For anyone who has ever dreamed of turning their hideout into a bustling menagerie, Assassin's Creed Shadows offers a surprisingly deep pet collection system. It is not just about petting a stray cat in a back alley—though that works too—but about scouring feudal Japan for everything from loyal dogs to mischievous macaques. The year is 2026, and while the game has been out for a while, players are still trading tips on where to find that one elusive creature. So if you are ready to transform your living quarters into a veritable zoo, here is everything you need to know.

First, the basics. Unlocking a pet usually means finding it in the open world and simply walking up to interact with it. A quick animation plays, a heart icon pops up, and the animal joins your collection. However, not every animal plays by the same rules. Some are tied to specific quests, others lurk inside ornamental vendors' inventories, and a few require a detour to the Helix store. The variety keeps things interesting, and it also means you cannot just rely on luck alone. You will have to travel almost every corner of the map to catch 'em all.

Once you have collected a pet, placing it in your hideout is straightforward. Head to the main building, interact with the edit hideout table, and navigate to the build menu—keep scrolling until you reach the final section labeled Pets. There you will see every animal you have unlocked. You can place up to 30 of them in total, and while legendary animals are restricted to just one placement, common ones can be spammed. Want a whole squad of white Akitas? Go for it. The only limit is your hideout's cap. Thirty may sound generous, but with so many different creatures available, you might find yourself having to choose favorites.

Let's dive into the most classic companions: dogs and cats. Dogs are found in nearly every settlement and often near shrines. They tend to appear in six guaranteed variants—though some players swear they have seen a seventh that never seems to show up on official lists. The six that everyone agrees on are:

• Black Akita

• Black Akita puppy

• Golden Akita

• Golden Akita puppy

• White Akita

• White Akita puppy

Spawn patterns feel random. One player might visit Sakai and only see Golden Akitas, then return a few hours later to find all three adult colors roaming the streets. So if you are missing a particular shade, just fast travel back and forth or wait for a season change. Outside of these common breeds, there is Tsuki‑maru, a unique dog from the pre‑order side quest "Thrown to the Dogs." The quest marker appears east of Osaka, near a kofun in the region, and you simply walk up the hill to meet the dog. Tsuki‑maru can only be placed once in the hideout, but its distinctive look makes it a prized addition.

Cats are even easier to round up because of one special location: Omi Cat Island, also called Okishima. This small island sits in the middle of Lake Biwa and is, for all practical purposes, a feline paradise. No enemies spawn there by default, so even a low‑level player can sail over and start petting. Every common cat variant can be unlocked on the island. The confirmed breeds are:

• Tabby Bobtail

• Calico Bobtail

• Calico Bobtail kitten

Rumors persist about a Tabby Bobtail kitten and rarer coats like spotted or pure white, but as of 2026 nobody has managed to add them to a permanent collection. If you do not feel like making the trip, you can also find cats lounging in any major city; just keep an eye out for them curled up on rooftops or near merchants.

Then there are the animals that require a bit more effort. Sumi‑e challenges, those painting minigames scattered across the provinces, reward more than just experience points. The most famous reward is the macaque monkey, a cheeky primate that will swing around your hideout once placed. Do not let the seasonal requirements listed online fool you—players have confirmed that these painting spots can be completed in almost any season, regardless of what the description claims. The macaque, for example, was found by many during spring, not summer. Still, it pays to check back if a spot appears empty; the world can be finicky.

Additional exotic pets are sold by ornamental vendors, those traveling merchants who set up camp in towns and cities. Their stock changes both randomly and with the seasons, so you will need to visit them frequently. The known selection includes:

• Dark/Light Macaque

• Ox

• Black Ox

• White Ox

• Copper Pheasant

• Serow

• White Serow

• Serow Fawn

Copper Pheasants occasionally pop up in loot boxes inside castles as well, so if you are raiding a stronghold, check every corner. Because of the randomness, no one can give you a precise shopping route. The best strategy is to stop at every vendor you see during your travels, and eventually you will cross them all off your list.

Finally, the Helix store offers a handful of seasonal pets that cannot be found anywhere else. A bundle of all four costs 800 Helix credits, or you can buy them individually for 250 credits each:

• Autumn Boar

• Summer Deer

• Winter Akita

• Spring Bobtail

There is also the Sakura Fox, a vibrant creature that sometimes appears in the Daily Exchange. On lucky days it is available for free; on others you will need to trade keys for it. If patience runs out, the fox can be purchased directly for 200 Helix credits. Keep an eye on the store rotations, because these seasonal offerings tend to disappear for weeks at a time.

So there you have it—every pet known in Assassin's Creed Shadows as of 2026. The list may grow if Ubisoft releases a surprise update, but for now it gives completionists plenty to chase. Whether you want a hideout full of loyal dogs, a kitty kingdom, or a chaotic mix of boars and deer, the tools are all there. Just remember to pet everything you see and never ignore a merchant’s stall.