BTW, you can also use this on clothes and other surfaces like concrete and hardwood. Just be sure to follow the instructions carefully for non-carpet use.
Promising review: "My Yorkie developed kidney disease and now drinks more than her body weight in water only to have it promptly come out the other end. She no longer seems to care whether she hits the pee pads, and I literally spend my days cleaning up urine, fecal matter, and barf from this animal. Despite people raving about Nature's Miracle...I discovered immediately that it did nothing to rid the smell deposited by this seven-pound peeing machine! I tried Clorox, Resolve, Furry Freshness, and the list goes on and on. I finally decided to try Rocco & Roxie's and was SHOCKED at how well it worked! I have resisted writing a review because I honestly believed it was too good to be true and that at any moment the smell would return. But after four years of using it (over 6 gallons worth), I feel it's finally safe to say the smell is NOT coming back!!! Does it have a strong smell when using it? a bit. smell DOES dissipate, and it truly does neutralize the urine smell!!! I can happily say that it ALSO gets rid of the stain!!! I have used this on urine, feces, AND vomit, and it rocks!! a whole lot of time; buy this product! It is worth every penny!!!" — K. Foster
Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in two sizes).
Rocco & Roxie is a family-owned brand (including their pup and kitty) that creates products for every pet owners needs, including grooming, cleaning, accessories, as well as toys and treats to make your fur-ever friend happy as a clam.
6. An automatic pet feeder, so you can leave the house, participate in a meeting, or actually sleep until your alarm goes off because it'll feed your pet for you at a specific time. No more huffing or howling because it's dinner time and you can't look away from Big Brother for a single second.
You can store up to 12 meals in this feeder depending on portion size (1/8 to 4 cups).
Promising reviews:"This is the best, most reliable feeder I have tried. Worth every penny for the peace of mind knowing that if you are running late (or want to sleep in on the weekend), the cats will be fed and content." — Karen Demont
"Our cat is fat. Her life is pretty much driven by food and the only way we've been able to keep her at a moderately sustainable weight is by giving her healthy food she hates and this pet feeder. Every time we come back from a trip, there are a few more claw and bite marks on it, but it holds strong. She's even tried to sit on it, but it's done nothing more than presumably horrify it a little. I would recommend this for anyone who has a cat who is consumed with eating and getting food. Her persistence has defeated every other one we have tried. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is absolutely worth it." — BMoney
Get it from Amazon for $80.99.
7. The uber-popular ChomChom — it's a reusable pet hair remover that you simply push back and forth to collect all the hair and lint from clothes, furniture, car seats, cat towers, etc., into a chamber. Then all you have to do is remove and throw all that hair away. Over 140,000 reviewers have rated it 5 stars, and we agree: If a member of your family happens to have four legs and a ton of hair, this is a must-buy.
Promising review:"This thing is aahhhh-mazing! I've had several kinds of cat hair removers — adhesive strips, sticky rollers, rubber nubby gloves. Nothing else works as well and as quickly. Easy to clean out, too. I bought one handheld and a bigger one on a long handle for carpet and area rugs. Love them! They even clean the hair off the stupid red velvet drapes that came with the house when we bought it." — M. Bauer
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in black and white).
8. A cozy window cat hammock, so your feline king can survey the lands from his perch like his Egyptian ancestors before him, watching all the birds, neighborhood drama, squirrel politics, and whatever else happens on your street.
Promising review:"Our cats love their new sun beds! Perfect for snoozing, spying on the neighbors, and squirrel watching! Easy to assemble, sturdy, and attractive." — 26.2 Mama
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two styles).
9. Some calming bites designed for soothing high-energy or anxious pets without having any drowsy side effects. These are perfect if you want to settle your pup before a long road trip or deter them from getting up to any late-night shenanigans while you snooze.
Promising review:"Our senior dog Allie has always been anxiety ridden - she came to us from an abusive situation. In her old age almost everything seems to make her nervous. We got a new microwave and she is terrified of it. We give her one of these every day with her other meds and she is so much better. I like that it is NOT a benzodiazepine and it's not sedating. She is able to enjoy life without being stoned. I didn't expect much, but it works great for us." — Shawn Murphy
Get it from Amazon for $31.32+ (available in four flavors).
10. An ergonomic litter scoop featuring taller side walls, so you can remove waaaaay more litter than a regular scoop and a convenient handle to make sure no litter (or worse) ends up on your hands! It's also large enough to handle several loads at once, so you don't have to go back and forth from the litter box to the trash can. 😮💨
Amazon
The best part? When you're ready to empty out the waste, just press the button and the bottom flap will open!
Promising review:"This was delivered today and I scooped the box right after. This thing is phenomenal. It is ergonomic and easy to hold and use, so no getting your hands dirty. The bag doesn't fall into the trash because it's a precise slide from the scoop straight into the can. It's just the right size to sift out the good and dump the rest without it sliding through. The button is easy to use and snappy. It's got a really good-sized scoop and a plenty big enough shoot out the bottom. I think I'm in love with my new pooper-scooper hahahaha! I rarely write reviews but I had to write one for this lil' item! Must-have!" — Nicole Diddle
Get it from Amazon for $14.97.
11. A pack of matatabi chew sticks — they make a perfect treat if your cat turns their nose up at regular catnip. This alternative is made with Silvervine for a delectable treat that also helps keep their teeth gleaming.
Promising review:"I have two young Siamese mix cats who chew wires, shoes, wooden spoons. These chew sticks are perfect for them. They sniff the sticks, rub on them, and then start chewing. My two cats who are over 10 years old just rub on them but don't enjoy chewing them. If you have a very active cat who does destructive chewing, these are a great substitute." — JEM4612
Get them from Amazon for $11.61.
Meowy Janes is a small business based in New Jersey that specializes in catnip and catnip alternatives (if the name didn't spoil it for you). 😸
12. Or a wall-mounted catnip toy featuring four all-natural flavored balls with catnip, silvervine, gall fruit, and cat sugar that will have them licking the walls instead of bouncing off 'em! Plus, it helps improve your kitty's oral health by reducing dental plaque and bad breath as they nosh on the rotating balls!
Promising review: " I have never seen my cat so happy! He really liked his flavor explorer toy! It has very good adhesion, and you can place it where you prefer, even on the floor. I think it is an excellent purchase to see my cat super happy!" — Karla Villafuerte
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available as singles, not on the board).
13. A ridged slow feeder bowl to help your pup eat their meals a lot slower. If they usually inhale their kibble and leave an empty bowl before you even make it out of the room, this is *definitely* a must. This bowl can also help improve their digestion, reduce bloating, and even provide a little mental stimulation as they navigate the grooves!
Promising review:"We adopted a sweet three-legged 50-pound Dutch shepherd from the Humane Society recently. Her former two homes were bad, and she had to fight for her food. Because of this, she has food aggression and inhales her food in a regular bowl. A friend recommended this bowl to us and it is FAB-U-LOUS! We mix up some homemade dog food (wet) along with grain-free kibble and spread it around the bowl. Our girl takes FAR longer to eat now. I'm guessing around five to seven minutes? The bowl works best on a smooth, noncarpeted surface as it has grip on the bottom. This ensures that the bowl doesn't slide around. It is also heavy-duty, durable plastic that can go in the dishwasher (if I hand clean it, I soak in soapy water and scour with kitchen scrubber). Great product! I highly recommend this bowl for your fur baby too." — Shan the Painter
Get it from Amazon for $6.25+ (available in a variety of sizes and designs and eight colors).
14. A Wobble Wag Giggle ball — it boasts a battery-free noisemaker on the inside to keep your pup engaged and entertained, not to mention there are six pockets so they can easily grab and hold it with their mouth!
Promising review:"WE FOUND IT! A play ball that can stand up to our 14-week-old part black Lab, part shark. We have tried several toys that would stand up to the extremely sharp teeth. Nothing has worked for over 15 minutes of intensive playtime. We heard about this ball from a fellow puppy owner and ordered immediately. Added bonus: She is exhausted after chasing this thing around, so nap time comes quickly." — james Bennett
Get it from Amazon for $14.97 (available in three colors/styles and a two-pack).
15. A creamy paw butter for dry paws and snouts that features moisturizing and soothing ingredients including shea butter, jojoba oil, and aloe vera. Plus, it's completely safe if your furbaby licks or swallows some of it!
Promising review:"I love this paw butter. For so long my Aussie had the driest, most cracked paws. I would cry and stress out because nothing worked. I tried shea butter and coconut oil but it wasn't enough so one night I ended up buying this paw butter and tried it on my dog. First off it smells amazing — so good that my Aussie licks his paws for an hour after applying the product, so I had to put regular baby socks on his paws to stop him from licking. I'm almost done with the product and my dog's paws have improved enormously. He no longer has super-dried-up, cracked paws. They are soft and pink how a dog's paws should be! I love this products. It saved my dog's paws and I use it every other day, sometimes twice a day. Lifesaver!" — Juliet Betancourt
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in oatmeal or coconut and two sizes).
16. A pack of paw-cleaning tablets if your pup has been dealing with itchy, irritated paws. Forget the balms they'll lick off before they even start to work, and try out these tablets formulated with tea tree oil and aloe. Give your pup a spa(w) day and let them enjoy a nice warm soak that will leave their paws hydrated and feeling so much better!
Promising review:"This worked great! I have an itchy Boston, so itchy it was said that it would probably be better to put him down by a vet. Defective dog or not, this was not going to happen. Many weeks of trying to figure out what was causing his itches, CHICKEN! Took that out of his diet and no more itches! Wow, rocket science, right. Nonetheless, left my Boston with the in-laws for two days and came back to a flared-out, itchy dog. He didn't sleep, I didn't sleep. He was digging at his paws so bad they were swollen. I looked on Amazon and saw this item, tried it, and within an hour of the five-minute paw soak, no more itch!" — geniphre
Get 12 tablets from Amazon for $19.99 (also available as a pack of 75 or 300).
17. An automatic water fountain to help your cat stay hydrated since some cats simply hate drinking still water (apparently, it's a defense mechanism), so running water might just be the solution!
Promising review:"Cats aren't prone to drinking enough water, and they also abhor getting their whiskers wet. This fountain, recommended by a friend, was a huge hit from the moment I set it up and solved both of those problems. My kitty now guzzles water any time she wishes, which is definitely more than before (and yay, I don't have to turn the sink on for her now, which was the only way she'd drink water). This is fantastic!" — Hermit
Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in three colors).
18. A wood polish for when you need to cover up those scratches on your wood floor or doors from your pet's nails. My pup likes to "dig" before settling down, so this is definitely going in my cart.
19. A fruit tart pet bed because your furry friend deserves an ultra-comfy and adorable place to snooze, so you can take hundreds of photos of them sleeping. Plus, the pieces of fruit are removable cushions — if your pet isn't Instagram or TikTok famous yet, this bed will rake in the likes!
Check out my colleague's review of the fruit tart bed for more deets and some seriously cute photos of her cats enjoying it.
Promising review:"This bed is adorable! I saw a lot of the reviews that stated that it was a bit small, so I went with the larger size option, which I would say is plenty big enough for an average-size cat. My cats are both relatively small and can fit inside with room to spare, and they love it! The fruit bits are very cute too. I've only had this for about two days, and I've already found the strawberry batted halfway across the house. It seems the cats like fruit toys just as much as the crust pillow! Honestly, I've been eyeing this bed since before I even decided to adopt another cat, and it's definitely living up to my expectations! Can definitely recommend." — Taylor
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three styles).
20. An easy-to-use dental powder packed with probiotics and nutrients to support gum health, that you just sprinkle in your pet's food to help protect their teeth from plaque and eliminate foul breath.
Promising review:"My smaller dog unfortunately has pretty bad breath (not your typical dog breath, much worse). Brushing her teeth regularly helps somewhat alleviate the problem, as do dental foams and rinses, but nothing has worked as noticeably as this powder. She has no issues eating it (although, she'd eat anything) and it lasts a while considering that she only goes through one teaspoon a day. I would definitely recommend giving it a try if nothing else is working and medical reasons have been ruled out." — DG
Get it from Amazon for $20.70.
21. A food tracker in case your pup has become a mastermind at confusing you or your roommates on whether he's been fed or not. No more overfeeding on our watch!
There's also a version for cats and even a medication tracker for dogs.
Promising review: "Awesome product! There are four of us who were working together to feed the dogs. It simplified everything because I no longer had to text to see if anyone had fed them every morning. Now I just to see if it's green and if it's not, I feed them and indicate it. We all love it so much!" — Toni Deegan
Get it from Amazon for $8.95.
22. A soft, touch-activated purring cat toy, featuring a built-in mechanism to soothe anxious kitties by delivering the purring, vibration-like sensation of several cats cuddling up with each other.
The purr mechanism runs for two minutes before automatically shutting off.
Promising review:"My cat used to WAIL in the car all the way to the vet. I tried crating her, not crating her, letting her ride in my lap, nothing helped. On a whim I googled solutions and came across this. Tried it and IT WORKS!!!! She was quiet the whole way. I put her in a small crate with her cat bed, put it in the front passenger seat, put this toy right next to the crate door. I had to leave the toy outside because it times out after a minute or two and you have to keep squeezing it. But it worked like a charm! I suggest introducing your cat to it before the car ride so it's not new and scary. But the sound is very soothing. Even the ladies at the vet commented it would put them to sleep!" — Jde19630
Get it from Amazon for $7.49+ (available in five styles).
23. A top-rated, under-$5 interactive flier cat toy if your cat is shockingly high-energy and they need somewhere to put it, or else they'll transform into the predator lurking within. It might only be a few paper rolls bouncing at the end of a 30-inch steel wire, but you can literally sit on the couch holding it in one hand while scrolling your phone with the other, and your feline friend will still have an absolute BLAST.
Promising review:"Simply the best cat toy you can buy. My cats go wild as soon as I pull this out. Nothing else gets them up and moving like this toy now that they're getting older. Seems silly that they love a simple wire with a cardboard tip, but there's something about it that's irresistible. Buy it. Your cats will love it." — A customerrr
Get it from Amazon for $3.99.
24. A set of recordable answer buzzers in case you want to train your pet to "talk" to you like the snarky cats and dogs on TikTok. You can record your voice and set up any phrases or responses, so you can actually *know* when your pup needs to go out and do their business or if they're just trying to sunbathe!
Promising review: "We're using these to give my dog a voice. I've recorded 'potty outside,' 'water please,' and 'treat' into these buttons and put them around the house for her to use. Now when she needs to use the restroom she says 'potty outside.' When she comes back in, she goes straight to 'treat' and asks for her reward. When her bowl is empty she lets me know by pushing 'water, please.' She is a 9-pound Chihuahua with arthritis in her front paw and has no problems pushing the buttons down to make them speak. Great purchase. I want to buy more and add more phrases. (Phrases like 'play,' 'car ride,' 'bedtime,' and 'cuddles!') I am 100% happy!" — Tye Rannosaurus
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
25. A set of stainless-steel elevated pet bowls just perfect for your spoiled four-legged housemate, so they can enjoy their meals without straining their neck or having their whiskers overstimulated thanks to the wide, deep design.
Promising review:"I have always had a problem with my one cat vomiting undigested food. My vet told me she was probably eating too fast. I stumbled upon an ad on Facebook stating the bowl position was the reason for cats vomiting; bowls resting on the floor put their neck at an odd angle and can cause acid reflux. I've used them for about two weeks and my cat has not vomited once! It was almost a daily occurrence prior to purchasing these! I did have to rest their old bowls inside these to get them to eat. But after a few days I could put the food directly into these bowls and they did not complain." — kindlefire09-8
Get it from Amazon for $23.99.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
