PetNicki publishes practical, well-sourced articles for people who live with animals: pet owners, would-be owners, and anyone who has ever wondered what the raccoon in the yard is actually eating. We accept guest posts from writers and brands whose content meets the same bar as our own. Read this page fully before pitching; pitches that ignore it are declined without reply.
What We Cover
We publish in six categories. Every pitch must fit one of them, and the best pitches name the category in the subject line. Example topics below are the kind of thing we say yes to; they are illustrations, not a menu, and we will not accept a piece that simply rewrites one of them.
Pet Care (health, behavior, feeding)
Our largest section. We want behavior explainers grounded in real research, feeding guides that name their sources, and symptom pieces that tell readers clearly when to see a vet and when not to worry. Vets, vet techs, trainers, and long-time owners with specific experience do well here.
- Why senior cats stop grooming, and how to tell normal aging from pain
- Feeding a diabetic dog: what changes, what stays the same, and the mistakes owners make in week one
- Crate training a rescue dog with an unknown history
Pet Breeds
Breed profiles that go past the encyclopedia entry: what it is like to live with the animal, the health issues breeders do not lead with, and who should not get one. Honest comparisons between commonly confused breeds are welcome.
- Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler for a first-time large-breed owner
- Living with a Sphynx: the grooming and skin care nobody warns you about
- Why Scottish Folds are banned in some countries, and what that means for buyers
Animal Names
Name lists for pets and animals, organized by a real angle (breed, color, culture, personality) and written with some personality of their own. Lists that are just 200 words in a row are declined; lists that teach the reader something about naming get through.
- Japanese cat names with meanings, sorted by coat color
- Names for bonded pairs of guinea pigs that do not rhyme
- Norse mythology dog names, with the story behind each
Celebrity Pets
Documented profiles of famous people’s animals: who the pets are, what is publicly confirmed about them, and where they are now. We hold this section to a strict sourcing standard; every fact must trace to a public statement, an interview, or a verifiable post. Speculation, snark, and unconfirmed rumors are cut in editing or the piece is declined.
- Every dog Tom Holland has owned, with sources
- The cats of Ed Sheeran, and how Calippo ended up in a music video
- Athletes’ dogs at major tournaments: a documented roundup
Pet Insurance and Costs
Plain-language guides to what pet care actually costs and how insurance works, written by people who have read the policies. Real numbers with sources, regional context, and worked examples beat generic advice. Affiliate-driven “best of” lists with no analysis are declined.
- What a cruciate ligament surgery costs in 2026, and which policies actually pay for it
- Pet insurance for a senior dog: when it stops making financial sense
- Emergency vet costs by region: what an overnight stay runs and why
Wildlife and Backyard Animals
What the animals around your home eat, do, and need from you (usually: to be left alone). We favor pieces that cite wildlife agencies and correct common feeding myths.
- What to do when a fledgling bird is on your lawn
- Why feeding hummingbirds red dye is a bad idea, with the research
- Coexisting with a fox denning under the deck
What We Do Not Accept
- Thin articles that exist only to carry a link. The article around your links has to be something a reader would want on its own; a 600-word wrapper for an anchor text is declined.
- AI-generated drafts submitted as-is. We can tell, and so can readers.
- Content already published elsewhere, including on your own blog or Medium.
- Pieces on gambling, CBD, supplements with health claims, or anything requiring a medical disclaimer we cannot stand behind.
- Generic listicles (“10 Reasons Dogs Are Great”) with no specific angle or sourcing.
- Anything that recommends feeding wild animals or keeping wild animals as pets.
Guidelines
- Length: 900 to 1,800 words. Longer is fine if every section earns its place.
- Sourcing: Every health claim, statistic, or study needs a link to a primary or authoritative source (veterinary organizations, peer-reviewed research, wildlife agencies). Blog posts citing other blog posts do not count.
- Voice: Write like a knowledgeable friend, not a brochure. Concrete over abstract. If you can show a scene, do not describe a category.
- Structure: A direct answer in the first paragraph, descriptive H2 headings, and an FAQ only if the topic has real follow-up questions.
- Links: Published guest posts include up to two dofollow links to your site: one in the body where it fits naturally, one in the author bio. Additional in-body links must be to sources. We do not link to gambling, adult, or pharmacy sites.
- Images: Optional. If you supply them, you must own the rights or they must be properly licensed; we can source images ourselves.
- Editing: We edit for clarity, accuracy, and house style, and we may cut sections. We will not change your meaning without asking.
How to Pitch
Email hi@petnicki.com with the subject line Guest post: [category] – [working title]. Include:
- Your proposed title and a three-to-five sentence summary of the argument or angle.
- Why you are the person to write it (professional background, direct experience, or prior published work; links help).
- Two or three sources you plan to cite.
- Where you have published before, if anywhere.
- The site you want linked, so we can confirm it is one we will link to before quoting.
Pitch first; do not send a full draft cold. We reply to pitches we want to pursue within about a week. If you have not heard back in two weeks, take it as a pass and pitch us something else later.
What You Get
A byline, an author bio, up to two dofollow links, editorial review and image sourcing, and permanent publication under our editorial policy. Published posts are not removed later. We work only through hi@petnicki.com; if someone claims to broker PetNicki placements on our behalf, they are not us. Terms and turnaround are confirmed by email once we have seen your pitch.
Quick Questions
Can I pitch a topic outside the six categories?
Occasionally, if it is clearly about animals people live with or near. Pitch it and say which category it is closest to; we will tell you quickly if it does not fit.
How long from acceptance to publication?
Two to four weeks after we receive the final draft, depending on editing needs and the queue.
Can I republish the article on my own site later?
Not in full. You may excerpt it with a link back after 30 days.
What are the terms for a guest post?
We confirm terms, timelines, and any specifics by email after reviewing your pitch, so we can tailor them to the piece and the site being linked. Send the pitch first; everything else follows from that conversation.
How will the post be attributed?
Under your byline as a guest contribution, with your bio and links at the end. Product-focused pieces carry a brief disclosure line where required; ordinary informational articles do not.