The staff is kind, but the place smells horrendous! And no wonder, cats roaming everywhere and spraying on items. The last time I went (which will also be my LAST time), there was a woman sitting in a chair spooning clam chowder from a can onto the floor while all the cats licked it up straight from the floor. There's GOT to be some health code violations going on in there. read more

This place is wonderful! Kittens/cats get to riam free instead of like every other place I've been to where they're trapped in tiny cages. This should be the only 5 star pet store for that reason imo. None of the kittens have ever been 'dirty'. I've been coming to this pet store even before they moved to this location and it's always been a wonderful place. All the cats/kittens have their own personalities, that cannot be blamed on the store. Most of the kittens are very friendly and well socialized. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Keep in mind, this store is small, not a warehouse. They do keep necessities in stock. It's a small business not a large corporation. Some of these reviews have some disconnect with reality. I don't know how this is not rated five stars, it makes me disappointed in humans, for sure. Any animal person wouldn't rate it less than 5. read more

DO NOT GO HERE. The fish are kept in horrendous conditions here. Half of the bettas were dead, floating upside down in their little cups when I visited. When I mentioned this, the worker told me that it was normal for half of their fish for sale to be dead. What??? She then proceeded to spit into the bag before putting the betta I purchased into it. She also did not tie the bag correctly, so it started leaking everywhere, leaving my fish with almost no water in the bag, which she was reluctant to fix for me. When I expressed my concern with the way the fish were kept and with my experience there as a whole, I was laughed at and rudely dismissed. I feel so bad for the poor animals for sale here, and think that this business should be shut down. read more

A very nice neighborhood pet store. Excellent groomer on site and easy to get appointments for her. Lots of cats that are all vaccinated and neutered for sale. I believe they charge $200 per cat, which is a fair price. This store is owned by Mary and Joe who bought the place when it moved from the former location. The usual inventory of pet supplies and aquarium fish. Sure you might get a part time person who isn't very knowledgeable once in awhile but generally well trained staff who love animals. Don't believe those earlier posts about cleanliness and poor hamsters up for adoption. That's not the way it is here. Go see for yourself and clear your head playing with some kittens! read more

I just adopted a cat who I was told was previously sick, but was in good health at the time of adoption. After taking him home and spending more time with the kitten, it was clear that the kitten was still very sick and needed medical attention. I took him back to the store the next day and the staff acted like this is a common occurrence and that the kitten had "kitten cold". It was more than that, probably some urinary tract issues as well. I was no able to get my money back, per their policy, which is probably put in place because they know that their animals are going to be brought back. It was so hard to bring that cat back to the store but it needs much more medical attention than I could give it. Noahs Ark selling a sick cat to anyone is so wrong and terrible for all parties. Do not buy cats from this place. The staff was unprofessional and rude to me at the time of sale and also when I brought the cat back. I am heartbroken. read more

I have used over 5 groomers in Madison area over 20 years, Noah's Ark was surprisingly the best by leaps and bounds. Lowest price, easiest to schedule, best job on grooming my 90 pound newfoundland ($85). Highly recommended. read more

AMAZING store , amazing owners. I run a sugar glider rescue and they have been amazing with helping me find people to adopt from and too, saving many little furry lives. Their crickets are excellent for Sugar Gliders. read more

I absolutely adore Noah's Ark. They are so knowledgeable and have a great selection of animals alway. We just got our brand new kitties from there and they were so helpful. Cannot recommended them enough. read more

My wife and I went to check it out, never set foot in there again. The place is filthy dirty everywhere. The cats for adoption were dirty, a couple looked very sick. I'm sure they're doing their best during tough days here, but it was the filthiest pet store I have ever seen. read more

Great selection of quality food. The staff is really nice and it's super adorable to see the adoptable kittens running around. It's nice that they can stay out of cages most of the day. Prices are very good. Plenty of parking. read more

Two more things to add: They have a food program where if you buy 12 bags, the 13th is free. Everytime you buy food, they mark it on a card they keep at the store, and even if you buy the 40 pound bag, the 13th=free! You do have to ask about it, they don't exactly advertize it. We currently have our dog in begening obediance. It's an 8 week class and she's had three classes so far. I realize they say, that to be a good dog teacher you probably arn't so great with humans but our teacher really isn't even that great of a teacher. Three classes and she's only introduced two things: orient to the left and what she calls 'calming' down. I also realize that you can't just take your dog to the class and expect them to know it, but if WE don't even know what to work with our dog on, how is our dog ever supposed to know? read more

Great haircut for my dog Gracie today . Staff was super friendly , Great price too..

I get my pup's food here because it's close to home, and I like supporting local businesses, especially pet stores. Their food selection is decent. They don't have a TON of brands, but what they do carry are good. Their treat and grooming selections are okay and I honestly haven't spent much time looking at their toy selection, because my 9 year old couch potato doesn't bother with them. The kitties they are known for letting run around the store are very cute and fun to pet, and it's a nice little touch to the store. I've had pleasant interactions with all their staff. They don't seem to go above and beyond what's expected, but when I had questions they answered them, and they make nice little small talk as I'm checking out. They also offer a buy 12 get the 13th free food program. Unlike other store that do it in the area, the brand doesn't matter, which was really nice when I switched brands. They also remember to ask me if I'm part of the program every time I stop in if I forget to say anything. Overall, I like the place, but if I moved out of the area, probably wouldn't make more than a 15 minute drive to return. read more

I have been here twice now. I have left a little bit puzzled each time. Their treat selection is on par but would cater to smaller dogs in my opinion. Their dog food selection is hit or miss. I was looking for science diet, large breed and they seemed to have science diet but odds and ends of formulas. I also went in looking for options for one of my dogs that pulls...a lot. I had mentioned that we already use a halti harness so she offered up the pronged collar. I know there are a lot of different theories on dog training out there and this is an option but it was not something I would be trying. The space might be a bit small for them as well as their many kittens. I do love going in and petting the cats but at a certain point, it kind of got distracting. Either way, I can usually get what I need without having to drive further than needed but if I need more than treats, dog bags or shampoo, I would go elsewhere. read more

We have been buying our dog food from here for years. Also coming to visit the kittens as we were not quite ready to add one to our family. During my last visit I expressed some concerns as my current lease has me paying $300 just for our dog, and I needed to find out if adding another pet would include another fee. It seems one of their part time employees didn't understand what I was saying, complained to the manager, and when I went in 20 min ago was told by another employee that I wouldn't be able to adopt a cat because of this complaint. I have had issues with the (lack) of customer service here but have continued to go because of the high quality of pet food and how much my son enjoys playing with the kittens. Today was my last visit. I used to train dogs with Invisible Fence and have been a pet owner for years, and the fact that some random angry employee was able to effect this sort of action is unacceptable. They will no longer have my family's business. read more

Friendly local business owners. Went in today for a cat carrier and was surprised by the wide selection of food, treats, toys, etc. Affordable as well! read more

I love this place! They had so many cute little kitties walking around and playing and overall the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed. I got my baby male rat here and he's grown up to be extremely friendly, playful, and healthy. He was well socialized as a baby which made it so much easier to get along with him. 10/10 recommend to get your pets here! read more

Noah's Ark Pet Center?? More like, Nooooo way will i ever step foot in this ark pet center. From the moment we stepped foot in this store with our 4 month old puppy, we had an unwelcomed feeling from all of the employees. Walking into the store, you would have thought we had a rabid dog on our hands. Everyone seemed bothered that we even walked in to the store to help support the local businesses. We went in for a simple nail and hair trim, and the groomer acted like we were a burden on her apparent busy (and seemingly miserable) life. Nail trim? Decent. Hair trim? We wanted a basic trim around his face, basically so its out of his eyes. She gave him a trim that would bring back horrible memories of our childhood where our parents tried to give us haircuts, resulting in uneven cuts looking like they used a pair of rusty garden shears. no way. read more

Helpful, friendly staff. Great selection of food and supplies for dogs, cats, birds, fish, rodents and amphibians. They sell cats (many roam the store, so watch your step!), birds, fish and other little beasts, too! They also offer fantastic dog obedience classes and pet grooming -actually, I give them an extra high rating because of the great job they did shaving my cat! Half as expensive as most places and they let me witness/help out as needed, which is much less stressful for my mankitty than the places that require you to drop off your pet for a few hours (or the day). read more

I have been going here since I was a small child. I love Noah's Ark!! The best part is they allow their kittens that are for sale to run free in the shop. It's great! You can play with kittens while you shop! I've gotten some wonderful cats from this store and would highly suggest you support this locally owned pet shop!! read more

Nice local business that has been around forever! Mary and Joe, that run the place, are great! Both are very knowledgeable and will go out of their way to help you. They will special order just about anything you could need/want and it comes very quickly. Love the little kittens running around too...great way to socialize them! We have purchased 2 kittens there over the years and they both ended up being great cats. For a small store they have everything imaginable....and..as a bonus....Leanin Tree greeting cards! Love them and the store! Keep up the great work guys and we hope that you're around for many more years! Deb and Dave L. read more

I have been a Noah's Ark customer for more than 30 years. Not only are the staff incredibly knowledgeable but they are also very nice and helpful. Some of their staff have been there for many years and are truly pet care professionals. Look out for the adoptable kittens running around the store and go ahead and play with them, the staff won't mind you helping them properly socialize these little ones. They have the best brands of dog and cat food and have far more knowledge than most of the management at the chain and warehouse stores. If you want to support a local business, play with a kitten and know that you are getting the right product for your pet visit Noah's Ark. read more

WORST PLACE EVER! They are rude and unfriendly to their costomers. I had 3 female cats living together all of different ages. My oldest died so I wanted to buy a kitten there. I was told that my other cats would "beat the crap out of it" and "rip out its vagina." Not every situation is the same. All of my cats including a 9mo old kitten ate, lived, and slept in the same rooms in peace. I did transition my cats. They act like your stupid and know nothing about cats. I have had cats all my life. I told them I wouldn't come back and the could care less. I will be telling everyone I know about this experience. I already told my neighbor and she also said they don't value costomers and are unfriendly. For being a small local pet store you would think they would treat you better. They are mean, rude, and very opinionated! read more

I have mixed feelings about this store. I am a Northside resident and want to support local business but the customer service here is very poor. I usually buy 2-40# bags of dog food at a time and am offered help to my car about 50% of the time. The store is very dirty and the staff do not seem friendly or healthy--maybe the cat dander is activating their allergies?!? I understand others appreciate the kittens and cats roaming free, but I have gotten home to realize the dog food bags have teeth marks and puncture holes in them. I give them 2 stars for the buying program another customer mentioned, buy 12 bags get the 13th free. Overall, this store is disappointing. read more

I went into their store to get some dog food. While I was there, I asked about grooming. I have a St. Bernard. The clerk (a man) said the groomer comes in at night to do bigger dogs a couple times a week starting at 5:15 pm. I asked how much it would be and the man said between $60-$65. So I made the appointment. I showed up a few minutes early for my appointment and the female clerk was nice. She talked a lot. The man I had made the appointment with a few weeks earlier was also there but not friendly at all. The groomer finally showed up exactly at 5:15. The clerk said, "oh your St. Bernard appointment is here." The groomer was NOT friendly at all. She said hi to my dog then told me she needed to get things ready. So I waited longer. She came out to get us and I said, I'll take her back. She wasn't too happy I had to go back to the grooming area. I checked out the area and it was typical grooming equipment, bathtub, ramp, blow dryers, etc. I asked how long as my husband was picking her up. She said around 7:30 she'll be done and she would call, which she did call about 20 minutes before she was done. My husband showed up and I asked him to pick out a treat for our dog. When it came time to pay, total cost was a whopping $110!! What happened to the $60-$65??? When my husband questioned it, the man clerk said he doesn't set the prices, but he did when I specifically asked HOW MUCH when I made the appointment. I would've shopped around if I would've know the price was more than what I was quoted. I've been to Spawoof in the past and they never charged over $75. Never again will I visit this store. I'll buy my dog food from Mounds from now on. read more

The 1st time I came here was with my dad when I was a kid. I always love going in and petting the little kittlies. The staff is helpful and definitely shows care and knowledge about animals. read more

Noah's Arc staff are friendly and knowledgeable. They are able to quickly special order things (aquarium supplies, aquatic plants, filter cartridges, etc) when they aren't in stock. I've gotten great advice and equipment from them. I purchase classroom supplies frequently from Noah's Arc and have been very satisfied with them! read more

One of the things I like about this store is that it is not a chain. It has been serving the Madison area since the '60's, and had proven to be a store with employees that are reliable and helpful. I get my dogs groomed there regularly. The groomer has always been polite and helpful. She does a great job, and I recommend her all the time at the dog park! I also love how the kittens that are for sale are allowed to run free. The staff is helpful, they carry out my dog food, they greet me when I come in, they know me by name. Not very common, these days! While it isn't an "I could eat off that floor" kind of place as far a spotlessness goes, I do believe that their small staff tries very hard to keep up with all their animals. There have been times I've been in there and they had nearly 30 kittens running around! Not to mention all the cages of adorable small animals like hamsters, mice, gerbils, rats, etc. A down-home store with a down-home attitude of help and courtesy, that is Noah's Ark, in my experience! read more

I want to start by saying that we love this store! We have been going here for a very long time and have bought many kittens from here. We currently have 2 cats, age 8 and 12, that we purchased from Noah's Ark. They have turned out to be wonderful cats! We love the fact that the kittens are running around and that you are actually able to pet them and see what their personalities are like before buying one. We also love Mary! She is very kind, knowledgable and truly cares about the well being of these animals. The young man who is in charge of the guinea pigs and rats is also very friendly and helpful! Having said all this, my opinion of this store changed as of today. We went to see what the store was like in it's new location and were thrilled to find 12 kittens running around. I had my 2 sons with me, both of whom are very use to handling cats and kittens. I was helping my son hold a kitten when one of the employees (I don't know her name, but she had long brown hair that was in a braid) came and tried to take the kitten away stating that he was squeezing him to death! I was monitoring the whole thing and that definitely is not what was happening. She then proceeded to tell us that the kittens were all sick because of the stress of the move. The kittens were all running around playing with toys, purring and didn't seem to be stressed at all. If I was there to by a kitten today, I wouldn't have because I certainly don't want to buy a "sick" kitten. Then awhile later when my son accidentally stepped on a kittens tail, she rushed over, grabbed the kitten away & put it in a cage. This made my son cry. It was a simple accident, he wasn't running around like a crazy kid and with that many kittens on the floor, this could have happened to anyone. A true professional and animal lover would have quietly informed my young son on how to approach and pet a kitten if there was concern,instead of trying to scare him by grabbing the kitten away and acting angry. I'm assuming by reading all the previous reviews that this is the same employee that has turned off many other people as well. Luckily, I'm not looking to buy a kitten at this time, but I hope that when I do, I will want to try going to Noah's Ark again. For now, I will not be going back... read more