Expert Insights: How We Select the Best Pet Products for Your Furry Friends
For over six years, our dedicated Reviews team has been meticulously evaluating a vast array of pet products, ensuring that every recommendation prioritises your pet’s health, happiness, and safety. Led by senior editor Lisa Sabatini, our buying guides are the result of in-depth research, hands-on testing, and crucial medical reviews by licensed veterinarians. Our team comprises seasoned professionals with backgrounds as dog trainers, veterinary science students, and former vet office assistants. Furthermore, we collaborate with a broad spectrum of experts, including dozens of veterinarians, animal behaviourists, pet-safety specialists, and passionate pet owners, all contributing to our commitment to recommending products that offer superior quality, exceptional value, and unparalleled safety.
Our Rigorous Approach to Product Evaluation
At the heart of our product coverage lies a deep commitment to animal welfare. For every guide we produce, our reporters consult with leading veterinarians, animal behaviourists, and other pet care authorities to establish the essential criteria for product excellence. Our editor then works in tandem with the reporting team to craft testing methodologies that are specifically tailored to each product category, taking into account diverse use cases for various pets and household needs.
When it comes to recommending pet food, medications, and supplements, our advice is firmly grounded in comprehensive research and rigorous reporting. We develop our evaluation criteria based on feedback from impartial experts, such as board-certified veterinary nutritionists and behaviourists. Our purchasing recommendations also adhere to the stringent standards set by esteemed organisations like the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, the FDA, and the Companion Animal Parasite Council. To guarantee the accuracy of our guides, all content undergoes a thorough review by independent medical reviewers, who are all licensed veterinarians, before publication.
Key Standards Guiding Our Recommendations
While each pet possesses unique needs and preferences, our evaluations are consistently guided by a set of universal standards that apply to all products we endorse:
- Safety and Comfort: We prioritise products that ensure the well-being and comfort of your pets.
- Ease of Use: We assess how user-friendly a product is for pet owners.
- Durability and Performance: We evaluate how well a product withstands repeated use and maintains its effectiveness over time.
- Price and Value: We consider the cost-effectiveness and overall value offered by each product.
- Product Claims: We scrutinise product claims regarding health and wellness to ensure they are substantiated.
Our final recommendations are a culmination of product performance during testing, comparative analysis against similar items, and an assessment of the value provided for the price point.
Editorial Independence and Unwavering Standards
Our recommendations are entirely editorially independent. We do not accept payment for guaranteed coverage or favourable reviews, and brands have no opportunity to review our content before it is published. While we may earn an affiliate commission if you purchase through our links, this is always disclosed with a clear disclaimer on our Reviews stories.
Our editor works collaboratively with reporters to develop and refine robust testing methodologies, ensuring a consistent level of quality across all our pet-related coverage. As an integral part of a global newsroom reaching millions of readers monthly, our Reviews team upholds established journalistic principles focused on accuracy, fairness, and transparency.
Comprehensive Pet Product Categories We Cover
Our expertise spans a wide range of pet product categories, ensuring you have access to reliable advice for all your pet’s needs:
- Pet Food: Selecting the right food is paramount for your dog or cat’s health. Our reporters delve into nutritional adequacy, brand reputation, and manufacturing standards, consulting board-certified veterinary nutritionists to identify the best options. We’ve even tested fresh food brands with our own dogs.
- Medicine and Supplements: The market is flooded with products making bold health claims, but safety and efficacy can vary dramatically. We consult veterinarians, peer-reviewed research, and guidelines from organisations like the Companion Animal Parasite Council and the FDA to evaluate treatments for fleas and ticks. For dog supplements, we scrutinise health claims, ingredients, and manufacturing practices against National Animal Supplement Council guidelines.
- Dog Supplies: Our recommendations are built on real-world testing with a diverse group of dogs. Editors and reporters have spent thousands of hours evaluating essential items like no-pull harnesses, leashes, and coats, as well as comfort-focused products such as orthopedic dog beds. We assess fit, durability, comfort, ease of use, and long-term wear.
- Cat Supplies: Cats often have particular environmental needs. Our recommendations focus on products that harmonise functionality, feline comfort, and ease of use for owners. We test items like litter boxes, airline-approved carriers, brushes, and automatic feeders in real homes, considering safety, durability, cleaning, and, most importantly, whether they meet the preferences of discerning cats.
- Pet Toys: Toys are vital for keeping pets physically active and mentally stimulated. Our editors rigorously test dog and cat toys with numerous pets to gauge engagement, durability, and safety across various play styles. From puzzle toys and balls to scratchers and toys for aggressive chewers, we seek options that maintain a pet’s interest and withstand active use.
The Art and Science of Testing Pet Products
The pet product landscape is as diverse as the pets it serves. Our editor collaborates closely with reporters to identify distinct use cases for each product type, designing testing methodologies that cater to a wide spectrum of ages, breed sizes, and specific needs.
We put pet accessories, supplies, and toys to the test with our own beloved cats and dogs, observing their real-world performance and interaction. For many buying guides, we also enlist other members of our Reviews team to test products with their pets, providing a broader understanding of how items perform across different breeds, behaviours, and play styles.
Products intended for daily use, such as litter boxes and dog beds, are subjected to at least a two-week testing period. During this time, we carefully monitor our pets’ preferences and document our own experiences with using, cleaning, and maintaining the products. Less frequently used items, like nail clippers and brushes, are tested at least once per pet.
Beyond everyday use, we conduct durability tests simulating long-term wear. We want to understand how a product will fare after months or even years of use. This involves applying extra force to fasteners, repeatedly testing zippers, soiling and washing beds and accessories, and simulating behaviours like scratching, chewing, and digging.
Meet Our Dedicated Pet Product Experts
Our team brings a wealth of experience to the table, with our editors and reporters accumulating over 40 years of combined experience in pet care reporting. Our medical reviewers are both licensed veterinarians with a combined two decades of clinical practice.
Lisa Sabatini, Senior Pets Editor
Lisa Sabatini has been the pets editor for Reviews since 2020. She spearheads the development of rigorous research and testing methodologies, overseeing all aspects of pet product coverage from conception to publication. Lisa works closely with veterinary medical reviewers to ensure our recommendations meet the highest standards of animal health and welfare. She has edited over 100 buying guides and actively participates in product testing. In 2022, she moderated a SXSW panel on “Pet Tech and the Changing Pet-Owner Relationship,” exploring technological advancements in pet care. Lisa’s journalism career began at The Wall Street Journal, followed by editing parenting and lifestyle content at Scary Mommy. She also worked as a freelance developmental editor for Callisto, editing dog training books for young readers. Her personal experience caring for two rescue dogs through their senior years has deepened her commitment to evidence-based training and pet health.Dr. Julie Liu, DVM, Veterinary Medical Reviewer
Dr. Julie Liu, a veterinarian, consultant, freelancer, and speaker based in Austin, Texas, has been a veterinary medical reviewer for the Reviews team since 2024, with a particular focus on cat product coverage. A passionate advocate for feline welfare and the emotional health of all pets, Dr. Liu has contributed extensive educational content to Fear Free, including blogs, webinars, and a self-paced course for veterinary professionals focused on enhancing the emotional well-being of cats and dogs. She is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional and a certified Cat Friendly Veterinarian, with a history of presenting at both local and national levels. Dr. Liu also volunteers for the FelineVMA’s Cat Friendly Practice committee, dedicated to reducing stress during veterinary visits for felines. In late 2023, she launched My Family Cat, an in-home and virtual cat behaviour consulting practice serving the Austin area.Dr. Sorin McKnight, DVM, Veterinary Medical Reviewer
Dr. Sorin McKnight is a veterinarian at Wellborn Road Veterinary Medical Center in College Station, Texas, bringing over 10 years of clinical experience. She has served as a veterinary medical reviewer for the Reviews team since 2021, offering expert insights on pet nutrition, flea and tick prevention, and various pet care products. Dr. McKnight’s professional interests lie in preventative medicine and nutrition, aiming to enhance the long-term health and quality of life for companion animals. She is a graduate of St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine. Outside of her practice, Dr. McKnight enjoys travelling and spending time with her family.Jackie Brown, Freelance Reporter
Jackie Brown is a freelance reporter for Reviews, specialising in pet health and wellness products since 2019. She played a key role in launching our dog food coverage and has a particular expertise in parasite preventives and dog grooming tools. Jackie consults a network of veterinarians to refine her product recommendations, including flea and tick treatments and dewormers. She has personally tested fresh dog food with her own dog, Jäger. Jackie’s extensive background includes 8 years as a veterinary assistant in animal hospitals, followed by a 20-year career in writing and editing for pet and veterinary industry media. Her work covers general pet health and care, nutrition, grooming, behaviour, training, veterinary and health topics, rescue and animal welfare, lifestyle, and the human-animal bond. She is also a contributing writer to “National Geographic’s Complete Guide to Pet Health, Behavior, and Happiness” and the author of “It’s Raining Cats and Dogs: Making Sense of Animal Phrases.”Janelle Leeson, Freelance Reporter
Janelle Leeson is a freelance reporter for Reviews who has extensively covered pet food and tested hundreds of products with her two cats since 2023. Her approach is rooted in scientific principles that align with a pet’s biological needs for play, optimal nutrition, and environmental enrichment. Janelle applies rigorous testing methodologies across various product categories, from evaluating cat litters to identifying the best airline-friendly cat carriers. She also collaborates with veterinarians, veterinary nutritionists, and animal behaviourists to inform her reporting. Her portfolio includes over a dozen pet food guides offering evidence-based recommendations for puppies, kittens, adult dogs and cats, and senior pets. Janelle is a three-time Certificate of Excellence winner from the Cat Writers’ Association and has served as both a panelist and contributor for the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ annual conference. She also dedicated five years as a volunteer cat foster for Portland-based rescues, caring for over 50 cats and kittens. Janelle holds a B.S. in biology and transitioned to freelance journalism after a decade-long career in the sciences. Her pet-related work has been featured in publications such as Inside Your Dog’s Mind, Inside Your Cat’s Mind, and Paw Print magazines, as well as online platforms like Rover, PetMD, Daily Paws, and Fetch by The Dodo. She also writes about beauty, fashion, and parenting for various publications.
