This Vet Student Lists the Items She'd Never Buy for Her Cat and Why
We all love to grab our cat something fun from the pet store, but some pet products are better than others.
Thankfully, this vet student shared a video on YouTube outlining the products she'd never buy for her cat and why, so you can shop with a little more knowledge, and knowledge is power.
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"Things I would never buy for my cat, as a vet student," the video caption from the channel Juno & Kiko reads, and honestly, we wouldn't have thought about these things on our own.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZS_401Cbla0
She starts the list with de-shedding combs, going on in the comments to explain that these devices, while they may seem helpful for fluffy cats, can actually be "too rough and irritating on skin."
Flat and narrow bowls are next on the list, noting that they can induce "whisker fatigue and neck strain."
Dog collars come next, which might not be on the top of your cat's shopping list, but in case you thought all collars were the same, the vet student points out that collars made for dogs pose an "asphyxiation risk" and that cat owners must "make sure collars are breakaway."
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What to Use for Your Cats Instead
She explains further in the comments that cats are more at risk with collars than dogs because of their tendency to climb and jump off surfaces. A cat's collar must be able to break away if it were to get caught on something high up. This way, nothing impedes them from making a healthy landing or obstructing their breathing.
When one commenter said they felt bad for their cat because they've been using a flat, shallow bowl, the vet student jumped into the comments with easy-to-follow advice.
"You don't have to feel bad at all," she wrote back. "It's an easy fix. You can even put your current bowls on a raised box or something similar."
Simply raising the bowl can help relieve neck tension. Meanwhile, rounded bowls without corners make it easier for your cat to enjoy their food without getting whisker fatigue.
As for the de-shedding combs, they're not strictly necessary and are not recommended for frequent use. However, rubber grooming gloves can be a softer, gentler alternative.
Next time you're at the pet store shopping for your cat, give a hard think to the items on sale and be sure you're buying something that will be fun, safe and comfortable for your active pet.
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This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 11:05 AM.