Let’s be real—after spending hours slicing through enemies and parkouring across Feudal Japan, sometimes all you crave is a fluffy tail to pat and a pair of ears that don’t belong to a shinobi alert button. Assassin’s Creed Shadows gets it. Not only can you pet nearly every four-legged (and occasionally two-legged) critter you stumble upon, you can actually bring them home. Your hideout, once a bare-bones ninja sanctuary, is now a customizable slice of paradise that can double as a petting zoo. And with the 2026 updates, things have only gotten fluffier.
I started my journey as a hardened assassin, but somewhere between the second and fifteenth stray cat, my priorities shifted. The pursuit of vengeance doesn’t have to mean ignoring adorable wildlife. The game’s pet system is surprisingly deep, and it scratches an itch I didn’t know I had — the itch to create a private animal sanctuary where my shinobi can meditate while surrounded by tail-wagging happiness.
Unlocking Furry Friends: The Ways of the Whisker
You won’t just wake up to find a Shiba Inu doing your laundry. Unlocking pets requires a little legwork, but hey, that’s what assassins are for. There are three main methods, each more delightful than a basket of puppies.
- Open-World Petting Sprees 🐾
While exploring shrines, temples, and peaceful villages, you’ll encounter animals minding their own business. Walk up, press that interaction button, and enjoy a brief moment of pure zen. Many animals will automatically unlock as a hideout pet after you pet them. It’s like the universe rewarding you for not murder-hoboing your way across the map. Pro tip: the more remote the shrine, the rarer the critter.
- Ornament Vendors 🛍️
Scattered through villages, Ornament Vendors now stock a rotating selection of domesticated animals alongside their usual trinkets. Since the 2026 “Hearth and Harmony” update, these inventories have expanded to include exotic pets like the Tanuki pup and even a sleepy baby boar. They cost in-game currency, but honestly, what else are you going to spend mon on — another sword polish?
- Sumi‑E Paintings 🎨
When you find a painting spot and an animal is nearby, completing the artwork has a high chance of adding that animal to your collection. It’s as if your character is saying, “I appreciate your beauty so much, I’m going to immortalize you in ink and then maybe give you scritches forever.” Some of the rarest pets, including the mythical white fox, require this method.
The Critter Catalog: 2026 Edition
Thanks to ongoing support and a community that basically demanded more fluff, the available pet roster has grown significantly. Here are some personal favorites:
| Animal | Unlock Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Akita Dog | Pet in villages | Loyal, barks at suspicious bushes. |
| Calico Cat | Pet at shrines | Kneads the ground, judges your life choices. |
| Tanuki Pup | Purchase from Ornament Vendor | Wears a tiny leaf hat. No magical transformations yet, but I have hope. |
| Baby Monkey | Complete Sumi‑E near hot springs | Throws fruit at passing servants. It’s chaotic good. |
| Deer Fawn | Pet in sacred forests | Bambi vibes, but tolerates your parkour training. |
| Fox (Inari) | Complete a hidden Sumi‑E quest | Glows faintly at dusk. I’m 90% sure it’s semi‑divine. |
| Sleepy Boar | Ornament Vendor (seasonal) | Snorts in its sleep. Best unlocked during autumn events. |
And yes, duplicates are allowed. You want three of the same goofy cat? Go for it — until you hit the hard cap of 30 total animals.
From Pet to Hideout: Building Your Personal Menagerie
Once you’ve unlocked a pet, it doesn’t just magically appear in your hideout. You’ve got to do some interior design, shinobi style. Enter build mode (the same interface you use to place rooms and decorations), then switch to the brand‑new Animals tab. This tab only showed up in late 2025 for me, and it’s been a game‑changer.
Select the animal you want, pick any free spot — and I mean any spot. I once placed a fox on a rooftop because why not? The animal will then settle in, performing idle animations like sleeping, rolling, or staring judgmentally at your training dummies. If you change your mind, you can move or remove them at any time without losing the unlock.
Here’s the kicker: the maximum of 30 pets applies to the entire hideout. That might sound like a lot, but when you’re trying to build an army of miniature goats, you’ll hit the limit fast. I recommend mixing species and scattering them around so every corner holds a surprise. There’s nothing quite like meditating by a koi pond and suddenly realizing you placed a loud rooster nearby.
2026 Updates: More Fur, More Fun
Since launch, Ubisoft has been quietly feeding our obsession. Patch 3.2 added interactive pet behaviors: dogs now follow you around the hideout for short periods, and cats occasionally bring you “gifts” — usually a dead leaf or a rusty coin, but it’s the thought that counts. The “Moonlit Menagerie” DLC introduced nocturnal animals like owls and a friendly bat, though the bat tends to startle guests. I’m still holding out hope for a miniature horse, but as of 2026, that remains a dream.
Sweetest quality‑of‑life change? You can now “call” a specific pet to your current location inside the hideout using a whistle emote. Great for those moments when you desperately need a bunny to complete the aesthetic of your tea room.
Final Whisker Wisdom
Bringing pets into your hideout isn’t just a cosmetic gimmick — it’s a statement. It says, “Yes, I’m a deadly force of nature, but I also believe in work‑life balance and the importance of a good belly rub.” Plus, it’s hands‑down the best way to impress visiting allies. Who needs opulent weapon racks when you have a piglet napping in your dojo?
So go forth, pet everything that doesn’t try to kill you, and remember: a hideout is never really complete until it’s overrun by adorable creatures. Just maybe keep your prized scrolls away from the teething monkey.
Happy collecting, fellow shadow warriors. 🐾🖤