On any given day, your dog would probably prefer to smell like stale Fritos. You support your pup’s dreams, truly, but you might also prefer their personal scent skew a little less corn-chip and a little more, well, clean. Your cat, meanwhile, would like you to change absolutely nothing about their environment, and to please stay far away with that water and shampoo. Unfortunately, everyone needs a spruce-up eventually, even the ones who’d rather not.
Your bathroom can’t quite compete with a full-service spa, but the 15 products below get close. We leaned toward natural ingredients, an eco-friendly bent, and head-to-toe coverage, and for each one we’ll tell you who it’s actually right for, why it earns a place on the shelf, and where a cheaper or different pick might serve you better. The goal is the happy medium between a pet who reeks of corn chips and one who’s been bathed, clipped, wiped down, and combed out.
Best dog shampoo
For years, pet shampoos were functional at best. Now there are plenty of more elevated options to pamper our grubby little buddies, including some from beauty brands you might already have on your own vanity.
This is maybe the one time smelling exactly like your dog is a good thing. Ouai, founded by celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, builds the same signature scent into its pet shampoo that makes its human-hair line so addictive: notes of orange, peony, jasmine, and musk, with no parabens, sulfates, or other common irritants. If people catch you taking long sniffs of your dog’s coat, you might get a look or two, but one whiff and they’ll understand.
Best pet brush
Does your dog have a grooming routine? If not, they could use one, and it doesn’t need to be as high-maintenance as yours.
“Brush and comb your pet regularly, at least once a week and more often depending on coat type, length, breed, and shedding,” says Tom Hadley, a certified pet grooming consultant. “A good brush actually helps prevent a number of skin issues, and it lets you inspect your dog closely so you can catch health problems early.”
Look no further than Harry Barker’s double-duty bamboo brush. One side has massaging pins for detangling coarse fur, while the other uses natural boar bristles for maximum smoothness. The sustainable design won’t look out of place on your bathroom shelf, either. Just make sure you label it.
Best cat litter
It’s no secret that cats are experts at hiding when they’re not feeling well. That’s where PrettyLitter’s formula comes in.
“A lot of owners have no idea their cat is sick until the condition is already well along, and by then it’s far tougher to treat,” says Dr. Lena Park, DVM.
PrettyLitter helps with that guessing game by using color-changing silica crystal litter that flags potential health problems, like super-common UTIs. It also fights litter box odor by trapping moisture, is up to 80 percent lighter than most litters, produces zero dust, ships directly to you, and needs less scooping than other brands. There’s a 30-day guarantee, too, so if you and your cat aren’t sold, you can give it a fair shot risk-free.
Best grooming kit
Grooming our pets matters, but with what and how often is less clear. According to one celebrity groomer we spoke with, we might be overthinking it: “Truthfully, a smelly or grimy-looking dog just needs a bath, so give them one!”
Maxbone’s Perfect Shine kit has every tool a dog (or cat!) self-care routine needs. The hypoallergenic three-piece set includes a soothing, soap-free aloe and oatmeal shampoo designed to calm itchy, sensitive skin; antiseptic wipes; and a shampoo-dispensing brush with massaging silicone bristles to streamline bathtime and stimulate coat health, all packaged in a special-edition holiday box. It’s the closest your pet will get to hitting the spa.
Best dental kit
“Gum inflammation and periodontal disease hit cats especially hard, and the usual culprit is plaque and tartar accumulating along the gumline,” says Dr. Mara Chen, DVM.
That’s why daily tooth-brushing matters for our pets. For a natural option that gets the job done, go with the Oxyfresh Premium Pet Dental Kit. Backed by vets and hundreds of five-star reviews, the kit pairs a 1 oz dental gel with a 3 oz water additive and finger brushes, all built around Oxyfresh’s signature stabilized chlorine dioxide (“Oxygene”). It’s flavor- and scent-free, so even the pickiest pup will approve, if they even notice you’ve slipped a few drops into their bowl. Who it’s right for: owners who’ll never manage daily brushing and want a low-effort additive that still does real plaque work. Who it’s wrong for: a cat with existing dental disease, which needs a vet, not a water additive.
Best grooming wipes
Pride+Groom’s founders met and bonded over a love of animals while working at Vogue, and launched their brand offering shampoos, conditioners, and other grooming essentials tailored to whether your fur baby has actual fur or hair. The whole line smells amazing, thanks to all-natural ingredients like calendula extract for soothing itchy skin, marshmallow root for healing hot spots, and jojoba seed oil for unclogging hair follicles. The brand also pays it forward, donating a portion of proceeds to animal welfare groups and distributing its One Fur All conditioning shampoo to shelters across the country (learn more at prideandgroom.com/pages/the-give).
If you can’t wait for bath time, these antiseptic wipes moisturize the coats of dogs and cats to minimize dander and the amount of fluff left on your couch.
Best paw and nose balm
If your pup could use help achieving velvety soft paws, reach for this skin-soothing balm by the Natural Dog Company. A go-to remedy for dry, itchy skin, it treats and heals redness and inflammation, hot spots, rashes, allergy irritations, cuts and wounds, bug bites, and more with an antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory formula. Made entirely from natural ingredients sourced without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, it’s 100 percent natural and safe to lick.
Best pet ear cleaner
Yeah, we don’t love talking about it either, but our pets’ ears can get kind of gross.
“Ongoing ear trouble shows up a lot in pets, and it frequently starts with airborne pollen allergies that then pick up secondary infections along the way,” says Dr. Ravi Mehta, DVM. “You can’t fully block an ear infection from ever happening, but running a rinse with antibacterial or antifungal action through the ears about once a month goes a long way toward keeping mites, yeast, and bacteria at bay.”
The Major Darling Skin Tonic and Ear Wash is all-natural and made with familiar, well-loved ingredients including aloe vera, witch hazel, and chamomile extracts. Just soak a cotton ball, wipe the ear flap, and massage the base of the ear to let it absorb into the canal. Bonus for itchy, allergy-prone pets: it doubles as a skin tonic you can massage onto irritated skin. One caution: if your pet’s ear looks red, smells bad, or has dark discharge, that’s a possible infection and a reason to see the vet rather than reach for a maintenance wash.
Best pet eye wipes
If your dog is prone to tear stains, these mess-free eye wipes by Natural Rapport are a great fix. Made with human-grade, plant-based ingredients, they earn glowing reviews and are safe for dogs and cats 12-plus weeks and up. Natty Rap’s eye wipes remove buildup and stains caused by tears, saliva, and mucus, and the gentle, chemical-free formula is safe for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Keep in mind, a little gray eye booger in the morning is normal, but green or yellow eye discharge can signal an eye infection, and that’s a reason to see your vet.
Best cat litter box deodorizer
Your cat feels about a smelly litter box roughly the way you feel about a dive-bar restroom. The scent of poop sends them in the opposite direction.
“What a cat cares about above all is how clean the litter box is and how it smells,” says Tom Hadley, a certified feline behavior consultant.
But don’t try to mask odors with perfumed litter, you won’t fool anyone. That’s where Skout’s Honor comes in. The California-based brand makes science-backed products that keep pets and homes smelling fresh. Its biodegradable, plant-based litter box deodorizer can be sprayed directly onto litter and into the surrounding air to erase lingering kitty-business smells. Skout’s Honor has also partnered with Greater Good Charities, so every purchase provides one day’s worth of meals for a rescue animal in need.
Best cat litter box
“Cats really need a box they can get into without any hassle,” says Tom Hadley, a certified feline behavior consultant, who suggests approaching the choice from the cat’s point of view.
Well, Modkat’s XL Litter Box has not one but two entrances. Created by a cat dad and his industrial-designer partner, Modkat is what happens when good design meets real-world need. The top- and front-entry model is sensitive to individual preferences with a three-position lid: closed, half, or all the way open. And if you’re worried about your eco-footprint, Modkat is a certified climate-neutral company that keeps working to cut emissions further. Who it’s wrong for: a senior or arthritic cat, for whom a low, walk-in box beats any top-entry design.
Best fur remover
Pets shed. It’s nothing to worry about. Sure, it’s annoying having everything you own coated in a gossamer web of fluff, but that’s the price of puppy and kitty snuggles.
“Keeping up a regular grooming habit cuts down on loose fur and dander, and that’s doubly true for the long-haired breeds,” says Dr. Lena Park, DVM.
For especially hairy situations, you’ll want a lint roller, but disposable plastic ones send countless adhesive strips to the landfill. Invest in a reusable lint remover like this one from Package Free Shop. The recyclable copper and compostable beechwood tool promises to scrape pet hair off clothes and furniture “like a razor.”
Best nail clipper
Your newfound pandemic nail-art skills will not, sadly, transfer to your cat or dog. Left untrimmed, a pet’s nails can split or snag, which hurts and can open the door to infection, so regular clipping matters.
“The best time to get a pet used to nail trims is early on, while they’re still young and receptive to unfamiliar things,” says Dr. Lena Park, DVM.
The Gonicc Dog & Cat Nail Clippers are a great addition to your at-home toolkit, and a perennial Amazon best-seller in pet nail care for good reason. They come with a nail file tucked in the handle (great for polishing sharp corners) and a safety guard that helps prevent cutting into the quick. There’s a smaller-bladed version for cats and small dogs and a larger one for medium-to-large breeds, so match the size to your pet. Dogs in particular are at greater risk of overgrown nails than cats, who tend to wear theirs down by scratching.
“With dogs that have pale nails, you can actually spot where the tip runs out past the quick, the reddish-pink core of blood vessels that runs through the middle of each nail,” Dr. Park adds. “Once the nail reaches noticeably past that quick, it’s due for a clip. Take off just a sliver at a time, since clipping into the quick is easy to do, and a cut quick will bleed, harmless to the dog but rough on your carpet.”
Best dog pee, stain, and odor destroyer
Nobody likes a pee stain, or the smell it leaves behind. But before you scrub those (very lickable) baseboards, know that most cleaning products aren’t safe for dogs and cats. Harsh chemicals and added fragrances can do short- and long-term harm to your pets and the planet.
Enter Skout’s Honor Pet Urine Destroyer. This plant-based odor eliminator breaks down urine stains and erases smells at the molecular level. It’s safe for rugs, carpets, clothing, and other water-safe surfaces: cover the messy area, wait five minutes, blot up excess moisture, and let it dry before pets or kids return. No stain, no smell.
Best flea and tick protection (and how to choose)
Fleas and ticks are the one grooming category where “natural” and “prescription” genuinely serve different jobs, so this is less a single pick than a short decision tree.
For prevention on a low-risk pet, a plant-powered repellent like kin+kind’s spray, made with certified organic lemongrass and peppermint oils, can help keep pests from hitching a ride, especially before tick-heavy outings. The honest caveat: essential-oil repellents are deterrents, not infestation killers, and they have to be reapplied consistently to do anything at all.
For a dog at real exposure, or any active infestation, you want a vet-prescribed product. Oral chewables like Nexgard cover the black-legged, American dog, lone star, and brown dog ticks that account for most of the continental U.S., last a month, and come dosed for dogs from four to 121 pounds.
“Tick control isn’t just about protecting pets, it’s about preventing a transmission cycle where pathogens can pass to the humans in the household,” says Dr. Amara Solis, DVM. “For a dog spending time in tall grass or wooded areas, a proven prescription product is worth far more than any spray.”
Cats need their own product, never a dog’s. A vet-recommended topical like Revolution Plus is a common starting point for outdoor or multi-pet cats because of its broad coverage.
“It covers a great spectrum, fleas, ticks, ear mites, certain intestinal parasites, and heartworms,” says Dr. Mara Chen, DVM. “Topicals are usually better received by cats than tablets, so they’re a great place to start. Just apply toward the back of the neck, since cats are flexible groomers and can’t really lick the back of their own head.”
The prescription products require a vet, so buy them directly from your veterinarian or a legitimate pharmacy, and never apply a dog’s flea product to a cat, as some are toxic to them.
