Transparency & methodology
How we choose products, why we don't publish unverifiable numbers, and how affiliate revenue funds the site without influencing our recommendations.
How we choose affiliate links
Every product shown on Cuddlia goes through the same filter. Potential commission plays no part at any stage.
Verifiable sources
We start from verified Amazon customer reviews, manufacturer spec sheets and publicly available test reports. Every shortlisted product has a public URL you can check.
Objective criteria
We compare products against measurable criteria: materials, dimensions, battery life, pet compatibility, 3-year total cost and recurring usage feedback. No criterion is weighted arbitrarily.
Selection before affiliation
Rankings are finalised before affiliate links are inserted. If a product has no active affiliate programme, we still mention it when it deserves a spot.
Continuous updates
Prices, availability and reviews are refreshed automatically. An outdated listing is flagged or removed as soon as it is no longer relevant.
What we don't do
No made-up numbers
We do not display satisfaction statistics, effectiveness percentages or numbers of pets 'helped' without a verifiable source. When we cite a figure, we state its source.
No disguised home tests
We do not claim to have tested products ourselves in a lab. When we describe a result, we attribute it to its original source (customer review, manufacturer or public test).
No paid reviews
No brand can buy a spot in our shortlists, nor a positive review. Direct partnerships are declined to preserve independence.
Our numbers pledge
On Cuddlia you will never see made-up statistics ('90% effectiveness', '180,000 households helped', etc.) without a public methodology and verifiable source. The only figures we display are: the actual number of products in our catalog, the actual number of guides published, prices observed on Amazon, and review counts from the product's public listing.
If we ever publish a study or survey, we will publish its methodology, sample size and limitations.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does Cuddlia use affiliate links?
- Affiliate links let us fund the site without charging visitors. When you buy through an Amazon link, we receive a commission on the same price you would have paid anyway. It never changes the ranking or displayed price.
- How do you know a customer review is reliable?
- We do not individually verify every review. We look at the overall rating distribution, the length and specificity of comments, the presence of photos, and Amazon's fake-review detection signals. We always state the number of reviews a recommendation is based on.
- Why don't you publish statistics like '90% of owners satisfied'?
- Because such a figure would be impossible to verify without an independent, costly and representative survey. We prefer to say nothing rather than publish a statistic that sounds good but has no source.
- Are the top-ranked products the ones that pay the most?
- No. Rankings are finalised before affiliate links are inserted. If the best product in a category is not eligible for affiliation, we still recommend it and clearly state so.