Pawsidepicks
Pet gear that earns the floor space.
Buying guides for automatic litter boxes, feeders, pet cameras, and crates ranked for real homes.
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Top buying guides
Ranked picks that earn their floor space
Start with the guides that match your pet setup and budget. Each page lists verified Amazon picks with pros, cons, and setup notes.
Buying guideBest Automatic Litter Box (2026): Drum, Globe, and Crystal Rake
The best automatic litter box for most US homes is the HHOLOVE 60L drum when you want drum capacity, app alerts, and a sealed drawer for about $300. Upgrade to Litter-Robot 4 for the sealed globe; choose the PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Pro Legacy when crystal trays fit a single cat.
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Buying guideBest Automatic Cat Feeder (2026): Timed Dry Hoppers That Actually Portion
The best automatic cat feeder for dry food is a sealed timed hopper with honest portions and backup power. Start with PETLIBRO 3L, step up to PetSafe Smart Feed for WiFi, and keep wet food on a tray feeder.
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Buying guideBest Dog Crate (2026): Right Size, Wire vs Plastic, and Training Picks
The best dog crate is the one sized to the adult dog, with a latch that survives real anxiety and a pan you can actually wash. Start with the MidWest LifeStages double-door wire for training, the MidWest iCrate single-door for smaller everyday setups, and the Petmate Vari when travel needs a hard plastic shell.
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Buying guideBest Cat Litter Mat (2026): Litter Catching Mats That Trap
The best cat litter mat is the exit layer your cats will walk across and that you will actually rinse. A silicone mat with a raised lip holds the misses off your floor. Coil mats trap fine clay. Honeycomb mats empty faster when you tip them back into the box.
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Buying guideBest Self-Cleaning Litter Box (2026): Self-Scooping Globe, Drum, and Crystal Picks
A self-cleaning litter box, also called a self-scooping box, should match your litter type: drum and globe sifters for clumping clay, crystal rake trays for disposable cleanup. The HHOLOVE 60L drum covers most homes for about $300. Match the litter to the machine, measure the space before you buy, and empty the drawer before it smells.
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Buying guideBest Dog Water Fountain (2026): Picks by Capacity and Filter Cost
The best dog water fountain is the one sized to your dog's daily intake and easy enough to rinse every week. Start with an 8 L quiet bowl for one large dog, a 7 L stainless for a shared kitchen, or a 450 oz patio tank for a pack.
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Latest guides
Best Wire Dog Crate (2026): Three Sizes That Hold Up
The best wire dog crate for most large dogs is the Midwest 42-Inch iCrate, because a 37.5 mm bar gap and a Paw Block latch are the two specs that actually stop a dog. The 30-inch iCrate covers medium dogs for under $50, and the Amazon Basics 48-inch is the double-door pick.
The best dog crate for chewers depends on whether your dog has already bent a bar. Heavy-gauge steel is the answer for a dog that has beaten wire, a standard folding crate is still the right buy for a dog that only scratches the door, and a 42-inch double-door crate is the budget middle.
The best dog car seat for small dogs is the one your dog cannot step out of and you can wash. Start with the BurgeonNest for dogs 8 to 25 pounds, the JOEJOY Elevated for the tallest window line, and the PETICON Waterproof when mud and carsickness are the real problem.
A cat collar should snap free if it snags, sit light on the neck, and carry an ID tag. Here are the reflective, sensitive-cat, and multipack picks worth putting on a cat.
A small dog needs a bed sized to its body, not a shrunk-down version of a big-dog bed. Here are the memory foam, donut, and budget picks that fit small dogs and wash up after a muddy week.
A large dog can turn a calm walk into a tug of war in one step. Here are the rope, double-handle, and bungee leashes that hold up and stay comfortable on a big dog.
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Pet calculators
Enter your pet weight, age, and activity to get a daily calorie target, then see it as cups of dry food for dogs or cans of wet food for cats.
Add your dog weight and height to get a recommended crate length, width, and height, along with the standard size class.
Set your cat count and floors to see how many litter boxes your home needs, how to spread them out, and what size to buy.