How to get an Auto-Petter in Stardew Valley

Depending on how many animals you have on your farm in Stardew Valley, simply interacting with each to increase or sustain their heart levels can become a bit of a chore, never mind feeding them. Thankfully, there’s an item that can help. 

Depending on which route you take, getting an Auto-Petter could actually be ridiculously easy. If you’re not up for preserving Pelican Town and sign up for the Joja Route (how could you?), then you’ll be able to purchase an Auto-Petter for 50,000 Gold once you’ve completed the Joja Development Form. 

However, if you’re doing things the honorable way and aiming to get Jojamart out of your new small-town home, then you’ll have your work cut out for you, and you’ll need a lot of luck. 

How to get an Auto-Petter in Stardew Valley

If you’re restoring the Community Center to its former glory, then you’ve chosen the morally correct route. However, in the process, you’ve made it very difficult for yourself to get an Auto-Petter, closing off any access to purchase the piece of farm equipment. Instead, you will spend a lot of time in the Mines and Skull Cavern. 

There are a few ways to get an Auto-Petter, but none are guaranteed. You’re most likely to get one from Skull Cavern treasure chests, although the drop rate is still a dismal 3.6%. 

If you get lucky, there are a few other ways you can find one:

• Golden Mystery Boxes
• Killing Monsters or breaking crates and barrels within the Mines during the Danger in the Deep quest
• Killing Monsters or breaking crates and barrels within the Mines after activating the Shrine of Challenge

How to use an Auto-Petter in Stardew Valley

For an Auto-Petter to be useful, it must be placed inside a Barn or Coop. While it can decoratively be placed anywhere on your farm, it won’t do anything unless placed inside a farm building.  

Auto-Petters are great for preventing the loss of friendship with animals if you don’t pet them every day. However, animals will not gain the same number of points as they would if you petted them manually. Auto-Petters will only increase an animal’s friendship level by 8 points, rather than the 15 they would if you pet them yourself. 

However, mood buffs will still be activated by the Auto-Petter and simply having one in a Barn or Coop will prevent the loss of friendship points. Animals lose friendship points for the following reasons:

• Not feeding them will reduce friendship by 20 points
• Being trapped outside overnight will reduce friendship by 20 points
• Not petting or talking to your animals will reduce friendship by between 5 and 10 points, depending on how high their friendship level was to begin with

While an Auto-Petter can’t feed your animals for you (you can just upgrade your barns or coops to their Deluxe versions to do this) or make sure they get safely inside at the end of the day, it can at least prevent the loss of friendship points if you have other things which need your attention.