In a city where a one-BHK is often home to three generations, getting a pet is never a casual decision. Mumbai families are asking which breed suits a 500-square-foot flat. They want to know how a kitten will cope with monsoon humidity, and whether the society allows dogs at all. These questions now come before the question of price.
Nearby Pets India, an online pet platform serving more than 770 cities, says Mumbai buyers stand out for how much they research. “A Mumbai family will often message us five or six times before booking,” says Soundarrajan Kannan, Founder & CEO. “They ask about lift etiquette, noise and how much grooming a coat needs in the monsoon. We would rather answer every one of those questions than sell a pet that doesn’t fit the home.”
Cats are winning the apartment debate
Cats are one of the clearest trends in the city. Nearby Pets India sources kittens partly from Mumbai itself, so local buyers can bring a kitten home without a long journey. Persian, Himalayan and other indoor-friendly breeds are popular with working couples, who want a companion that is happy alone during long commutes.
Among dogs, smaller and calmer breeds lead Mumbai enquiries: Shih Tzu, Pug, Maltese and Cocker Spaniel. Before booking, the company’s team talks buyers through each breed’s exercise needs, coat care and temperament. This helps them avoid a mismatch that ends with a pet being given up months later.
Meet first, pay the rest later
Trust remains the biggest worry for anyone buying a pet online. Nearby Pets India uses a “meet-first” model to address it. A buyer reserves a pet with a 25% advance and pays the remaining 75% only after meeting the pet at delivery.
Every pet is checked by a veterinarian before dispatch and comes with a vet certificate. Puppies leave only after they are at least 42 days old, with their first vaccination and deworming done. A 7-day health guarantee covers the first week at home.
“No pet leaves for a new home until a vet has examined it and signed its certificate,” says Mohit Johari, Operations Head at Nearby Pets India. “If a puppy isn’t ready, it waits.”
“Mumbai has seen enough online pet scams that people are right to be cautious,” says Mohd Asad Siddiqui, CTO of Nearby Pets India. “Paying most of the price only after you have seen the pet with your own eyes is the simplest way we know to earn that trust.”
Help after the handover
The company says much of its work starts after delivery. New owners get advice on diet, vaccination schedules and settling a pet into a small space. Support is available on WhatsApp and through the Nearby Pets India app on the Google Play Store.
Founded in 2023 in Kharar, Punjab, Nearby Pets India has since served more than 1,000 customers across India. It works with regional partners and support centres to reach cities far from its home base.
For Mumbai’s apartment dwellers, the message is simple: choose the pet that fits the home you have, not the one you saw on social media.
About Nearby Pets India: Nearby Pets India helps families find dogs, cats, birds and small pets across 770+ cities, with vet-checked pets, a 7-day health guarantee and a meet-first booking model. Website: https://nearby-petstore.in/ · Phone/WhatsApp: +91 80696 45024 · Media contact: support@nearby petstore.in
