Pet Supplies Specs Explained

Plain explanations of pet supplies specs on Wiki Shopping, such as sizes and ratings, and what each one changes when you choose a product.

Bar chart of pet odor and stain removers on Wiki Shopping by the formula their names mention. 49 name enzymes, 8 name oxygen or peroxide, and 119 name neither.

Enzyme Cleaners for Pet Stains, Explained

Enzyme cleaners break down the compounds in pet urine instead of masking the smell, so pets do not return to the spot; give them time and avoid ammonia.

Bar chart of food capacity for four PetSafe feeders, from 3 cups for the 2 Meal tray feeder to 24 cups for the Wi-Fi Smart Feed.

Automatic Pet Feeders, Explained

An automatic feeder releases set portions at set times; tray models suit a day or two, hopper models hold weeks of dry food, and Wi-Fi adds phone control.

Bar chart of PetSafe martingale collar sizes by neck size, from petite at 5.5 to 8 inches to large at 14 to 20 inches.

Dog Collar Sizes and How to Measure

Measure your dog's neck with a soft tape and match the brand's chart; a flat collar should pass the two-finger test, and a martingale fits behind the ears.

Bar chart of dog crates on Wiki Shopping by type. Furniture-style crates lead with 199, followed by metal with 97, soft-sided with 27, aluminum with 10 and plastic kennels with 5.

Dog Crate Sizes and Types, Explained

Crates are sold by length, from about 18 inches for toy breeds to 54 inches for giants; pick one your dog can stand and turn around in after measuring it.

Bar chart of PetSafe Easy Walk harness sizes by chest girth, from petite at 12 to 17 inches to extra large at 32 to 49 inches.

Dog Harness Sizing and Clip Types

Size a harness by chest girth, measured around the widest part of the chest behind the front legs; front clips help with pulling, back clips suit calm walkers.

Bar chart of how common arthritis is in dogs, as cited by the American Kennel Club. About 20 percent of all dogs have arthritis, and up to 80 percent of senior dogs show symptoms.

Dog Hip and Joint Supplements, Explained

Most dog joint supplements combine glucosamine and chondroitin, two cartilage building blocks; evidence is mixed, side effects are rare, and vets set doses.

Bar chart of protein in the FDA's example. A canned food lists 12 percent protein but has 54.5 percent on a dry matter basis; a dry food lists 37 percent and has 42 percent.

Dry vs Wet Pet Food, Explained

The key difference is water: canned food is about 75 to 78 percent moisture, dry food 10 to 12 percent, so compare dry matter and feed by calories.

Bar chart of litter boxes needed by number of cats, from 2 boxes for one cat to 6 boxes for five cats.

Litter Box Sizes and How Many Boxes You Need

Pick a litter box your cat can turn around in with low sides to step over, and keep one box per cat plus one extra, spread around the home.

Bar chart of the 245 pet carriers on Wiki Shopping by type. 83 are soft-sided, 19 are hard-sided and 143 do not state a type.

Pet Carrier Sizes and Airline Rules

Size a pet carrier from your pet's length, height and width; for the cabin, Delta suggests a soft-sided carrier no larger than 18 x 11 x 11 inches.

Bar chart of wet pet food on Wiki Shopping by container size. 3 oz is the largest group with 28 listings, followed by 3.5 oz with 17 and 2.8 oz with 16.

Wet Cat Food Portions, Meals and Storage

Start with the feeding guide on the can, split it into meals by your cat's age, adjust to keep a healthy weight, and refrigerate or toss leftovers.