BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More

Sometimes your pet needs a thing you didn’t even know existed, and somehow it becomes a life changer for them and you. Here are a few of those very things.

I'm the father of two small humans and one very small canine and the former SEO Strategy Manager & Editor for the BuzzFeed Shopping Team.

Promising review: "Amazing … I used to have to build a fort in the bathroom and sleep with my baby on the cold floor every time there was thunder. I bought this shirt, and my, it’s so unbelievable the difference it has made. I can now just be normal, and he is calm. Thunder still bothers him a tiny bit, but nothing like it did; he just looks like 'OK what was that?' but not slides and feigned panting and breathing hard." —Calm during a storm

Price: $39.99+ (available in five sizes)

Promising review: "Best container I have found to hold dog food. I have three of these containers. I bought one and liked it so much I bought two more over the last five years. Holds up well and keeps pests/bugs out. —Rocking Arrow Livestock

Price: $29.99+ (available in three sizes)

Promising review: "I'm new to being a cat owner. Realized QUICKLY that scooping the litter box all the time wasn't gonna be for me. Saw this jewel and gave it a try. I LOVE it. Never leaves a mess behind. It's been two weeks, and I haven't had to change the trays yet. Side note: the litter looks like gems and glitter, so I'm all about that. Lifesaver!" —Milea

Promising review: "Looks good and is easy to clean! Exactly what I was looking for." —wien84

Promising review: "Setup was very easy, and the included instructions answered any questions I had. Mounting was not a problem at all. The birds found it very quickly, and now I'm loving getting notifications all day from all my new feathered friends visiting the feeder. I really love the look of the wood; it matches my exterior decor and looks classy. Totally recommend!" —ChristineB

Promising review: "Just got this and put it together within 15 minutes. Very easy to maneuver, and my cats loved it. Perfect for them both. I immediately took them out for a walk, and they really loved it. I also wanted to use this to transport them to the Vet. Need to take the subway and bus to get there, and this is perfect." —Kristok

Promising review: "I bought this two weeks ago in prep for a weeklong trip. I wanted our cat to have regular dry food in the mornings and evenings, in addition to wet food and playtime with a visiting cat sitter. It was easy to program and set up, and it offers lots of options for how much food to dispense. I use small kibble and mix in some Instinct freeze-dried pollock pellets and some Science Diet dental food, and it handles this mixed kibble. The cord is long, and I plugged it in, but it's nice that battery backup is an option. I have continued to use it since the end of the trip, as it feeds her at 6 a.m., so she doesn't wake me up :-) and at 6 p.m., so she will get something even if we are out. Then we supplement with wet food once or twice a day. Given the options out there, I have found this to be reasonably priced with the functionality I need." —catastic

Promising review: "After a simple swap and a week’s wait, I learned my 'Border Collie' was 52 percent Great Pyrenees and 27 percent Border Collie. That said, I have the smartest guard dog I have ever seen. On top of the breed discovery, I found her sibling 1,000 miles away and connected with the owner. I am simply amazed. THANK YOU, EMBARK!" —Quinn2022

Promising review: "The puppy was from a litter of 10. Scavenged food and was scared of bloat. This dish taught her in one week that she can eat at her leisure, and no one is taking her food." —Swissgirl

Price: $9.99+ (available in three sizes)

Promising review: "I bought this for my young hedgehog, and it works like a charm — possibly too well. She snuggles into her sleeping sack on top of the heated pad and refuses to come out! The pad is small enough to fit in a corner of her habitat. I placed her sleeping sack directly on the pad and pushed some CareFresh around the edges for insulation. It is solidly constructed, so I don't worry about urine or water damaging the interior workings. The solid surface makes it easy to clean. If you want to create a warm sleeping corner for your small critter, this works like a charm." —KFromOregon

To use these properly, first you have to talk to your dog so they can understand the connections between words/phrases and actions/behaviors. Once they start picking up on those, record the exact words with the speech buttons. This mat holds six recordable talking buttons, but you can even connect more mats if your dog has a lot more to say!  

Promising review: "Smells good to me, which makes cleaning something I almost look forward to, and the Guinea pigs seem ok with it, too!" —Erica99999

Beyond its treat-dispensing functions, this app-enabled cam offers standard motion-sensing notifications to help you keep tabs on Fido. Night vision keeps things crystal clear, so no matter the time of day, you'll be able to see what's going down. You can also store video locally via an SD card (not inlcuded) or through optional cloud storage.  

Promising review: "This is the best basking floating device out there for turtles. It is durable and lasts quite a long time. It handles the heat of the lamps pretty well. It's large, which is great for large or several turtles. It beats the suction cup ones any day." —Slynnmag

Promising review: "My cats are obsessed with these scratcher couches. I initially only bought one, but that started a war for the throne between my two cats, so I got a second one, and now they happily rule together. Worth the money. Pro tip: you can also put two of these couches together to create a bed." —siberiancatmom

Price: $19.99 (available in four styles) 

Promising review: "I bought it for my betta fish, and he is able to go in and out of the windows. He loves hiding inside the pineapple. It looks so cute in the center of my 3-gallon tank!" —Slee4812

Promising review: "I have two cats and a Chihuahua, all of whom love this bed. The cats love the ability to seclude themselves or relax on top, while my Chihuahua loves the seclusion. I have ordered four of these beds over the last few months. I like their durability and the reasonable price." —djc01

Promising review: "My cats love this water fountain. Have had two for four years now. Unlike some with a flowing trough, this fountain has flowing water on all sides, making it easily accessible to more than one cat at a time. Easy to set up and maintain. 100% my first choice when I needed a third due to a growing pet population." —Dyane10

Promising review: "My 20-pound Shih Tzu has a regular bed. However, during the summer, he tends to sleep on the floor. I wanted to buy my dog something that’s comfortable and cool. The air cot provides just that. My dog loves it. Great purchase." —Nia Harlem

"I bought this for the outdoor kitties. It is big enough for several to lie on and keep cool while off the ground. Love it." —SPRINGTOES

Promising review: "Pretty sure I’ll be back to buy another. My boys love climbing, and at three years old, they’re starting to outgrow their old trees. This was easy to assemble, and the navy is beautiful. Most importantly, it’s sturdy for my one hefty guy, and they all love it. So yeah. I love it too." —CeeGee

Price: $62.99+ (available in five sizes and eight colors)

Promising review: "I would give this item 10 stars if I could! The quality of this dog toy is unmatched! Opal destroys her new toys within five minutes of getting them. We are on our 10th day, the toy is still solid!" —Opie23

Price: $7.49+ (available in three sizes)

* Things Sure To Come In Clutch If You’re Traveling With Pets

* If You Think Your Pet Looks A Little Bored, Make Their Day And Buy Them One Of These 28 Things

* Products That’ll Help Stop Pet Odor In Its Tracks

* Products To Keep Your Pet Entertained When They Aren’t Going For A W-A-L-K

* If You Live With Stinky And Messy Kids And Pets, Keep Your Home Clean And Smelling Great Thanks To These 27 Finds

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.