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Business Insider Reviews has been covering the best pet products for more than five years. Our reporters are experts in the field who have worked as dog trainers, studied veterinary science, and assisted in veterinary offices. We also consulted dozens of veterinarians, animal behaviorists, dog trainers, pet safety experts, and loyal pet owners to guide us in recommending products that offer the best quality, value, and safety.
What types of pet products do we cover?
Food: After hundreds of hours of interviews and research, we’ve carefully selected the best cat food and the best dog food. Animal nutritionists and veterinarians guide all of our selections. We also tried popular fresh dog food, including The Farmer’s Dog, Just Food for Dogs, and Ollie, and the best cat food delivery service.
Health and wellness: There are a myriad of flea and tick preventatives and pet supplements on the market, but not all are created equal. Our reporters consult with veterinarians to find the safest and most effective options for cats and dogs. Read more about them in our guides to the best dog flea and tick treatments, flea treatments for cats, cat dewormers, dog dewormers, dog supplements, and probiotics for dogs. And if you’re in a pinch and need some advice, we’ve also researched the best online veterinarians.
Things: Some dogs pull on the leash; others are good walkers but need a harness that will handle rugged outdoor adventures. Our reporters tested the harnesses on untrained shelter dogs. They draw from two decades of combined experience as professional dog trainers to bring you the best pull-free dog harnesses and dog harnesses. And since cats can explore the great outdoors, too, we talked to cat adventure parents to get their picks for the best cat harnesses.
Litter and cat boxes: Cats are picky about many things, especially their litter box. We tested 35 models to choose the best cat litter boxes. We also put dozens of litters to the test for our guides to the best cat litters and natural cat litters.
Repair: Regular grooming and dental care are the most challenging — and least enjoyable — responsibilities of a pet parent. We’ve tested the best dog nail clippers, dog brushes, and cat brushes. Veterinarians and professional groomers also helped us narrow down the best dog toothpaste, dog dental chews, cat dental products, dog shampoo, and cat shampoo.
Toys: Toys are a big part of the equation when it comes to keeping our pets happy and healthy. But not every cat or dog will appreciate the same puzzles, balls, or scratchers. That’s why we tested dozens of the best dog toys and cat toys and talked to animal behaviorists, dog trainers, and pet parents about their favorite dog toys for aggressive chewers and cat toys. puppy
Travel gear: To keep your pets comfortable and safe while traveling, we tested 30 pet carriers for our guides to the best cat carriers for everyday use and the best cat carriers which has been approved by the airline. If you want to keep up with your dog, check out our road trip must-have tips from pet safety experts.
Outside: Since pet parents spend a lot of time outdoors with their dogs — on land and water — we’ve got you covered with hiking gear, dog life jackets, boots, snow coats, and rain jackets.
Pet training and behavior: Whether you’re bringing home a new pet or want to teach an old dog new tricks, our reporter, who is a professional dog trainer, can help you choose a dog muzzle, protect furniture from scratching a cat, introducing a new cat and dog, training a puppy, training a dog, calming an anxious dog, preventing separation anxiety, and keeping children safe around pets.
How we test and evaluate products
We approach every article with pet safety and health in mind. Our testing methodology and product selection criteria are informed by interviews with impartial experts, including veterinarians and animal behaviorists. We do tests to make sure our recommendations are easy to use, touch and tear, and keep our pets happy.
When we can’t lab test products like flea and tick medications and pet food, we go straight to our experts and consult industry standards from organizations like the World Small Animal Association and the Association of American Feed Control Officials to thoroughly review the options. Our guides are reviewed by impartial medical examiners who are licensed veterinarians.
Meet our pet expert team
Check out our other areas of product coverage
You can also read more about how each team tests products, and meet the rest of our editors and writers on the following vertical-specific pages:
