Convenient and functional, these clever finds make life easier for both you and your fur baby, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.
If you’ve ever owned a pet, or still do, you’ll know it’s not too different from caring for any other living thing. It’s a rewarding, joyful experience, but one that also comes with its fair share of work and responsibility. Whether it’s cleaning up piles of fur (and then heading to work covered in it), stepping on the Mystery Liquid Puddle™ of the day (you’re lucky if it’s pee), or trying to prevent (heavy emphasis on “trying”) your fur baby from chewing or scratching the furniture and eating whatever’s on the floor (as if you don’t feed them enough), most pet owners are happily kept on their toes.
Still, things can be easier, right? Not just for you, but for your beloved four-legged friend, too. After all, we do it all for them, in exchange for the love and enriching chaos they bring into our lives. So whether you’re a first-time fur parent or a seasoned veteran searching for that specific item you never knew you needed, this list is for you.
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Reusable Pet Hair Cleaner
We love our pets, but there’s a marked difference between kissing and nuzzling our pets and inhaling a mouthful of their fur first thing in the morning—just enough to make you feel like you might be the one coughing up a hairball. And well, you don’t want your bosses questioning why you look like Big Foot’s cousin when you show up to an important meeting (in your best outfit too!).
Lint rollers work alright, but there are other cleaners specially made for those pesky pet hairs. A solid, reusable pet hair remover isn’t just a more sustainable option; it’s also a convenient one you can rely on time and time again without worrying about buying the next refill. Lilly Brush is a good option, thanks to its portable size and ease of use: a few swipes will remove even the softest undercoat hair from all kinds of surfaces, such as car seats and your favorite garments.
(Another hack: try the rubber gloves you use for dishwashing and cleaning. They work perfectly fine too if you’re in a pinch, since the friction from the rubber helps take out those clingy hairs too.)
Enzyme Cleaner Spray
Poo and pee are part of the deal in any household with a pet. The smell becomes, unfortunately, part of the atmosphere. You crouch down, clean the mess with rubbing alcohol, soap, or disinfectant, and hope for the best. However, the truth is that they only mask odors.
That’s where enzymatic pet stain and odor removers come in. Enzymes, as you might remember from chemistry class, speed up chemical reactions. In these cleaners, they target the proteins, fats, and starches found in organic messes like pee, poop, and vomit, breaking them down into simpler compounds. Many formulas also include beneficial bacteria that “eat” whatever’s left until it evaporates. The result is odors that actually stay gone, and not just covered up. And since animals, especially dogs, rely on scent to return to “marked” territory, this removal prevents them from repeatedly making a mess in the same spot.
Non-Slip Pet Bowls
Non-slip bowls like those offered by Ollie Bowls are a must for any pet, whether feline or canine. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to chase your meal or drink. And on the part of the owner, bowls that jostle tend to make bigger messes, and we all want to prevent that as much as possible.
Slow-Feeder Bowls And Licking Pads
Some pets are fast eaters…a little too fast. And just as scarfing down food isn’t great for humans, it’s no better for our furry pals. Eating too quickly can lead to indigestion, choking, or even bloat (or Gastric Dilation-Volvulus)—a dangerous condition where the stomach twists on itself when filled with fluid, food, or gas.
If your pet tends to inhale their meals at Usain Bolt speeds, it might be time to try a slow-feeder bowl. These bowls are designed like mazes or puzzles, with built-in ridges that encourage slower, more mindful eating. Sure, some pets might get a little frustrated at first, and they do take a bit more effort to clean, but it’s a small price to pay for healthier habits. With a bit of patience and training, mealtime becomes mentally stimulating: a win-win for you and your pet.
Lick mats work in a similar fashion. They feature textured surfaces where you can spread treats, yogurt, peanut butter, or other pet-safe goodies to keep them calm and occupied during less-enjoyable moments like grooming, bath time, or vet visits.
Grooming Glove
You’ve experienced it time and time again—unless you’re one of the lucky few whose pet loves being coddled—wrangling your fur baby like you’re in a rodeo just to brush their coat. But try a grooming glove, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
Of course, it’s a case-by-case thing, but if your pet hates the sight of traditional brushes yet melts under a good head scratch, this might just be your secret weapon. A solid glove or mitt with a built-in brush surface helps de-shed and keep stray fur from flying around the house. Your pet gets a soothing massage (psychological manipulation at its finest), and you finally get grooming done, minus the wrestling match.
ThunderShirt
ThunderShirt’s effectiveness is another case-to-case thing, but you may want to check the brand out if your pet gets nervous during thunderstorms and fireworks (and in the Philippines, those things are common and unavoidable). There’s no guarantee that it’ll work, since every fur baby is built differently, but the vet-recommended product has been tried and tested by pet owners for quite a few years, with mostly noticeable improvements. It’s not a perfect, 100% solution, but anything that can mitigate the distress is still helpful. The shirt works like a weighted blanket (or a good hug) for humans, using gentle but constant pressure to reduce heart rate and anxiety, an effect that’s been backed by scientific studies.
But as always, if this doesn’t seem to work, it’s best to consult your vet and see what you can do to help ease your pet during these noisy and stressful situations.
Pet Stairs
If you’re caring for a senior dog, stairs are non-negotiable—whether or not they’re already dealing with joint issues like arthritis. This is especially true for smaller dogs that still have that active streak in them: jumping off beds or couches might seem harmless, but over time, it puts unnecessary strain on their joints and muscles. And while they’ll always be puppies in our eyes, we have to accept they can’t pull off those little stunts forever.
A soft or cushioned staircase is ideal, as long as it’s non-slip or weighted enough to stay in place, like Nitori’s Pet Step N-Shield. If you prefer a sturdier build, look for one with rounded corners for safety, like the design of the Solvit PupStep Pet Stairs Plus. The height and number of steps matter too, so make sure they align with the surface you’re setting them beside. With the right stairs, you’re not just giving your older dog comfort, but also the independence to move freely as they age.
