Shop by pet

Every animal in your home deserves kit that suits the way it actually lives. Pick a section below for practical pointers on what to look for, along with links to our care guides. Delivery anywhere in the UK costs nothing, and unused items can come back free within 30 days. Prefer to start from a maker? See Shop by brand.

• Dogs
• Cats
• Fish & aquatics
• Small animals
• Rabbits & guinea pigs
• Birds
• Reptiles
• Horses

Dogs

From a first lead to a bed for older joints, dog kit works best when it fits properly. For collars and harnesses, measure the neck and the deepest part of the chest with a soft tape rather than guessing from breed; you should be able to slide two fingers under a well-fitted collar. Beds are easier to choose once you know whether your dog likes to stretch out or curl up. Flat-faced breeds often manage better with shallow, wide bowls, and a non-slip base saves mopping. On dark winter afternoons, a reflective lead or coat makes you both easier to see.

Guide: Fireworks season: helping dogs and cats feel settled at home. Also see Walk & travel and Beds & rest.

Cats

Cats are particular about where they eat, sleep and scratch, so placement matters as much as the product itself. Choose a scratching post that is tall and heavy enough not to wobble at full stretch, and stand it close to a favourite sleeping spot. Keep food, water and litter in separate places; plenty of cats drink more readily from a wide bowl or a fountain set away from their food. A sturdy carrier that opens from the top as well as the front makes trips out calmer for everyone. If your cat wears a collar, choose a quick-release design.

Guide: Fireworks season: helping dogs and cats feel settled at home. Also see Toys & play.

Fish & aquatics

Fishkeeping rewards patience. Before choosing a tank or bowl, decide which fish you would like to keep, because their adult size and habits set the minimum volume, filtration and heating. Modern bowl-style aquariums with built-in filters and lighting suit small, well-planned set-ups, while larger rectangular tanks hold more stable water and leave room for fish to grow. Whatever you choose, plan for a filter, a water conditioner, a test kit and, for tropical species, a thermostatic heater, and give the tank time to mature before any fish go in. We sell equipment only, never live fish.

More set-up guides are on the way in The ArdentPets Journal. Also see Habitats & housing.

Small animals

Hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, chinchillas and ferrets live very different lives, so start with the species rather than the cage. Syrian hamsters live alone and need deep bedding plus a solid wheel big enough to run on with a straight back. Gerbils are keen diggers and do best in a deep tank filled with plenty of substrate. Rats and mice are sociable climbers that enjoy tall cages with shelves and ropes, while ferrets need a secure, roomy home and time outside it every day. Chinchillas need a regular dust bath and a cool room. For every one of them, more floor space is almost always better.

Guide: Setting up a hamster or gerbil home. Also see Habitats & housing.

Rabbits & guinea pigs

Rabbits and guinea pigs are social animals, happiest in compatible pairs or small groups of their own kind, with room to run, hop and stretch every day. A hutch should be the sheltered bedroom attached to a much larger run, not the whole home. Outdoors, look for a raised, weatherproof design with a covered sleeping area, and plan ahead for winter covers and summer shade. Indoors, a large pen with a hidey house works well. Hay racks, heavy ceramic bowls and drip-free water bottles make the daily routine quicker.

A full hutch and shelter guide is coming soon to The ArdentPets Journal. Also see Feeding & bowls.

Birds

A cage is where a pet bird spends much of its day, and width matters as much as height, because birds fly across rather than straight up. Bar spacing must suit the bird: narrow for budgies and canaries, wider and stronger for larger parrots. Offer perches of several diameters and materials to keep feet active, and fix food and water pots where droppings cannot fall into them. Swap toys around regularly. Choose a bright, draught-free room away from the kitchen, where cooking fumes can be harmful to birds.

Browse care guides in The ArdentPets Journal. Also see Toys & play.

Reptiles

Reptiles rely on their surroundings to control their body temperature, so a vivarium is really a carefully managed habitat. Research the species first: desert lizards, forest geckos and snakes need very different temperature gradients, humidity and lighting, including UVB for many species. Choose a vivarium with secure, lockable doors and good ventilation, connect every heat source to a thermostat, and place a thermometer and hygrometer at each end so you can check conditions at a glance. A hide at both the warm and the cool end lets your reptile choose where to rest.

Browse care guides in The ArdentPets Journal. Also see Habitats & housing.

Horses

Horse kit comes down to fit and the British weather. Rugs are sized by length, measured from the centre of the chest along the side to the point of the buttock, and the fill should match how your horse lives: a no-fill sheet for showers, a heavier turnout rug for winter fields and a fleece for drying off after work. Boots ought to sit snugly without twisting, so check each size chart against your horse’s legs. For the daily routine, a hay net hung at a sensible height, a stiff dandy brush, a soft body brush and a sturdy hoof pick cover most of it.