I remember being perpetually tired when my dog, Simba was a cute and rambunctious puppy.. Once, she sat on my forehead, and I didn’t object. Because 1) I knew where she was and 2) she wasn’t breaking things. The solution was easy: one of the best pet playpens.
Unless you have a bird or fish who can be kept in an enclosure, a pet playpen is something you should definitely consider getting. This way, your pet can stay in the same room as you and still have quite a wide area to play around.
It’s much better than a cage or a hutch. However, depending on what pet you have, how many, and their age, you will require different types of playpens. How to pick?
Best Pet Playpen Reviews: Top 7 of the Bunch
In this blog post, I’ve explained about 7 playpens that are suitable for a variety of pets. We’ve carefully listed their features, so you know which enclosure is for which pet.
Top 3 – Best Pet Playpens
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | PRICE |
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New World Pet Playpen |
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Zampa Portable Pet Playpen |
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ZENY Fence Barrier Playpen |
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Here Are the Best Pet Playpens Review 2022
- New World Pet Products Foldable Playpen
- Zampa Portable Foldable Pet Playpen
- ZENY Fence Barrier Playpen
- EliteField Soft Pet Playpen
- MAGINELS Pet Playpen
- SIMPDIY Exercise Pet Playpen
- CJWPOWER Small Animal Pet Playpen
1. New World Pet Products Foldable Playpen
You have puppies that are being crate trained. They’re growing rapidly, and you’d really like to give them a bit more space. In that case, I’d recommend this New World Pet Products pen as the best pet playpen. Why? First, this playpen is very no-nonsense. It’s made up of 8 connection panels that cover a 16 square feet area.
You can assemble it without any tools, and use it outdoors and indoors, as it comes with ground stakes. Second, the reason why I really like it is because it can be connected to a puppy’s crate or dog house and simply offer him a wide play area. Your puppy is going to love this pen!
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If I had to talk about the cons, you might want to put down a mat when assembling this indoors as the corners may scratch the floor. The bars are quite spacious and airy. While that’s a perk, it also means smaller pets can squeeze through and escape. Lastly, if your puppy is a biter, he might get his teeth stitch in the bars, so keep an eye out!
2. Zampa Portable Foldable Pet Playpen
If a secure, soft-sided playpen is what you’re looking for, this Zampa product can offer you quite a few features. I really like this as it’s perfect for taking care of a new mother cat and her litter. Even if the kittens are a little older, they wouldn’t be able to climb up as you can close the top.
Another thing that makes this playpen good for kittens and small puppies is the water resistant feature. It can also double as a carry case, and can be folded and put inside a bag that comes along. It also has some pockets as an extra perk!
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If I had to pick a disadvantage, I’d say that it’s a little cumbersome to fold, and the manufacturers could’ve provided better instructions. The mesh on the top and sides is sturdy, but a determined pet can still scratch or chew through. All in all, I find it’s one of the best pet playpens with cover out there.
Also Read: How to Raise a Kitten – Tips for Beginners
3. ZENY Fence Barrier Playpen
Let’s face it, puppies are energetic and can be absolutely unmanageable sometimes. They’re capable of escaping from a standard playpen if they’re so inclined. In cases like those, what do you do?
Why, you get one of the best pet playpens, of course. I love how sturdy the metallic build of this playpen is. It’s rust resistant, and also easily expandable. It has two gates, so there’s more accessibility.
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This playpen is foldable, so even though it’s heavy, it’s not too hard to transport or store. Although while the gates are convenient, they’re not very secure, so I’d suggest you to reinforce with some zip tipes or cables. The metal is also prone to scratching the floor, so maybe invest in a mat to put under it when used indoors.
4. EliteField Soft Pet Playpen
Often, soft sided playpens aren’t much of a match against energetic puppies or kittens. In that case, this dog playpen can come to your rescue. The higher than usual sides and the overall reliable look was noticeable.
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The manufacturer offers a 2 year warranty for this large playpen. That alone should tell you that you can use it without worrying. In fact, you can put a dog bed, feeding bowls and toy in it, and still leave your puppy some space to sprawl out.
5. MAGINELS Pet Playpen
If you’re worried that your pet will climb or squeeze through the bars of wire playpens, or chew and scratch through the mesh of soft pet playpens, the panels of this MAGINELS product offers a good solution.
It’s basically a series of solid, semi-transparent plastic panels on a wire frame. You can monitor your pet from outside, and they can neither climb out, squeeze through or chew through the enclosure.
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However, I’d like to advise you against getting this playpen if your pets are energetic, especially puppies. The panels would not be able to hold up if puppies or other pets shove against it. It will either topple or break. It’s alright to use if you have a well behaved adult dog, though.
Also Read: Best Dog Cooling Mat – Top 10 Reviews
6. SIMPDIY Exercise Pet Playpen
The market is swamped with puppy playpens. That’s enough to make any small animal parent frustrated. Where are the playpens for smaller animals? Well, here it is! While the SIMPDIY playpen can technically be used as a puppy playpen, it’s more suitable for small pets.
I particularly like this playpen as an indoor hutch for rabbits. The bar spacing is perfect for keeping bunnies, hamsters and guinea pigs safe. The product comes with rubber pads, so it wouldn’t hurt your floors.
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The zip ties that come along are also useful to reinforce the structure. More importantly, I really like how you can customize the shape of this enclosure. You can choose to keep the top open, partially covered or totally enclosed. You can even build a two-tier play area. The possibilities are endless!
7. CJWPOWER Small Animal Pet Playpen
Animal playpens do not have to be expensive, you know. You can easily get a cheap pet playpen that’s functional. Take this soft sided pet playpen, for example. It’s open top and the sides are made of mesh and strong cloth. What I really like about this product is that the manufacturers took the users’ feedback and tried to upgrade.
The upgrade is good. You can use it for any animal that isn’t capable or prone to climbing. In fact, one of my friends informed me that it’s the best for a beardie! That’s right, this is a good choice if you’re looking for accessories for bearded dragons.
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Another thing that really tickled my fancy is that the manufacturers claimed this product, when packed up, weighs little more than an apple. That’s a great portable playpen, indeed! However, remember to monitor the pet since there isn’t a top cover. It’s also not a good choice for a puppy or a kitten.
How To Make Sure You Have The Right Playpen
1. Your Pet
One of the best pet playpens for a docile, old dog may be a terrible choice for a rowdy puppy. Similarly, a product that works fine to keep rabbits enclosed might prove to be useless against kittens who love to climb.
Think about your pet’s proclivity to climb or jump the playpens’s panels, their weight and level of energy, their size (whether they might slip through the bars), etc. before picking a playpen for them.
2. The Purpose of the Playpen
Are you just going to use the playpen as an airy space for your dog? Then a simple, sturdy wire enclosure would be good. If you’re using it as a place where a mother will feed its babies, you should pick one of the soft-sided pens with a cloth bottom.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for an enclosure that would keep drafts away from your pet’s sleeping area, try to get one with solid panels.
3. Build of the Playpen
Whether you’re getting a fence-type playpen or a soft-sided one, you should always check online reviews to see if they’re well made. If after a few days of usage you notice the playpen breaking down, that would be terribly frustrating.
4. Expandability
I always maintain the opinion that the bigger space you can give your pet, the better. For this reason, I’m partial to the playpens that can be expanded. Thankfully, there are some playpens in this list that can be expanded. You have the option to buy extra units or panels and expand the enclosure. As long as your wallet allows, you should really consider this option.
5. Indoor or Outdoor Use
If you’re using the playpen for indoor use, make sure nothing in the playpen will scratch or damage your floors. On the other hand, if you’re using the playpen for outdoor use, make sure the manufacturer recommends it for such usage. You should also make sure it comes with pegs or spikes that you can use to secure the pen to the ground.
6. Portability
You might want a playpen to permanently keep indoors and might not worry about moving it around. But for those who like to take their pets on trips and camping tours, a portable doggie playpen (that’s foldable and lightweight) would be good.
7. Ease of Cleaning
In case you’re using the playpen for puppies and kittens who aren’t housebroken yet, their playpen should be easy to clean. Especially, if it’s a soft-sided playpen, the bottom should be removable, washable and waterproof.
Also Read: How to Train a Pitbull – Best Tips and Tricks for Your Pet
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are Dog Playpens a Good Idea?
A: To make sure your dog doesn’t accidentally trash your house and doesn’t get himself into trouble, you should get a dog playpen. Train him to stay in the playpen while you’re away or busy, and it will be their safe space. Just get a spacious pen so he doesn’t feel cramped.
Q: Is a Playpen Better Than a Crate?
A: While you can easily use a crate as a place to make your pet sleep and facilitate potty training, it’s not right to keep him in a crate for a longer time. If you’re often busy and can’t keep an eye on your pet, it’s best to provide him with a large playpen.
Q: Can You Keep a Kitten in a Playpen?
A: Kittens are prone to climbing and squeezing through the bars of a playpen. If you’re inclined to keep them in a playpen, make sure it is one with solid sides and also has a covered top. Do make sure to provide all the necessary things a kitten needs and enough toys.
Conclusion
Pet playpens are more common in households with puppies. But really, you could also get one of the best pet playpens for a litter of kittens, rabbits, hamsters, mice and whatnot. They help in socializing your dogs and cats.
While you may already know that socialization is important to make sure a dog is well behaved, it’s also beneficial for cats. More importantly, they’re great for a multi-pet household. Additionally, playpens also act as a run for smaller animals like rabbits and give them opportunities to exercise.
I hope this guide was able to answer your questions regarding pet playpens! Remember, no matter how good a playpen you get, make sure to play with your pet as much as possible. Love and care isn’t optional!
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