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Business Insider Reviews has been covering the best pet products for over five years. Our journalists are experts in the field who have worked as dog trainers, studied veterinary science and helped in veterinary practices. We also consulted dozens of veterinarians, animal behaviorists, dog trainers, animal safety experts and dedicated pet owners to guide us in recommending products that provide the best quality, value and safety.
What Types of Pet Products We Cover
Food: After hundreds of hours of interviews and research, we carefully selected the best cat foods And best dog foods. Animal nutritionists and veterinarians guided all of our selections. We also tested popular fresh dog foods, including The farmer’s dog, Just dog foodAnd Ollieand the best cat food delivery services.
Health and wellbeing: There are an overwhelming number of flea and tick preventative products and pet supplements on the market, but not all are equal. Our journalists consulted veterinarians to find the safest and most effective options for cats and dogs. Learn more about them in our guides on best flea and tick treatments for dogs, flea treatments for cats, wormers for cats, dewormers for dogs, supplements for dogs, And probiotics for dogs. And if you’re in a hurry and need advice, we’ve also looked at the best online veterinarians.
Harness: Some dogs pull on a leash; others walk well but need a harness that will withstand tough outdoor adventures. Our journalists tested the harnesses with untrained shelter dogs. They have drawn on two decades of combined experience as professional dog trainers to bring you the best no pull dog harnesses And harness for dogs. And because cats can explore the great outdoors too, we spoke with adventure cat parents to find out their choice for the best cat harnesses.
Cat litter and boxes: Cats are finicky about many things, especially their litter box. We tested 35 models to choose the best cat litter boxes. We also tested dozens of scopes for our guides best cat litters And natural cat litter.
Grooming: Regular grooming and dental care are the most difficult – and least enjoyable – responsibilities of a pet parent. We tested the best dog nail clippers, brushes for dogsAnd brushes for cats. Veterinarians and professional groomers also helped us refine the best toothpastes for dogs, dental chews for dogs, dental products for cats, dog shampoosAnd cat shampoos.
Toys: Toys play an important role in the equation when it comes to keeping our pets happy and healthy. But not every cat or dog will enjoy the same puzzles, balls or scratchers. This is why we tested dozens of best dog toys And cat toys and I’ve talked to animal behaviorists, dog trainers, and pet parents about their favorite animals. dog toys for aggressive chewers And puppy toys.
Travel equipment: To keep your pets comfortable and safe during your trip, we tested 30 pet carriers for our guides. best cat carriers for daily use and best airline approved cat carriers. If you want to hit the road with your dog, check out our road trip essentials with advice from animal safety experts.
Outside: Because pet parents spend a lot of time outdoors with their dogs – on land and in water – we’ve got you covered hiking equipment, life jackets for dogs, boots, snow coatsAnd rain jackets.
Animal training and behavior: Whether you’re bringing home a new pet or want to teach an old dog new tricks, our professional dog trainer reporter can help you choose a muzzle for dog, protect furniture from cat claws, introduce a new cat and a new dog, potty training a puppy, train a dog, calm an anxious dog, prevent separation anxietyAnd keeping children safe around pets.
How we rate and test products
We approach every item with the safety and well-being of pets in mind. Our testing methodology and product selection criteria are based on interviews with impartial experts, including veterinarians and animal behaviorists. We design tests to ensure our recommendations are easy to use, hold up to wear and tear, and make our pets happy.
When we can’t lab test products like flea and tick medications and pet foods, we turn directly to our experts and consult industry standards from organizations like the World Small Animal Association and the Association of American Feed Control Officials rigorously evaluate options. Our guides are then reviewed by impartial medical evaluators who are licensed veterinarians.
Meet our expert pet team
Explore our other areas of product coverage
You can also learn more about how each team tests products and meet the rest of our writers and editors on the following vertical-specific pages: