How to Find Pet Items at a Thrift Store

If your pet is in need of a "home" upgrade or you've added a new pet to the family, you can often find cages for birds, hamsters and gerbils, fish tanks and aquarium supplies--as well as pet carriers for your baby's home away from home.

You can't get around it--pets need to eat and drink. If you have a new pet or just need to replace a bowl that's been thrashed--thrift stores are great sources for all shapes and sizes of pet bowls--as well as a plethora of human dishes that can be transformed into pet dishes.

Most dogs aren't behaved enough to stick by your side as you stroll down the street--no matter how loyal they may be-the first cute cat that comes along, forget about it. You're gonna need a leash and collar--and you're in luck because thrift stores often have a good assortment to choose from.

Another thing you won't be able to get around is a litter box for your cat. You may want to buy one new (for obvious reasons), unless it's one of the fancy ones that you can save money on by getting used. In any case, you may want to hide the thing and a thrift store is the place to find a small, inexpensive cabinet that should do the trick. You can put the litter box at the bottom and if there's an extra shelf at the top, you can store food and supplies like baking soda and litter bags/liners. Or another option is to look for a large, Rubbermaid-type container to hide the litter box in. Just be sure to cut out a hole that's big enough for your cat to get in and out of.

Rubbermaid or Tupperware-type containers also come in handy for storing and keeping pet food fresh. Find larger ones for food and smaller ones for treats.

The linen section may be where you hit the most home runs. First of all, you can never have enough towels for drying your pet after a bath or a walk in the rain or wiping up paw prints. And thrift stores are the perfect places to get them, since pets don't care if the towels are faded or have frayed edges--or whether the monograms match their own.

All pets need a comfortable place to sleep. You can look for a used pet bed and choose from an assortment of simple blankets and mats to keep your pet cozy.

You can also find blankets or throws to cover couches and chairs and protect other furniture. Tablecloths can also work for covering furniture, as well as disguise the rubber container you're using to hide the litter box.

Cotton throw rugs and bath mats are great for putting down in your pet's eating area to trap food and water, as well as provide traction against spills. They are also good to lay down in front of a litter box to trap litter and provide traction for your cat when going in and out.

Like kids, pets can never have enough toys. Tennis balls and rubber toys are ones that surface a lot at thrift stores. You might also look for kids' toys that can double as pet toys, but just be sure they're puncture resistant and sturdy enough for your pet to chew.