The Holy Grail of Pet Products
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you need to find a different food for your pet. Maybe your cat is having trouble urinating in the litter box. Maybe your dog needs something to keep them busy. Maybe your pet keeps licking their paws and you are concerned what is going on. Whatever the reason, these are a few products that have helped my pets alleviate these symptoms.
Living with animals for the past 20 years, here are 10 products that I highly recommend to simplify both you and your pet’s lives.
*Please note that I may earn a small commission from your purchases through these links.
Product #1: Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Litter Attractant
This product has been a life saver. In 2023, when we adopted a kitten, he was not potty trained and would urinate outside of the litter box. It was frustrating to say the least. Thankfully, after a client recommended this product, it took less than a week for him to get accustomed to going potty in the box. It works as any baking soda freshener you would put in your litter works. You simply sprinkle over the area of the litter box and take a scooper and mix it around. The way it works is that the kitten smells the scent and gets intrigued, so they go potty in the box. This product may vary in success depending on what litter you use. We always use the clumping litter. We haven’t tested it on the crystallized litter. 15/10 recommend.
My boy cat LOVES these little springs. Ever since he was a kitten, we have found that these tiny toys could keep him busy for hours. It’s a great product for those who have needy cats, and you need to get work done. They are so small that they could be lost for days, and then all of a sudden, you see your cat walking around with it in their mouth. 20/10 recommend.
Our vet recommended this to our pets for shinier, healthier fur, to add nutrients to their diet, and to help alleviate any skin issues, such as itching. Talk to your vet before using, but when I give this to my dog, (who is under 10 lbs), she gets a tiny bit every other day. Depending on the size and age of your dog, the recommended amount will vary, even the amount recommended between a dog and a cat as we give this to our cats as well. Just make sure you’re purchasing the correct one, as there are just dog-specific bottles as well as bottles that are safe for both dogs and cats. Additionally, there are many different forms the fish oil takes, such as a liquid pill, powder, or oil. We use oil but it will differ depending on how well your pet reacts to the product. 7/10 recommend.
This product isn’t a pet-specific product but is meant to help correct dogs’ and cats’ bad behavior. If your cat is scratching at your furniture or has jumped on top of your fridge, or if your dog is terrorizing your cat, or eating something off the ground they know they shouldn’t have, this product should help correct that. All I do is spray once in the vicinity of my pet to get their attention and then once more, telling them “no.” Now, every time one of my pets begin to do something they know they shouldn’t do, all I have to do is raise the spray bottle and they will stop without me having to spray them. 12/10 recommend.
One of my cats has a heart problem, so she needs pills. Since vets don’t cut the pills for you when they prescribe the medication, you are left to wonder how to break the pills up (if you’re instructed to give less than 1 pill at a time. For years, I would use a knife and pray the pill didn’t go flying, but ever since we found this pill cutter, it has been wonders at cutting the pills and the size of the pills we need. Plus, if you make a mess, the compact product keeps everything within the product. There is even a compartment below the cutter where you can slide your already-cut pills. **** 9/10 recommend
product #6: Unscented Baby Wipes
My dog has extremely sensitive pads. We use unscented baby wipes on her pads when she comes back inside after going potty. Especially during the winter months, where the snow can harm the pads (because of the salt) or the summertime, where the grass could flare up an allergy within her. We are unsure if she is allergic to anything, but we do find that using these wipes helps with her licking. They are harmless, as long as you get the plain, unscented baby wipes. They are also helpful to use on cats if your cats do a poor job of cleaning up after using the litter box. 8/10 recommend.
We have been using an automatic water fountain for years now. Ditch those metal and ceramic bowls for a water fountain. All we have to do is check it every couple days and fill up the water. Once every 2 weeks, or once every month (at the max), unplug the machine and clean the entire thing, making sure to change the filter and sponge found at the bottom. This is so your pet can help themselves to fresh, clean water at all times. It works well and is safer germ-wise for your pet’s health, but ONLY if you take proper care of it. 9/10 recommend.
We have switched vets recently and this new vet place strongly recommends bringing a urine and/or stool sample to each appointment to check for parasites. At first, we were worried because we had no idea how to collect the urine sample. We had to buy this specific litter, pour it into an empty litter box, separate your cat (if you have multiple) and wait for them to urinate. Once they urinate, because the special litter is made of crystals, the urine will sit on top of the litter, making it easy to extract. Within the litter bag, they give you an eye dropper and a collection tube. This product, although on the pricier side for the amount of litter that comes in a bag (it’s not a lot, so I recommend buying 2!) has been pivotal in easily collecting urine samples for my cats ahead of their vet appointments. 10/10 recommend.
Product #9: Scratch Pad For Door
My cats all have their front claws, and boy do they like to scratch at everything. We keep them in a room at night, so when we’re preparing their food in the morning, they scratch at the door. Truth be told, they have done a number on that door. But I found a scratch pad that I was able to attach to the door and it has really helped minimize the scratching. 10/10 recommend.
If your dog is anxious when they are alone, always needs attention from you, or they are just a troublemaker, these treat pads are extremely helpful. They are freezer safe, so all you do is spread your food of choice (that is pet friendly of course, like sweet potato puree, peanut butter, etc), stick it in the freezer and give it to your pet when you need them to be distracted. This also works with the kong toys, which you can freeze as well. A client I sit for uses these and they are really helpful. 11/10 recommend.
