2023 favorite pet products
As a pet photographer and a dad to a senior dog, 2 cats, and a Chinchilla, I come across a lot of pet products. Products that I've purchased to enrich my family's life (mentally and nutritionally) and products that brands send me to try out!
Since 2023 is coming to a close, I wanted to share with you my favorite pet and pet-friendly products that made my life a bit easier, enriched my pets, and that we all love!
{Affiliate Disclosure: I've handpicked some of my favorite things and included them as affiliate links below. I may collect a small commission without you paying a penny more! By shopping through these links, not only will you find amazing products, but you'll also be supporting me and my furry family members. Every click means the world to me and I truly appreciate your support. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.}
Clean
Dirtylabs:
I'm always on the hunt for earth and pet-friendly laundry detergent. I've tried so many but was never satisfied. Either the clothes never got clean enough, or the scent was lackluster. I almost gave up until I found Dirtylabs! It's washed away stains that I deemed impossible, gotten rid of foul urine odors from my dog’s blanket mistakes and it just smells incredibly fresh!
Angry Orange:
My dog, Abraham, is 14yrs old now, and with that has come the occasional pee accident. There's nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night to the smell of urine, but luckily there's Angry Orange! If you love the scent of oranges, you'll love this. It's like walking through a field of Oranges. It eliminates urine odor as well as other stinky smells. I love to spray this on my couch, the litter box ( during a full soap and water cleaning ) in the trash can, and even as an air freshener.
Azuna & Freshwave:
If you're a pet parent, then you know that sometimes there can be a lingering scent. Not necessarily a disgusting scent, but a scent that makes you wonder if your guests can smell it too. And unless you get rid of those lingering scents, those candles and plugins are only going to mask it. I kept hearing about Azuna / Freshwave and decided to give them a try. I'm bummed I hadn't tried them sooner because my house no longer has that lingering scent. What makes them different is they absorb odor vs masking it. They do have a scent, however, it's very subtle and not meant to fill the air with it. I use them throughout my home, but placing them in a room your pet frequents will help.
Pura:
Now that you have neutralized the air, you can scent the air! I love Pura so much that I have their diffusers throughout my home with a stockpile of scents. Pura isn't your typical plugin, these are kid and pet-friendly, they have so many scents to choose from and you can control the scent intensity and schedule when it turns on via the app.
My favorite scents are DEW and Leather&Leaves.
Food, Treats & Supplements
Smallbatch:
Considering Abraham is a 14-year-old senior dog, I wanted to provide him with what I believe is the best possible nutrition. I’ve read so many wonderful things about a Raw diet ( I chose freeze-dried raw for him ) and decided to give it a try. What I love about Smallbatch Pets is that their meat is not mechanically separated and all vitamins are provided through the nutritious ingredients vs adding artificial vitamins. They also sell frozen patties and freeze-dried for cats.
Cat food: Nulo, Rawz, Tiki Cat
If you have cats, then you know how incredibly picky they can be. I’ve been incorporating more wet food into my cat’s diet and these happen to be their current favorites. I love that these are lower in carbs and higher in protein.
Wild Weenies:
As a pet photographer, I always have snacks on hand and these seem to be a favorite! Pet parents are always impressed with how quickly their dog eats these up.
Whole Life Pet:
Picky cat? Try these! My cats are obsessed and I love that they only have one ingredient.
Fera Pet Organics:
Women and veterinary founded, using Eastern and Western medicine knowledge, Fera Pet Organics is the only supplement brand I use. No fillers, but ingredients I can read with an explanation of what each one does. Good for dogs and cats.
Cat food can covers:
When I switched from kibble to wet food, I didn't realize how messy the can would be. I used to put the cans into a ziploc bag for later use until I came across these can covers. If you don't use the whole can for each meal these are great to have on hand. Dishwasher safe and they cover several oz-sized cans.
Modern Dog Parent Book:
My little Abraham is a 14-year-old senior dog and because of that, I wanted to provide him with what I believe is the best possible nutrition. This book is a must if you're looking to stray away from a kibble diet, or looking for ways to enhance the kibble. It's full of recipes and lots of nutritional information. Perfect for yourself, or as a gift.
Adjustable dog bowl:
This elevated dog bowl is perfect for all-sized dogs. It has multiple heights, capable of tilting, and comes with two stainless steel bowls. Great option for those who don't want their dog hunching over when eating.
Toys & Enrichment
Cat Tunnel:
This is rare for me to say, but my cats immediately LOVED this cat tunnel bed as soon as I unwrapped it. Playtime followed by a much-needed nap.
Floor scratching post:
These come in a set of 3, but since they're reversible you're really getting 6. Because they're low profile they're easy to have inconspicuously throughout the house.
Hepper scratching post:
This is my favorite cat scratcher of the year! It's sleek, minimal, and gorgeous to look at. It can be rotated in 3 different positions, allowing for multiple uses. When your cats have destroyed the scratching pads, swap them out for new ones and reattach them to the beautiful wood.
Tall scratching post:
Cats love to stretch and this tall, heavy-duty scratcher will allow them to do just that. This is the scratcher my cats use the most. It doesn't wobble and it's wide enough that they can place both paws on one side versus a round scratching post where they have to hug it.
CatAmazing snatch wand:
This is my favorite toy find of the year! What makes this wand different from any other I've ever used is that my cats can actually "Catch" their prey. Each toy is equipped with a magnet that enables it to pull away from the wand with enough force. It allows your cat to catch and run away with it. Perfect toy to fulfill your cat's natural hunting instinct.
Grooming
Cat brush:
My orange female cat, Indio, is veeeeeery picky and sassy. Shes one to smack me if I get too close to her, haha! This brush is one of the only ways she'll let me groom her. I've tried others that she refused, but she loves this one!
Mutt Fresh shampoo:
I had been seeing Mutt Fresh all over my Instagram feed and decided to give it a try. I was immediately impressed with the scent and how it lathered up. Every product is small batch handmade in California, and they use fresh fruits, botanicals, butters and essential oils. Abraham smelled wonderful, even 2 weeks after I bathed him.
Litter Box
Litter robot 4:
Do you need a Litter Robot? No.
But will it make life a bit easier? Yes!
In total, I have 3 litter boxes. 2 stainless ones and the Litter Robot. What I love about the Litter Robot is the convenience. I love knowing that there is always a fresh litter box available to use on the days when I may not be able to make it home early enough to clean out the other litter boxes. You can read my full review here.
Stainless steel litter box:
If you're using a plastic litter box and you're unable to get rid of that urine scent, then a stainless litter box is a must! Stainless steel is incredibly easy to clean and because it isn't porous it won't hold onto bacteria and odor-causing scents. My litter box has never smelt cleaner and I'm never afraid of my home smelling like cat urine.
my shichic:
I get it - litter boxes can be an eyesore. And what do you do if you don't have enough space to keep it out of sight? Thankfully, there's 'Myshichic' that camouflages right into your home decor. Made from repurposed oak wood veneer shavings and 100% recyclable, their 'Poopnest' is perfect for those who are eco-friendly conscious and looking for cat-centered products to coexist in perfect harmony.
for the home
Cat door:
Because my laundry room is near the kitchen/living room, it can be noisy when running the washing machine and dryer. However, I've always kept the door open because that's where my cat's litter box and entry to the catio are. Looking for a way to keep the door closed, while still allowing the cats access, I opted for this adorable French cat door. Now the living area is incredibly quiet when doing laundry.
Molekule Air purifier:
When I say, "RUN" to get an air purifier, I mean run as fast as you can! I've always been skeptical of air purifiers. Isn't that what the air conditioner filters are for? Boy was I wrong. Ever-since I plugged the Molekule in, I no longer wake up with allergies, or phlegm/mucus. And my husband? It's been life-changing! I always associated his morning cough and hacking up a lung due to his smoking. And while some of that may be true, he hasn't done any of that since we started running the Molekule. I'm incredibly impressed.
Cat window perch:
Because my cats kept fighting over who got to sleep in the hammock of the cat tree, I was looking for another option that didn't take up a lot of room. This window perch has been amazing with keeping the peace, and both cats love it!
……..and there you have it - My favorite pet product finds of 2023! If you loved reading this post, be sure to Join The Pack to receive more pet product reviews, DIY dog / cat recipes, and more, delivered straight to your inbox. You’ve got mail!
Vincent Sandoval | Palm Springs Pet Photographer
Capturing all that is quirky, innocent, sincere & truly remarkable about a pet’s life.