Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee

Shipping Methods

We ship live animals Monday through Wednesday only to avoid weekend delays. Every order is carefully packed for a safe, comfortable journey.

We ship exclusively via FedEx Priority Overnight at a flat $45. While overnight is a bit more expensive, it is one of the most competitive overnight rates you will find, and we ship this way for one reason: the safety of your animals. Getting them to you in a single day is by far the safest option, and we are not willing to cut that corner.

Free Shipping: Orders of $400 or more ship completely free.

Orders placed Monday through Wednesday will ship the same week. Orders placed Thursday through Sunday will ship the following Monday.

Carrier Delays

Once a package has been picked up by FedEx, Creature Cache is not responsible for any delays, misroutes, or mishandling caused by the carrier. This includes weather related delays, mechanical issues, sorting errors, or any other disruption outside of our control. If a carrier delay results in a DOA, we will work with you directly to see what we can do to resolve the issue, though we cannot guarantee a replacement or refund in these situations. We strongly recommend tracking your package and being available to receive it at the time of delivery.

Extreme Weather Shipping

For temperatures above 85°F or below 45°F at either the origin or destination, we ship to a FedEx facility for customer pickup only. This is not optional during extreme weather. Reply to your order confirmation with the address of the FedEx hub nearest you and we will ship the package there. You must present a valid photo ID to pick up your package. This policy exists to protect the health and safety of your animals. If you are unable to pick up from a FedEx facility during extreme weather, we will hold your order until conditions are safe for home delivery.

Live Arrival Guarantee (LAG)

We guarantee live arrival on all FedEx shipments. In the event of a DOA, you must contact us within 2 hours of the delivery timestamp with photo or video proof of the deceased animals. We will issue a replacement or store credit at our discretion.

LAG is only valid when the following conditions are met:

The package is received by the customer at the time of delivery. Packages left unattended on doorsteps, porches, or mailboxes are not covered.
The shipping address provided is correct and complete.
The package has not been refused, rerouted, or redirected by the recipient.
There are no carrier delays beyond our control.

LAG does not cover animals that arrive alive but die after delivery. Once a successful live delivery is confirmed, the animals are your responsibility.

Packaging

Every order is packed with care in an insulated box to keep your animals comfortable and cool during transit. We line each shipment with damp paper towels for moisture and include gel packs as needed based on current weather conditions. We also include an overcount on every order to help cover any potential losses during shipping.

Shipping Restrictions

We ship to the continental United States only. We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally. We do not ship on Thursdays or Fridays to avoid packages sitting over the weekend. We reserve the right to hold shipments during extreme weather for the safety of the animals.

Order Processing

Please allow 1 to 3 business days for order processing before shipment. You will receive a tracking number via email once your order has shipped. Please ensure your email address and shipping address are correct at the time of checkout. We are not responsible for packages sent to incorrect addresses provided by the customer.