The Essentials List: ‘The Big Bang Theory’ star Kaley Cuoco on her dog mom essentials and new pet brand
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Just seven months after giving birth to her daughter, Matilda, Kaley Cuoco welcomed a new baby into the world: her pet brand, Oh Norman!. The Emmy-nominated actress, animal advocate and first-time mom tells CNN Underscored that she envisioned starting the line for quite some time and naming it after her beloved dog, Norman, who passed away in 2021, makes it all the more special. “He just keeps living on and gets to be the face of animal rescue and products that I believe in,” Cuoco says.
Oh Norman!, which launched last October, currently offers a range of dog products, including dog bowls, toys and apparel, but there’s more to come. In fact, the “Big Bang Theory” star shares that she’s developing a supplement for senior dogs and a scent for future products like shampoos. Dog treats are also on the way, which Cuoco says her dogs happily helped test.
Even though the actress has rescued other dogs since Norman, she credits Norman and her love of dogs in general as her reason for starting the brand. It’s also why a percentage of every sale goes toward animal rescue. “I feel like [when] you buy something from Oh Norman!, you’re doing something good,” she says. “You’re not only getting an awesome product that is eco-friendly, that’s healthy, that’s all-natural, but you’re doing good, and you’re giving back to animal rescue. I think most people who have pets want to be able to do that.”
These days, the “Based on a True Story” star is focused on rescuing senior dogs but quickly points out that she can’t imagine life without her puppy, Opal, who she initially believed was a senior after misreading her age online. As for Cuoco’s advice for new dog owners, especially those with rescues: Be patient. It’s normal to have those moments of panic during the first week, she says, but after a few days, everything settles into place pretty quickly. “You just have to give it a little bit of time, especially a rescue dog, especially a senior,” she says.
Ahead, the actress shares eight of her must-have dog products with CNN Underscored, which, of course, includes a couple of picks from her own pet brand.
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Patties
Cuoco recently switched her dogs to Vital Essentials, which offers high-quality entrees, snacks and treats for dogs and cats. “It’s a really nice brand," she says. "It's a little more expensive than others, but it's all-natural. It's freeze-dried meat, and the dogs love it!” Cuoco also says that she keeps the fridge stocked with ground meat and that, more often than not, if she and her family are eating food, the dogs will have a nibble too.
$73 at Chewy
$77 at Vital Essentials
Roverlund Out-of-Office Pet Carrier
Cuoco uses this pet carrier from Roverlund. Available in multiple patterns, the airline-compliant, foldable carrier features a removable and washable, fleece-lined dog bed. It also has a pocket for your pup’s essentials, soft sides, a built-in leash, a waterproof bottom, reflective detailing and shoulder straps that double as a spare leash.
From $159 at Amazon
From $159 at Roverlund
Oh Norman! Clean the Eff Up Paw Wipes
If the goal is to keep your floors and furniture free of messy paw prints, dog wipes are the way to go. “I know I sound biased, but our O.N. [Oh Norman!] paw wipes are absolutely incredible," Cuoco says. "They are so clean. I have them all over the house!" Because her dogs are always running in and out, she simply grabs and goes. Free of sulfates, alcohol and parabens, the cruelty- and fragrance-free paw wipes are made in the US and are plant-based.
Furminator Long Hair Dog Shedding Tool
Cuoco says she's a fan of the brushes from Furminator. “There's a mini one for my little dogs and a big one for a German shepherd,” she says. “I can't even tell you the amount of hair that comes off of our shepherd, so I love that brush.” Designed with an ergonomic handle and a stainless steel edge, the grooming tool reaches below the top coat to remove loose dog hair. Depending on your needs, there’s also one for short-haired dogs.
Little Beast 'I Love Me' Dog Sweater
Cuoco says she recently received some sweaters from Little Beast, and both she and her dogs love them. “Little Beast makes these amazing dog sweaters, and they're really chic, really funny, very cute and they actually happen to fit my little dogs pretty well,” she says. Made from 100% cotton, this machine-washable sweater is available in various sizes. The fashion-forward pet brand also offers other adorable products such as cozy onesies, parkas and collars.
Oh Norman! Destroy Me Recycled Plush Toy
Though Cuoco’s dogs love playing with tennis balls, she mentions that her brand’s Destroy Me Recycled Plush Toy is also a favorite. True to its name, the crinkly plushie, which is modeled after Norman and made from recycled plastic bottles, is designed to be torn up by your dog and then replaced as needed.
Leashboss Patterned Standard Dog Leash
Cuoco says she rarely puts a collar and leash on her mostly older dogs (they'd rather lounge in the backyard than go on walks), but when she does, she uses the collars and leashes from Leashboss. Made in the US from high-quality nylon, the leash has a padded handle for extra comfort, a swivel clip, a D-ring and reflective stitching.
Srutirbo Bear Pet Bed
Cuoco likes this bear-shaped bed so much that she recently bought another one. “It's literally the shape of a teddy bear’s arms and head, and it wraps its arms around the dog. It's super cozy,” she says, adding that the bed is currently on her couch.
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
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