Finding Deals on Used Pet Supplies on Craigslist and eBay

Pet owners spend a lot. Between food, vet bills, and all the gear, a dog or cat can easily cost you thousands a year. But the gear side of that equation is totally negotiable - because other pet owners are constantly selling off stuff their animals outgrew, ignored, or just didn't take to. That adds up to a steady stream of dog crates, cat trees, carriers, agility sets, and premium beds hitting Craigslist and eBay at real discounts.

The key difference from other used categories: most pet gear is gently used or barely touched. You buy an $80 elevated dog bed, your dog decides the floor is better, and that bed ends up on Craigslist three months later looking brand new. This happens constantly. Once you know what to search for, you stop paying retail for this stuff entirely.

Big-Ticket Items Worth Hunting

Some pet gear is expensive enough that the used savings are genuinely significant. Dog crates are the classic example - a 42" MidWest Homes crate retails for $80-100 new, but sells used for $20-35 all day long. Heavy-duty airline-approved crates (Ruff Tough, Impact, Gunner) retail for $300-500 and show up used for $100-200, often barely used because the previous dog moved on or the owner stopped flying. Search "dog crate," "dog kennel," and the specific brand names for best results.

Cat trees and climbing furniture are another strong category. A big multi-level cat tree from Armarkat or Go Pet Club runs $150-250 new. Used ones sell for $30-70, and since cats use them lightly once the novelty wears off, you often get something in solid shape. Just inspect photos for heavy claw wear on the sisal posts - that's the part that actually degrades.

Dog agility equipment is an underrated find. Starter agility sets with jumps, weave poles, and tunnels retail for $150-300. They show up on Craigslist for $40-80 from people who took one class and never continued. If you have outdoor space and an active dog, this is a category worth setting an alert for.

Everyday Gear That's Worth Buying Used

Beyond the big items, the everyday stuff adds up fast at retail. A few categories where used almost always makes sense:

Dog exercise pens and baby gates: These are bulky, annoying to store, and show up constantly. A 24" tall 8-panel exercise pen that retails for $60 sells used for $15-25. Baby gates (yes, the dog-blocking kind) are the same story.

Pet strollers and carriers: Sounds frivolous until you have a senior dog with joint problems or a cat that needs regular vet trips. A decent pet stroller retails for $80-150. Used ones in good condition sell for $25-50. eBay is better than Craigslist for this one - more selection, easier to filter by size.

Dog ramps and stairs: Orthopedic foam ramps for getting dogs onto couches or beds retail for $60-120. Used ones are everywhere at $20-40, usually barely touched. Search "pet ramp" and "dog stairs" on both platforms.

Aquarium setups: Fish tanks and full aquarium kits are genuinely excellent used purchases. A 55-gallon glass tank with stand, filter, and lighting can retail for $400-600. Used setups sell for $80-200 all the time as people exit the hobby. Craigslist dominates here - tanks are heavy and shipping is impractical.

What to Search For

On Craigslist, cast a wide net with searches like "dog crate," "pet supplies," "dog kennel," "cat tree," "fish tank," "aquarium," "dog agility," and "pet carrier." Most people list this stuff under "pet supplies" in the for-sale section, so checking that category directly is worth doing too - not everyone writes a detailed title.

On eBay, brand-specific searches pay off. Search "Gunner kennel," "Ruff Tough crate," "Kong dog bed," "Orvis dog bed," and "Kurgo harness" for premium gear at discount prices. Filter to "used" condition and sort by "newly listed" to catch fresh inventory before anyone else. eBay is also better for smaller items like collars, harnesses, and leashes from premium brands - things that are genuinely hard to find used locally but show up in eBay lots.

Things to Skip or Be Careful With

A few categories where buying used requires more thought. Soft-sided and fabric items - pet beds with heavy staining or odor, plush toys, fabric carriers - are worth passing on unless the seller can show they've been thoroughly cleaned. Pet smells embed into foam and fabric in ways that are hard to reverse.

Chewed items are another obvious skip. An exercise pen with bent panels or a crate with a damaged door latch is worth about zero. Check photos carefully and ask sellers directly if the animal was a chewer or had separation anxiety - most will tell you honestly.

For anything that attaches to a car (harnesses, crash-tested carriers, seatbelt tethers), stick to new or certified used only. Safety ratings aren't transferable if the item has been in an accident, and you usually can't tell from photos.

Setting Alerts So You Don't Miss Deals

Pet gear moves fast in the good categories. A Gunner kennel or a nice aquarium setup will get 10 inquiries the same day it's listed. The only way to consistently win those deals is to hear about them first - which means having alerts running around the clock rather than checking manually.

LurkMor monitors Craigslist and eBay continuously and notifies you as soon as something matching your search goes live. Set up alerts for your target items - dog crates by size, specific brands you want, or general pet supply searches in your area - and you'll get a notification the moment a listing hits. That first-mover advantage is often the difference between getting the deal and seeing a "sold" reply when you reach out two hours later.

Pet owners spend a lot on new gear out of habit, not necessity. Most of it is available used, in great shape, at half price or better. A few well-set alerts and you can outfit a new pet for a fraction of what the pet store would charge.