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If you share your home with a guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or other small companion, you know how a tiny change can make a huge difference. The right bedding, habitat, and enrichment items keep animals healthy, reduce stress, and cut down on vet visits. Think of quality supplies as insurance: a few better choices today save time, money, and heartache down the road. Plus, happy pets are hilarious pets — and who doesn’t want a content little fuzzball rolling around with energy?
This guide focuses on popular small animals across US households: guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, dwarf rabbits, chinchillas, and small ferrets. Each species has its own needs, but many essentials overlap — safe bedding, chew-proof housing, good-quality food, and toys that promote natural behaviors. I’ll point out species-specific tips as we go, so you can easily adapt recommendations to your pet.
There are a lot of places to shop, from big marketplaces to specialty retailers. Below I cover stores that are popular in the US for small pet gear, what they do well, and why you might choose them. I include a mix of niche brands and mainstream sellers so you can compare selection, price, and specialty items.
Yuplay appears in the source list and is worth checking if you stumble across it while hunting specialty items. While better known in other product categories, some smaller retailers like this can carry unique enrichment toys or novelty habitats that big chains miss. If you want something off the beaten path — a custom hideout or a themed play tunnel — a site like Yuplay can be a surprise find.
Chewy is a go-to for pet owners because of its huge inventory and regular sales. For small animals you’ll find hay, pellets, bedding, hideaways, and a long list of toy options. Autoship features keep supplies like hay and pellets coming on schedule, which is great when you’re juggling a busy life and don’t want to run out of essentials. Chewy also highlights customer reviews, which help you judge quality before hitting buy.
Petco blends in-store convenience with a fairly broad selection online. Their small pet section tends to include cages, exercise wheels, chew toys, and a variety of bedding brands. If you like inspecting a product physically before you buy, a Petco visit lets you compare materials and make sure wheels are the correct size for your hamster’s back or that a guinea pig hideout is solid and chew-resistant.
PetSmart is another nationwide option with a solid range of essentials and seasonal items. Their stores often carry habitat bases and modular cages you can expand, plus cleaning and grooming tools designed for small animals. If you prefer to bundle purchases — food, bedding, and a new cage — PetSmart’s physical locations make parking a simple errand rather than a logistics puzzle.
Amazon is unmatched for selection and fast shipping across the US. You’ll find everything from budget-friendly basics to premium brands, plus a flood of user photos and reviews. One thing to watch: product quality varies widely, so read reviews carefully and check dimensions — cages and wheels in particular need to be the right size, or you risk injury to your pet.
Tractor Supply is excellent for larger or farm-style small pets — think rabbits and outdoor hutches. They carry sturdy feeders, heavy-duty carriers, and long-lasting bedding options in bulk. If you have a larger setup like a run or an outdoor enclosure, Tractor Supply’s hardware-focused approach delivers durable materials that hold up to weather and chewing.
MidWest specializes in cages and habitats and is a go-to brand for long-lasting, well-designed enclosures. Their modular cages, playpens, and plastic-bottom cages are popular for guinea pigs and rabbits. If you want a habitat that’s easy to clean and comfortable for your pet, MidWest products are a solid bet — just double-check dimensions in inches to make sure you meet space recommendations.
Small Pet Select focuses on hay and forage — a must for herbivores like guinea pigs and rabbits. Their products often come in larger quantities and are selected for freshness, which matters when hay forms most of your pet’s diet. For owners who prioritize diet quality and want consistent hay delivery, this kind of specialty supplier can be a real perk.
It helps to organize purchases into categories so you don’t miss anything important. Below I break down the must-haves and some optional, but highly recommended, extras that make life better for you and your pet.
Bedding provides comfort and absorbs moisture, so choose a dust-free, absorbent option. Paper-based bedding is popular for its low dust and odor control, while kiln-dried pine is often recommended over cedar (cedar is best avoided because it can harm small pets). Change soiled bedding often: spot-clean daily and do a full bedding swap weekly to keep ammonia levels low and noses happy.
Size matters: for guinea pigs, aim for at least 7.5 square feet for a pair — think 30 inches by 36 inches as a minimum; bigger is always better. Hamsters prefer tall, well-ventilated cages with solid flooring and wheel space — Syrian hamsters generally need a wheel that’s 8 to 12 inches in diameter to prevent back arching. Rabbits require roomy enclosures with a solid floor and a separate sleeping area. Avoid wire floors unless there’s a solid resting platform; toes and feet can suffer on wire for extended periods.
Diets vary: guinea pigs need high-quality grass hay and pellets formulated with vitamin C, while hamsters and gerbils do well on seed mixes and pellets that include a variety of textures. If you have a rabbit or guinea pig, hay should be available at all times — it supports digestion and dental health. Always check ingredient lists and opt for brands that use simple, recognizable components.
Toys are far more than playthings — they’re essential for mental and dental health. Chew blocks, willow tunnels, cardboard tubes, and foraging toys encourage natural behaviors and reduce boredom. For small rodents, exercise wheels and multi-level mazes will burn off energy. For guinea pigs and rabbits, tunnels and hideouts mimic natural burrows and create secure resting spots.
Pet-safe cleaning products, a good scooper, and extra litter pans are basics. Spot clean daily to remove wet bedding and droppings; a full habitat scrub — replace bedding and disinfect surfaces — should happen at least once a week. Choose cleaners labeled safe for animals, rinse surfaces well, and allow complete drying before returning your pet to the enclosure.
Keep a small grooming kit with a soft brush, nail clippers, and styptic powder for quick trims. Guinea pigs and rabbits often need regular nail trims, and long-haired breeds may require daily brushing. Watch for changes in eating or bathroom habits and maintain a small first-aid kit with basics like saline for eye rinses and a digital thermometer. For med-specific guidance, consult your vet — they’re the best resource for treatment plans.
Shopping for small animal supplies is part logic and part intuition. Here are practical tips that will save you time and money while ensuring your pet stays comfortable and safe.
Before ordering habitats, measure the space in inches where the cage will go. Check product specs carefully: what looks roomy in photos may be tiny in real life. For wheels and hideouts, compare dimensions to your pet’s body size. A hamster should run on a wheel without arching its back, and a guinea pig should be able to turn around easily in its hideout.
Customer photos reveal durability and true size better than staged catalog shots. Reviews often mention chew-resistance, ease of cleaning, and whether a product held up over months. Pay attention to repeat complaints — if many people report the same problem, it’s less likely to be a fluke.
Items you touch every day — bowls, hay racks, bedding — are worth spending a little more on. A sturdy ceramic food bowl, for example, won’t tip over like plastic ones, and a washable fleece liner can save money over time versus disposable bedding if you’re prepared for the laundry.
Safety is non-negotiable. Small animals are fragile and curious, so anticipate what they’ll chew, swallow, or squeeze into.
Never use cedar bedding, certain essential oil diffusers near small pets, or plastic toys that can be chewed into shards. When adding decorative items, make sure paint is non-toxic and that tiny parts cannot be swallowed. If in doubt, choose untreated wood, natural fibers, or items labeled explicitly pet-safe.
Introduce new toys one at a time and supervise your pet’s interaction for the first few days. Some toys that look stable can tip or have gaps that trap little feet. Adjust or remove anything that seems risky — your pet’s curiosity is adorable but relentless.
Quality doesn’t always require premium prices. Try these tactics to stretch your budget while keeping standards high.
Hay, certain bedding types, and pellets often come cheaper in bulk. If you have space to store them dry and rodent-proof, buying larger quantities reduces per-unit cost and shopping frequency. Just be sure to rotate stock so food stays fresh.
Cardboard, paper towel rolls, and untreated wooden blocks can be turned into satisfying, low-cost toys. DIY tunnels and hideaways are an easy weekend project and give you control over size and materials. Just avoid glue, staples, or inks that might be ingested.
Spend more on items that affect health and safety, and save on disposable or decorative things. A solid mid-range habitat and a good-quality wheel are worth the extra dollars; decorative hammocks and seasonal costumes are optional and don’t impact well-being.
These are daily-use items where durability and safety matter most. A well-constructed habitat in the right size reduces stress and prevents escapes, while a quality wheel protects joints and backs. Fresh, well-preserved hay supports digestion and teeth — it’s a core dietary piece worth paying for.
If you want to test a new treat or toy, buy the cheaper option first. If your pet loves it, consider investing in a higher-quality version. This way you avoid spending on items that end up ignored in a corner.
Before you hit purchase, run through this checklist: confirm dimensions in inches, check material safety, read recent reviews, and ensure the item suits your pet’s species and size. Subscriptions for hay and pellets can be a game-changer if you’re busy, but make sure you can pause or adjust frequency easily.
Shopping for small animal supplies in the US can be simple and fun if you know what to look for. Prioritize safety and comfort, measure ahead of time, and choose trustworthy stores — from specialist shops like Small Pet Select to big players like Chewy and Amazon. Whether you’re outfitting a first-time habitat or upgrading an old setup, smart choices create a healthier, happier life for your small pet. With the right gear, your little companion will thrive, and you’ll enjoy many playful, squeaky moments together.
| Small Animal Supplies - Other | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Goat Simulator Payday | $ 1,14 | |
| Planet Zoo Tropical Pack | $ 4,25 | |
| Planet Zoo Europe Pack | $ 5,16 |
