If you’re a first-time dog owner, first-time cat owner, or a seasoned pet parent, congratulations on expanding your family with a new four-legged member! Bringing home a new dog or cat is a time-honored experience, and one that is fulfilling for both pet and pet parent. The next chapter of your lives together is beginning! It can be frustrating, overwhelming, joyful, awe-inspiring, and sweet, and sometimes all at the same time!
We’ve put together everything you need to know about being prepared to bring your new friend home for the first time. Here’s how to pet-proof your home, budget for your newest family member, and more. We’ve also got information about preparing for pets at different life stages and navigating the first month. No matter what stage you are in, it’s bound to be a fun time!
New Pet Essentials: The Universal Checklist for Dogs & Cats
Preparing your home for a new dog or cat is an exciting time, but it can also come with a lot of moving parts to track. That includes responsibilities that come along with pet ownership, including vet visits, care items, and food. To get you started, use these checklists:
New Dog Parent Checklist
After you’ve budgeted for how much a dog costs to adopt, here’s a list of things you might need:
☐ A crate with enough room for the dog to turn around
☐ A comfortable dog bed
☐ Baby gates, especially if your dog is a puppy or you are introducing them to other dogs/family members like children
☐ Food and water bowls
☐ Age- and stage-appropriate dog food
☐ Treats
☐ A place to store your dog’s food
☐ Vet appointment scheduled within the first week to discuss flea, tick, heartworm prevention, and any other necessary healthcare
☐ Nail clippers and/or the contact information for a groomer
☐ Dog shampoo
☐ Dog brush and/or comb
☐ Toothbrush and dog-safe toothpaste
☐ Ear cleaning items, per your dog’s vet
☐ Collar with ID tag and/or microchip
☐ Standard flat leash and/or harness
☐ Poop bags
☐ Toys, such as chew toys, enrichment toys, frisbees, balls, and more
New Cat Parent Checklist
After you’ve budgeted for how much a cat costs to adopt, here’s a list of things you might need:
☐ Ideally at least 2 litter boxes
☐ Cat litter and scoop
☐ Food and water bowls
☐ Age-appropriate food
☐ Treats
☐ A place to store your cat’s food
☐ Cat carrier
☐ Cat bed or blanket
☐ At least 2 scratching posts or pads, vertical and horizontal
☐ Cat tree or perch
☐ Collar with ID tag and/or microchip
☐ Vet appointment scheduled within the first week to discuss flea, tick, heartworm prevention, and any other necessary healthcare
☐ Nail clippers or a plan for regular trimming with a groomer
☐ Cat shampoo
☐ Brush or comb
☐ Toothbrush and cat-safe toothpaste
☐ Ear cleaning items, as discussed with your vet
☐ Toys, such as interactive wand or feather toys, enrichment toys, balls, and mice
☐ Baby gates or door blockers if restricting access to certain rooms
Pet-Proof Your Home
Bringing home your new companion is an exciting step in the process, and one that takes a little bit of preparation to make the transition as smooth as possible. To get ready for your new dog or cat, you will need to think about pet-proofing your home.
Consider adding temporary baby gates to your home to keep them from entering certain areas and/or keeping them away from other dogs, cats, and children until properly introduced. Dogs and cats can be surprisingly smart and can open cabinets and drawers. Restrict reachable areas like these with childproof latches to prevent them from getting into things they shouldn’t. Medicine and cleaning supplies should be put in an unreachable place or locked up.
Animals are curious, and trash cans can be ground zero for their exploration, so consider getting one with a latch or one that is hard to open. Some pets might see an electrical cord and think it’s a chew toy, so it’s best to secure them with chew-proof protectors, especially if you have a puppy or kitten who is extra curious as they explore the new world around them. Some houseplants can be poisonous to pets, such as lilies. It’s best to remove them from your home or place them out of reach.
Cats are known as playful and curious beings for a reason, so be sure to anchor large pieces of furniture like bookshelves and armoires to prevent them from tipping over, and come up with a system to make sure that they don’t have access to chemically treated toilet bowl water.
Budget Basics for New Pet Parents
How much your new pet will cost you monthly or annually depends on the dog or cat’s stage of life, size, your lifestyle, and other factors. For example, a puppy or senior dog could go to the vet more than an adult one. Larger breeds will need to eat more food, and dogs with high-maintenance grooming breeds like Havanese and Bichons will cost more per year to maintain their coats.
You might prefer a self-cleaning, state-of-the-art litter box over scooping kitty litter, or your cat breed might have high enrichment needs such as Bengals and Siamese. There are other factors like pet sitters, dog walkers, specialty harnesses, cat trees, and more to think about as well.
You’re Ready to Welcome Your New Pet Home
Now that you know the essentials for bringing home your new pet, it’s time to get started. Go slow, follow their lead, and give both you and your new pet grace as you figure each other out during the first three months. Paying attention to the details now is how you become bonded for life.
