Health & Hygiene

The unglamorous essentials: litter scoops, paw cleaners, toothbrushes, and the cleaning kit that stops a muddy walk becoming a muddy house. These are the products that get used twice a day, so they are chosen for how they hold up rather than how they look.

For cats, the scoop's slot size decides how long litter duty takes — too narrow and you shake it for a minute per tray. For dogs, the no-rinse foam cleaner handles paws without a full bath.