Where to shop for your pets during the coronavirus pandemic, and what you should stock up on

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

• Stocking up on necessary pet supplies means you won't have to venture out to the store or veterinarian for pet essentials like food or medicine.
• Signing up for autoship at Chewy, Petco, or PetSmart for important pet supplies ensures that you won't run out of food, medications, or other supplies.  
• Interactive pet toys can provide extra entertainment and engagement for your dog or cat, whether you're working remotely or simply staying home to practice social distancing.
• Due to high demand, some retailers are facing shipping delays of 7 to 10 days as well as stock shortages for some items. We recommend you contact their customer service representatives for questions related to shipping.

With stay-at-home orders in place across the country, taking care of your pet's needs as well as your own can be a challenge. Whether you recently adopted a cat, brought home a new dog, or are a longtime pet owner, it can difficult to get the supplies you need.

Some retailers like Petco and PetSmart are offering curbside pickup with a 10% discount. But if you'd rather stay put, there are plenty of pet supplies to be found online and delivered to your door. 

Here are the four best places to buy pet supplies online:

Chewy: Flat rate shipping via FedEx is $4.95, and all orders over $49 ship have free 1-3 day shipping. Chewy also offers 40% off (up to $20) initial orders through its Autoship program and an extra 5% to 10% off select brands for recurring orders. During the coronavirus pandemic, they are prioritizing Autoship orders. 

Petco: All orders over $35 ship for free. For orders under $35, shipping is calculated at checkout. Petco is offering 40% off (up to $30) first-time repeat delivery orders and 5% back on all repeat delivery orders with a Pals Rewards membership, with some exclusions.

Entirely Pets: Ground shipping for all orders is $5.95, and priority shipping is $8.95. Orders over $85 are eligible for free ground shipping, with some exclusions. 

PetSmart: PetSmart Treats members receive free standard shipping for orders over $49. For orders under $49, shipping is calculated at checkout. New and recurring autoship orders are discounted 5% (up to $150), with some exclusions.

These are the five things to stock up on for your pets:

Certain essentials all pet owners should have on hand include pet food, your pet's prescription medications, flea and tick preventives, and waste-removal supplies like cat litter and disposable poop bags. Don't forget some fun interactive toys and, if needed, calming aids to keep your pets occupied and comfortable while you're spending more time at home.

Pet food and treats

Running out of pet food is simply not an option. Don't wait until you're down to your last can or scooping out the final serving of the kibble from the bag. Stock up on a month or two supply, or consider buying through a company that offers an autoship service so you never run out of food again. Many fresh pet food companies are still shipping during this time as well and offering discounts for first-time subscribers, including Ollie, Spot & Tango, The Farmer's Dog, Smalls for Cats, Nom Nom, and PetPlate.

Prescription medications

Plan ahead and stock up on your pet's medications before you get down to the last few pills. If you run out of a vital medication, you might have no other choice than to drive over to your veterinarian for a last-minute refill. Petco offers 35% off your first prescription order when you sign up for repeat delivery, which means you'll never have to worry about remembering to refill your pet's prescription. Chewy, Entirely Pets, and PetSmart offer a 5% discount on select autoship and repeat delivery prescriptions. 

Flea and tick preventives

Fleas and ticks will seize any opportunity to invade your pet. It's always a good idea to keep a few months' supply of flea and tick preventive on hand, especially as the weather warms and fleas and ticks become active. For recommendations on flea and tick preventives and treatments, check out our guides for dogs and cats.

Waste-removal supplies

While toilet paper has flown off the shelves, don't forget about your pet's hygienic needs. Depending on your pet's bathroom requirements, keep a month or two worth of cat litter, poop bags, and puppy potty pads. 

Interactive pet toys and calming aids

Although your pet is happy that you're home all day, you still need to get your work done. Interactive toys can help keep your dog or cat entertained and engaged so you can stay focused at work. 

For dogs, check out toys like Outward Hound's Nina Ottosson interactive dog puzzles. Hide treats inside and let your dog use their nose, paws, and brain to figure out how to get them. And of course, there's always the tried-and-true Kong rubber toy. Stuff with canned food, treats, and/or peanut butter and freeze, and your dog will stay occupied for as they work to get the food out. 

For cats, smear a healthy treat like plain yogurt or even some canned cat food onto the LickiMat Cat Mat and freeze, and your cat will jump at the challenge of licking up the yummy goodness. Or check out the Cat Amazing Interactive Treat Maze and Puzzle Feeder, which harnesses your cat's natural instinct to hunt and explore with three levels of difficulty for a continuous challenge.

Some dogs may begin to develop separation anxiety now that you are home all day. If you find they now become anxious when you step out to run errands, there are things you can do to prevent this disorder. For other dogs that experience unrelated anxiety, there are also veterinarian-recommended calming aids that may help. However, whenever your dog exhibits new behaviors that concern you, we recommend speaking with your veterinarian to rule out other issues first.