Essentials for your furry friends

Our pets need a lot of love and attention, they are not just hobbies. They also need essentials like food, collars, and body harnesses. For grooming them, trimmers, shampoos, brushes etc are needed. Things like cat carriers make it easier to travel with your cat. 

While some prefer home-cooked food for their fur babies, some like to give them packaged food, but both work.

We have prepared a list of some of the essentials along with their price range and place of availability for our readers.

Collar and body harness

Price: Collar Tk99-Tk550, Harness Tk350-Tk1,000

Where to find: Daraz, Chaldal, Gulshan 1 DCC Market, BD Pet Shop and PetAcle

Collars and harnesses come in different sizes and materials but you must want one that looks good on your fur ball. The harness is also important for both cats and dogs while taking them out for a walk. You can easily find one within Tk350 to Tk1,000 at online shops and also at Gulshan 2 DCC market.

If you do not want them to get lost, putting on a collar would also help. They are available in a range of colours and shapes, all suited for your beloved pets.

Food

The price range for cat food: Tk85-Tk6,300

Where to find: Daraz, BD Pet Shop, Chaldal, Meena Bazar, Agora, Gulshan 2 DCC Market and Care and Cure Pet Clinic (Dhanmondi 7)
Best Brands: Reflex, Royal Canin and Purina Felix

Kitten food and food for adult cats are different but all kinds are available in the market. The price range varies depending on the type (wet food in cans or dry food in packets) and quantity (larger quantity costs more). Treats usually have a higher concentration of the usual food ingredients and should only be given in small amounts.

Dog food also varies depending on whether it is for puppies or adults and quantity. Good quality foods help keep your dog's digestive system healthy and their fur shiny. A portion of ideal dog food has protein, minerals and fibres in the right amount.

Reflex, Royal Canin and Purina Felix are best known brands for both dry and wet food. However, if you can manage homemade food for your pets, it will be best for their health, suggest some experts.

Shampoo and flea spray

Price range: Tk490-Tk1,000 

Where to find: BD Pet Shop, Care and Cure Pet Clinic (Dhanmondi 7), Chaldal

Best Brands: Petme, Petsmile, PetHex, Duvo+ and Micodin

Regular baths with shampoo (there are specialised ones like anti-shedding shampoo) and using sprays will keep your pets clean and free from fleas and ticks. They will also help in reducing smell if any. Petme, Petsmile, PetHex, Duvo+ and Micodin are popular brands for both shampoos and conditioners. But before choosing any of these, take suggestions from a vet. These are available at both online shops and local pet stores at Gulshan 2 DCC market.

Toys

Price: Tk75-Tk1,500

Where to find: BD Pet Shop, Daraz, Mew Mew Shop Bd and Sagor Mart 

Playing with toys is a healthy activity for pets. For dogs, there are rubber balls and chewing toys. For cats, there are toy mice, teasers (wooden and plastic) etc. You can look for more options on Facebook pages like Mew Mew Shop Bd and Sagor Mart as these two pages have huge collections.

You could also buy regular toys from the market and tweak them to be suited for your pets. And for physical stores, you can visit DCC Supermarket in Gulshan 2. There are a number of pet stores carrying a large range of pet essentials, where you will find almost everything for your pet friend.

Cat litter

Price: Tk300-Tk800

Where to find: BD Pet Shop, Daraz, Gulshan 2 DCC Market, S B Pet Shop (Mirpur 60 ft), Mew Mew Shop Bd and Sagor Mart 

Cats need to use litter every day and this needs to be changed as frequently as required. If they are left for long, they will create an unpleasant smell. Along with changing the litter, also try to wash out the litter tray or box every once in a while. A few branches of Meena Bazar and Agora Super Shops also sell this, so you can find them there too.

Other than the ones mentioned above, there are trimmers and nail cutters (Tk500-Tk600), dog shelters, cat carriers (Tk1,500-Tk2,500) and scratching posts and pads for cats (Tk600-Tk6,000). Customised scratching posts are also available online.

Those who have pet allergies can install air purifiers in their home. These can also help in preventing the fur from spreading all across the rooms. (Xiaomi's air purifier costs between Tk16,000 and Tk20,000).