Just 30 Incredibly Helpful Things That Pet Owners Swear By For Their Homes

Just 30 Incredibly Helpful Things That Pet Owners Swear By For Their Homes

BuzzFeed-Shopping·2025-06-26 05:02

1. A swivel bin pooper scooper and rake so you aren't walking around like you're dodging stinky mines in your own yard. And with this, you don't have to touch any steamy 💩.

Amazon

Promising review: "We have people over to visit at least once a week. When we are going to use the backyard I have to go through the property to pick up the presents our 15-year-old puppy leaves. I used to use an old coal shovel and a rake. With this, I save my back so much struggle. I bought the disposable bags intended for use with it, but soon found out that the plastic bags you get a the supermarket do the job very well. Forget the hard work and get this." —Donald Norman

Get it from Amazon for $16.26+ (available in two versions). 

2. A TikTok-famous Little Green upholstery cleaner, which has a cult following of parents, pet owners, and clumsy people. This compact device gets alllll the stains (grass! pet accidents! food! mud!) from almost any surface. Now you can finally feel comfortable inviting your friends over since your couch no longer has that one extremely ~questionable~ stain in the middle.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This little machine really works. I've only used it on individual carpets. Sadly my senior dog managed to have accidents on every carpet in the house that I just had professionally cleaned! I didn't want to hire the professional again. I was skeptical about this machine but it really worked well. The price is very reasonable." —Frances

Get it from Amazon for $123.59+ (available in two versions).

3. Plus, a carpet shampoo solution you can put into the carpet cleaner machine you already own and get out those stains that have been haunting you for the past two years. 

www.amazon.com

Sunny & Honey Store is a family-run small biz that makes cleaning solutions with your kids, pets, and the planet in mind. Their products are made in the USA, and they donate 10% of all profits to animal shelters and rescue groups.

Promising review: "WOW this was great. I had issues with one of the animals in the room and so I thought i would try this since the other brands didn't make a lick of difference (in fact made the smell worse). This neutralized the smell and actually improved everything after a single use. Also, it did a good job at actually cleaning the carpet too. I'll swear by this going forward." —Lucas Pick

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and three scents). 

4. And a pet stain and odor eliminator to clean up those tough messes you've already used sooo many products on. Not only will this stuff get rid of the stain, but it will get rid of the smell too… Pet stains can be STANKY, iykyk. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I swear by this stuff! It’s worth every penny and I always have a gallon on hand with four dogs! I foster as well so deal with lots of pet stains and smells and this gets rid of all of them. I will not use anything else and highly recommend it!" —Virginia G.

Get it from Amazon for $20.39+ (available in two sizes and two scents).

5. A plush, rounded dog staircase that'll help any elderly (or just short-legged) pets get up onto the bed so they can cuddle with you all night long. Now they won't have to sit at the end of the bed, whimpering until you pick them up. Hot dog! More independence!

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Recommended for dogs less than 60 pounds and comes with a machine washable cover.

Promising review: "My dog loves these slopped steps! He’s officially a senior and has been having issues jumping up on the sofa. He would just sit in front of it and stare at someone until he got picked up. Well, I got him these stairs for Christmas, and after some initial bribery, he uses them all the time and loves them!! For reference, he’s a ~25-pound Scottish terrier. The stairs are definitely sturdy enough and don’t move around on our carpet. Just perfection!" —Caroline K.

Get it from Amazon for $36.79+ (available in seven colors).

6. A rubber broom with a magnet-like rubber head to attract the massive amount of hair that is lodged in your carpet. This thing will pull up piles of pet hair (and probably your hair, too) that you thought you got rid of vacuuming. 

www.amazon.com, Emma Lord/BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed Writer Emma Lord(pictured above) swears by this thing!: 

"An embarrassing confession: my hair gets so ingrained in the carpet that a vacuum truly does nothing for it. In fact, to make matters worse, weird particles get stuck in the hair on the floor, which is stuck to the carpet, so I often was just unrooting clumps of hair from the floor with my hands (sorry for the visual). I bought this broom and it immediately started pulling it up GOBS of hair. My carpet like, genuinely changed color (turns out the pink was supposed to be much pinker, whoops). Anyway, do with that semi-horrifying information what you will."

Promising review: "I bought this broom two years ago and it is still going strong! I have four large dogs and we have fur EVERYWHERE! This works so, so well! I am always amazed at what this picks up even after I just ran the vacuum. If you remove the head from the handle you can use the head to do in all the crevices along baseboards where fur gets trapped on the carpets. I also use it that way to do the carpet corners on the stairs. Lastly, I use it to get dust and cobwebs off the floors and ceilings. It truly is a super tool." —Roseann

Get it from Amazon for $20.40 (available in four versions).

7. Or a patented pet hair remover to banish all the pet hair that is still on your couch even after you've vacuumed. This little tool works on pretty much any surface — furniture, upholstery, blankets, clothes — and you don't have to worry about constantly ripping off *another* sticky sheet because one quick swipe typically fills it up (at least it does when I try to use them to clean my clothes...).

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I rent cars quite often for two weeks at a time, and most car rental companies don't allow pets. I travel nowhere without my two dogs! So this tool is very helpful in removing any trace of pet hair that is not caught by the tarp or bedspread that I cover the back seat with for my senior female collie. If my dogs are with me, this pet hair remover is in my arsenal of 'must-have' pet items." —Wildlife Gazer

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three styles).

8. And a fur zapper you just toss into your laundry to help get all that dog and cat (and yours, too) hair off your clothes and into the lint trap.

www.amazon.com

I have used these for a few loads of laundry so far and let me tell you they are being put to the ultimate test. I have longgg hair that sheds PLUS three cats so needless to say my clothes are covered in hair. You just toss these in with your laundry and transfer them to the dryer and they do some sort of magic in there. They collect some of the hair and they bounce a ton of it off so it'll get stuck in the lint trap instead of your leggings. I've seriously noticed a difference in how much stuff ends up in the lint trap now. Even if these aren't getting every last piece of hair and fur, they are making it so my black leggings don't look fuzzy and white anymore.

Promising review: "So...I've been buying the Bounce pet dryer sheets for some time, and they've done ok at getting things off, however...these did about ten times what that did, in just one load. My clothes are coming out COMPLETELY hair free, and my lint trap is full of hair! It doesn't add any noise to the drying cycle, it's highly effective, and while it can be a little tough to find because of its size, it's entirely worth it. I thought maybe it was a fluke, saw the product on a shark tank re-run, and decided what the heck...I have two newfies and a cat at home and they're all shedding together, so why not? I'm very pleased with the results!" —Brandon

Get two from Amazon for $12.88.

9. An elevated pet food bowl to stop the kibble pellets from being thrown all over your floor and water splashing up your walls. This nifty tray will collect the stray food in the top tray and spilled water in the bottom basin so you don't find yourself cleaning after every meal time. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Great product. My toothless senior Pomeranian would lick his food, and it got everywhere, including the wall! No more! Easy to use and clean, and it lifts bowls up for easier access to eat. Recommend!" —Gayle 

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two sizes, with or without a slow feeder, and four colors).

10. Or a nonslip food mat if you wanna keep the bowls you already have but still wanna contain the mess from your kitty who likes to pick up food and shake their head all over the place (and flinging the food out of their mouth at the same time). With a bunch of different color options, you're sure to find one that fits the aesthetic of your house.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

These feeding mats come from Dog Buddy, a small biz founded by dog lovers. 

Promising review: "I love this mat. It’s soft, flexible, and easy to clean. Good variety of sizes and color options. And no more trails of water from our messy drinker. It has a nice high edge around it to stop all the water." —Chelsea R.

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four sizes and five colors).

11. An interactive snuffle mat with different sections of ruffles and pockets to keep your pup stimulated while they hunt for treats or to help them slow down from finishing their food .5 seconds after you put it in the bowl (and then puking it all up five minutes later 🙄). 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "It's a great activity for an older dog who is limited in mobility. My dog was having a hard time moving around and I wanted to get her something to keep her somewhat active and the snuffle matt is great choice for her to keep her mental state working. Even my youngest dog loves it too." —DiannaAbz

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

12. An all-in-one vacuum pet grooming kit that combines de-shedding and grooming attachments with a vacuum that'll suck away all the fur instead of making a bigger mess than you started with.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

The kit includes five attachments: a grooming brush, de-shedding brush, electric clipper with four comb attachments (6mm/12mm/18mm/24mm), a nozzle head, and cleaning brush for collecting any fallen pet hair.  

Promising review: "If you have any reservations about buying this, rest assured it works perfectly. I have a senior blind Yorkie who can be a handful to groom, and I was able to trim her up easily. It's quiet and no mess. The only thing bad to say is it did not include the oil for the blade. I would recommend this product. A true money-saver from the cost of a groomer." —DMI in KC

Get it from Amazon for $99.99

13. Or a grooming glove for any cats who slink away whenever the cat brush comes out. This will trick them into thinking they are just getting some pets when in reality you're deshedding them so you can stop finding clumps of fur all over everything.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I’ve ordered so many of these for my friends and family with cats and dogs because I SWEAR by it. My cats come running as soon as I undo the Velcro. They’re obsessed, I’m obsessed." —Cheyenne G

Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

14. A drinking water fountain, because cats are known to prefer drinking water from a moving source, so this is a great option to make sure they are staying hydrated. Not to mention much easier than keeping your faucet constantly running.

www.amazon.com, Jessica Hall / BuzzFeed

My cat Piper is not a fan of drinking out of water bowls and always jumps on the counter to drink out of the kitchen sink. I decided this would be a better alternative since I was tired of getting up and down to turn the faucet off and on constantly. When I first got this the cats were kinda confused about it but Alfie quickly learned how to use it (though he does somehow end up with a soaked face every time he drinks). To my dismay, Piper was not a fan, so I unfortunately still have to let her drink out of the sink, but now Alfie and Sadie both prefer drinking out of here far more than out of bowls. Obviously there is a bit of sound that is produced, but I think it's kinda peaceful, like I have my own personal water feature in my living room. 

Promising review: "If you have a helper kitty who enjoys hogging the sink when all you want is a cup of coffee then this is for YOU! Our cats love it and so do I. The filters keep the water clean and are easy to replace. So far the only problem is that they enjoy playing with it..... Cats splash....they reach out and slap the stream of water and then furiously lick their paws....chuckle... This water fountain doesn't really keep the boogers out of the sink but it helps to keep them entertained and I like knowing they always have clean, moving water." —Keith J

Get it from Amazon for $15.63+ (available in three versions).

15. A suction licking pad perfect for any puppers who aren't the biggest fans of bath time. Just slap it on the side of the tub, lather on some snackies (peanut butter, yogurt, etc.), and you'll {hopefully} have a splash-free cleaning sesh.

www.amazon.com

Many reviewers suggest freezing this with the peanut butter on it first so that your pup has to really work at getting all that deliciousness out — which'll keep them occupied for a little longer so you can do what you need to do!

Promising review: "Anyone who knows what it is like to try and wrestle a large dog into the bathtub for a shower will find this tool invaluable. My lovely boy hates to take a bath, which is weird because he loves swimming in any water he can find! What can I say dogs love peanut butter...and this mat worked wonders for me to bribe my big boy into the tub to get clean!" —Ejrunner

Get it from Amazon for $8.64+ (available in two versions and a two-pack).

16. A citrus pet odor eliminator that doesn't smell like chemicals, but like freshly squeezed oranges. Don't let the delightful scent fool you, this stuff is powerful. Reviewers rave about it *completely* eliminating any odors in their house, and yes, that includes cat pee.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I have six large breed dogs so my daily routine includes vacuuming and cleaning carpets due to muddy paws and potty training puppies. Prior to using this, I would always smell pee in my house even though I cleaned my carpets daily. I started spraying this on my carpet before and after washing, and now no urine smell remains in my house. Will definitely order again." —Moose

Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in two sizes, two-packs, and two scents). 

17. A couch cover because you're obviously not gonna tell your fur baby they can't get on the couch, but you do wanna find a way to protect it from fur and scratches. Unlike most covers that are unsightly or give '80s-grandma-couch-wrapped-in-plastic vibes, this one actually comes in a variety of styles to help it fit your aesthetic!

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These are really nice! I wasn't expecting much in the way of quality at this price point but was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package. The fabric is really durable and the construction of the covers is excellent. I bought two of these, the regular-sized couch cover and the oversized chair cover. Both fit perfectly....The fabric on the covers is a microfiber that is very soft while still being tough enough to handle abuse from my four cats. I ordered the green color for my sage green furniture and found the reverse side with the lighter green to be a pretty close match. I haven't used the straps and probably won't. My furniture is made of a micro suede fabric and the covers haven't slipped at all, so there's really no need to strap them down. All in all, very pleased with this purchase. An excellent value!" —Kathy V.

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in 11 sizes and 22 colors/patterns).

18. An outdoor bungee hanging tug toy for your doggo who is obsessed with tug-of-war but too strong to play with you because they *always* win. Now you can toughen up the competition and give your pup a real challenge. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

It easily mounts to just about any tree by wrapping it around the trunk, hanging it from a branch, or a combination of the two. Also, reviewers note that it's easy to swap out the included rope toy with a new one if need be.  

Promising review: "My dog is a large 100lb black lab who can easily mess up a wall trying to pull a toy off. I bought this for him, and he has been having a ball playing tug of war with the tree! Very durable!" —janelle

Get it from Amazon for $29.69+ (available in two colors). 

19. Some Bissell Stomp 'N Go pads because 👏🏼we don't cry over spilled milk👏🏼 and now we won't have to cry over spilled anything (yes, I even mean pet pee and vomit!!) since these pads will soak it up without any effort!! Just lay down the pad, stomp, let it sit, and be amazed when you lift it up.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I love this product! It's a game-changer. I have an older dog that is now starting to have accidents. I rent my place, and I was carpet cleaning every other week. Now with this, I don’t have to as much. She went on my new rug, which is white, and I was convinced it was gonna be ruined, but it’s not! The Stomp and Go did its job! My rug is perfect and no urine stains or odor. If you have a puppy or older dog, I highly suggest this product." —Sandy E.

Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $23.99.

20. Some Arm & Hammer pet fresh carpet odor eliminator you sprinkle down before vacuuming to help pull the stank out of the carpet and leave something that smells good in its place. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Love this stuff. My shag carpet was impossible to clean. No matter how much I vacuumed it and sprayed on a deodorizer, the dog smell would always come back. My Great Dane lays on the rug all day and loves rolling on its plush fibers, but the dog smell just kept getting stronger and stronger. I bought the Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh, sprinkled it on my carpet, rubbed it in a bit, let it sit for about 15 minutes, and then vacuumed it up. All I can say is wow! The dog smell is gone, and a fresh scent is left behind. I am so pleased with the smell and refreshed carpet I will be ordering more." —Musha

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in packs of 1, 3, 4, and 12). 

21. A UV black-light flashlight, because more often than not, your nose can smell the pee, but you cannot for the life of you find where the deed was done. This will help you locate the scene of the crime so you can actually clean it up and (hopefully) eliminate the smell.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This thing is so evil. Exposes all urine stains, past and present. Was able to see where our new cat had sprayed all over the walls and kitchen counters. Also, we're getting new flooring in our bedroom now, three dogs later. That carpet was trashed...even with shampooing, but it didn't show. So be careful, this little tool can change your life and make you feel dirty. But you can't clean what you can't see, so I won't be without one ever again." —Nicole M.

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

22. A mounted cat grooming brush your cat is sure to become obsessed with. Finally, they will stop rubbing their face all over your computer screen while you're trying to get your work done.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Both my cats seem to love this inexpensive product. Bought on a whim but very pleased. Little need for catnip, with some positive attention and gentle encouragement they started using this groomer and haven't stopped, only when it falls down. Didn't want to use screws and haven't found a lasting adhesive tape that holds up under such constant use. Command strips are on the shopping list." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $6.95.

23. A waterproof (and urine-proof) double-layered litter trapping mat, because you still haven't figured out how to toilet train your cats, and you're tired of feeling like you are walking on a beach when you go past their box. This will catch some of that litter they kick out to help keep it contained.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

And in case you're wondering, it is *very* easy to clean. You can open it up (like the photo on the right) and dump leftover litter back in the box, wash it under a sink, or suck up any leftover litter with a vacuum!

Promising review: "Going from no litter mat for this box to using this new mat there is a noticeable decrease in litter strewn across the floor, which is what I wanted. The cats certainly don't mind the texture so they have no problems with it either. Would recommend." —Kelliar

"I was pleased to find that [the litter mat] works very well. The litter falls down the holes and is not seen so it looks clean all the time. Very few granules are being tracked off the mat and I see the litter falling down through to the lower layer to be poured out later." —LyricMama

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

24. Or a top-entry litter box with grooves on the lid designed to help catch some of the litter on your kitty's paws as they make their way out of the box. Added bonus, this is a little more ~discreet~ than standard boxes, so you can put it in almost any room without it being overly obvious that you're sharing a space with the cat's bathroom.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Reviewers say it works for both small and bigger cats alike! One reviewer's tip: Make sure the side without the grooved lid is facing a wall so that cats can't jump out that way (the grooved side is what prevents litter tracking).

Promising reviews: "Wow — I can't believe I went four years without this. My house is sooooo much cleaner now; my two (fairly big) Ragdolls barely track any litter now. Great product." —Josh

"This box is seriously amazing. My cat went right in and has plenty of room to go to the bathroom without missing or spreading litter everywhere. I would have loved to have had this six years ago when I got her." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in five colors).

25. Orrr a Litter-Robot that senses when your kitty has left the box before rotating and disposing of what they've left behind. Not only does this save you from having to manually clean your litter box, but it also helps reduce odors!

Jessica Hall / BuzzFeed, Whisker

You will still have to remove the waste from the drawer a couple of times a week depending on how many cats you have.

I recently went from owning two cats to three, and it seems to quadruple the amount they go to the bathroom?? Like I'm sure I'm exaggerating, but I feel like I have to clean their boxes constantly. (And that's even after I already added an additional box!) Enter this magical robot. It has all kinds of sensor technology to know when a kitty is in the box, when the litter level is too low, when the waste drawer is full, and more. Basically, it senses the cat and sets a timer, after the cat is gone it starts a countdown before the cleaning process starts. You can adjust the length of the countdown depending on if you want to reduce odors or if you'd rather run it less frequently. When the time is up, it starts rotating and all the clean litter gets sifted out and the dirty clumps of litter continue rotating until being dispensed in a little hole into the waste drawer underneath. Then it rotates the opposite way, refilling the bottom with the litter so it is clean and ready for the next kitty's use. I haven't had it too long, and my two older cats are still a little hesitant, but my youngest has been using it and doesn't seem to mind it at all. This is seriously a game-changer. Highly recommend if you're sick of cleaning out stinky boxes constantly. 

Promising review: "I really love the Litter Robot 4. It works wonderfully for my cats. They took right to it and I am very impressed. I named my robot Phoebe, like on Friends! Smelly cat, smelly cat……." —Phoebe

Get it from Whisker for $699 (available in two colors and eight bezel covers for an additional fee).

26. A genius Door Buddy latch for any multi-pet families who may need to keep their doggo out of places your kitty is allowed to go (i.e., wherever their food is, so the dog can't gobble it all up and leave your poor kitty hungry).

www.amazon.com

Door Buddy is a family-owned small business that created the easy, three-step installation solution after several failed methods in their own home.

Promising review: "We have a Boston terrier who LOVES cat food but it makes him extremely sick. We needed something to keep him out but let the cats in so we tried this. It works so well, we bought a second one for our bedroom so the cats at night can come and go as they please but it keeps the dog in our room and out of their hair if they choose to wonder the house! I’m not sure how I lived without it but I won’t be without it now!" —Mickey Bergman

Get it from Amazon for $16.94.

27. Some Poop-Off cleaning spray designed to help dissolve stubborn bird drippings that are notoriously hard to get rid of. And if you aren't someone who owns a bird, this is great for outdoor furniture that frequently gets bombarded with fly-by poops.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising reviews: "Me and my five cockatiels swear by this. It works so well and doesn't leave any bad smells or residues. I trust it to keep their cage and play surfaces clean." —destiny

"I wish I had bought this years ago. Don't be cheap like I was! I've kept parrots on and off for 17 years. I just got this for the first time and nothing has ever cleaned off nasty caked-on poop like this, with the exception of my pressure washer. According to the label, it can be sprayed on poop while the bird is around. Unbelievable. So I've started spraying the grate every day and no more stacks of poo! Yes, I'm not the best about staying on top of it but with Poop-Off I can just spray the caked on poop once every day and it doesn't have the chance to build up. I use Publix Puppy Pads in the tray and on the tray for the play top because they are the best pads on the market. They have an internal gel so when I spray the grate, it's absorbed immediately after dripping down off the grate. Now that I'm in a wheelchair, I don't have the luxury of disassembling the cage once a month. Spraying once a day IS something I can do without assistance and this spray has given me back a cleaner home without the smell of bird poop (ugh). Had I not been so cheap before and just bought this stuff, I would have saved the backbreaking work of cage cleaning for many years." —Possum Queen

Get it from Amazon for $25.95.

28. A pack of transparent couch protectors to help train your razor-clawed fur baby that the couch is *not* in fact a place where they should sharpen their nails. All you have to do is peel the back and these self-adhesive protectors can stick to any surface. 

www.amazon.com

Promising reviews: "Easy to use and is the first thing that has ever protected my sofa from cat paws! I wish I’d bought this product five years ago!" —Carol Palmer

"Our cat was destroying the corner of our brand-new sectional, so I was excited to try these out. I didn’t want to try sprays or anything with pins that puncture the couches. I was a little worried about the quality of the adhesive, but the screen has been holding up and my cat no longer scratches that corner. There are plenty of screens in the package to add more if she finds a new spot." —NKakanis

Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in different pack sizes).

29. A purring cat toy designed to help ease your kitty's nerves. Perfect for any baby kittens or cats who suffer from anxiety. The built-in purring sensation lets your precious baby have the feeling of cuddling up to a buddy even if they're the only one around. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Being a first-time cat mom, I wanted to make sure I took every measure to ensure my little boy would be happy and comfortable when we brought him home. Let me tell you, this snuggle toy is his favorite thing in the world! It goes everywhere with us. He sleeps with it every night, we bring it on car rides and even to the vet. He adores this little thing and I couldn’t recommend it enough!" —Ashley

Get it from Amazon for $7.49+ (available in four versions).

30. An air purifier with an air quality indicator to make sure you're breathing cleaner air. It works to filter out most pet dander, bacteria, allergens, dust, odors, smoke, and more!

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Just got two cats. As a first-time cat owner I refuse to let my house smell like litter. I have it in the bathroom where we keep their litter box and you can’t tell there is one, let alone two, kittens." —Tiffany H.

Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in two colors).

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity. 

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