Pets Guide
Pets are companions in Stardew Valley that provide friendship, daily gifts, and add life to your farm. The 1.6 update expanded the pet system with turtles and additional pet options.
TL;DR
Choose a cat or dog at character creation. Marnie brings your first pet on the first sunny Wednesday or Friday in Spring after earning 1,000g. Pets have friendship levels (max 1000). At max friendship, pets have a 20% chance daily to drop gifts. Additional pets can be bought from Marnie starting Year 2 or after maxing your first petโs friendship.
Getting Your First Pet
Character Creation
During character creation, you choose between:
- Cat (multiple styles available)
- Dog (multiple styles available)
This choice determines which pet Marnie will bring to your farm.
Adoption Event
Marnie will visit your farm with your pet on:
- When: First sunny Wednesday or Friday morning in Spring
- Time: 6:00 AM - 9:30 AM (must exit farmhouse)
- Condition: Earned at least 1,000g (or forced by Spring 20)
Note: If you skip the cutscene, the pet is not adopted.
Default Pet Names
| Player Gender | Cat Default | Dog Default |
|---|---|---|
| Male | Dudley | Yogi |
| Female | Miso | Snooch |
Names cannot be changed after adoption.
Additional Pets (1.6)
After reaching maximum friendship with your first pet OR reaching Year 2 without a pet, you can adopt more pets from Marnieโs Ranch.
Pet Prices
| Pet | Price |
|---|---|
| Cat | 40,000g |
| Dog | 40,000g |
| Turtle (Green) | 60,000g |
| Turtle (Exotic) | 500,000g |
Requirements for Additional Pets
- Purchase a Pet License from Marnie
- Build a Pet Bowl at the Carpenterโs Shop for each new pet
- Place the Pet Bowl on your farm
Warning: Pets without their own Pet Bowl lose 10 friendship points each night.
Removing Pets
If you no longer want a pet, use Butterfly Powder on it.
Pet Friendship
Friendship Mechanics
- Maximum: 1000 points
- Petting: +12 points per day
- Water Bowl: +6 points (next morning, if not raining)
- Rainy Days: Bowl automatically fills
Friendship Levels
Every 200 points = 1 friendship level (5 levels total)
| Level | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 0-199 | New friend |
| Level 2 | 200-399 | Getting to know you |
| Level 3 | 400-599 | Good friends |
| Level 4 | 600-799 | Close friends |
| Level 5 | 800-999 | Best friends |
| Max | 1000 | โ |
Grandpaโs Evaluation
Having 999+ friendship points with your pet grants 1 point in Grandpaโs Evaluation.
Pet Gifts (Max Friendship)
At maximum friendship (1000 points), pets have a 20% chance daily to drop a gift when petted.
Cat Gifts
| Gift | Chance |
|---|---|
| Mountain fish (1) | 34.4% |
| Forest river fish (1) | 34.4% |
| Shrimp (1) | 5.7% |
| Snail (1) | 5.7% |
| Periwinkle (1) | 5.7% |
| Bat Wing (2) | 6.8% |
| Cheese (1) | 3.4% |
| Rabbitโs Foot (1) | 1.7% |
| Duck Feather (1) | 1.7% |
Dog Gifts
| Gift | Chance |
|---|---|
| Bone Fragment (3-4) | 31.01% |
| Clay (2) | 15.50% |
| Hardwood (1) | 15.50% |
| Driftwood (1) | 15.50% |
| Stone (1) | 15.50% |
| Various artifacts | ~7.5% |
Turtle Gifts
| Gift | Chance |
|---|---|
| Clam (1) | 21.74% |
| Coral (1) | 21.74% |
| Sea Urchin (1) | 21.74% |
| Nautilus Shell (1) | 10.87% |
| Rainbow Shell (1) | 4.35% |
| Sea Jelly (1) | 4.35% |
| Cave Jelly (1) | 3.26% |
| Lobster (1) | 2.17% |
| Crayfish (1) | 2.17% |
| Crab (1) | 2.17% |
| Cockle (1) | 2.17% |
| Mussel (1) | 2.17% |
| Seafoam Pudding (1) | 1.09% |
Pet Care Tips
Daily Routine
- Pet your pet every day (+12 friendship)
- Fill the water bowl with your watering can (+6 friendship)
- Check for gifts at max friendship
Pet Bowl Locations
The Pet Bowl is placed automatically on your farm:
| Farm Type | Bowl Location |
|---|---|
| Standard | Top left, next to house |
| Forest | Top left, next to house |
| Wilderness | Top left, next to house |
| Hill-top | Top left, next to house |
| Riverland | Top left, next to house |
| Four Corners | Intersection of sections |
| Beach | Right above right shore |
| Meadowlands | Top right, next to house |
Important Notes
- Sprinklers cannot fill the Pet Bowl
- Rain automatically fills the bowl
- Ignoring pets does not decrease friendship (unlike NPCs)
- Slingshots do not decrease pet friendship
- Hats can be placed on cats and dogs (but not turtles)
Horses
While not traditional pets, horses are important companions:
Getting a Horse
- Purchase a Stable from Robin (10,000g + Hardwood + Iron Bars)
- The horse comes automatically with the Stable
- Can be named on first ride
Horse Speed
- Base speed: +1.4 (much faster than walking)
- Carrot buff: Feed a carrot for +0.4 speed for the day
- Horse: The Book: Permanent +0.5 speed
- Speed buffs stack
Horse Flute
- Warp your horse to your location
- Works outdoors (including Ginger Island and Desert)
- Obtained from the Bookseller
Data Sources
All pet data is based on Stardew Valley Wiki (stardewvalleywiki.com) and verified in-game for version 1.6.