Bringing home a new pet is an exciting event. But it can also be very stressful. Here are some ways of preparing for the newest member of your family, before and after you bring them home.
Dog/Cat Proofing: Adjust Spacing
Preparing for a new pet involves a lot of planning ahead. One area that many people don’t think of is temporarily rearranging a room for your cat or dog to acclimate to their big new home. It is much easier on a new pet to gradually introduce them to more and more space.
When you set up the pet-proof room, make sure you include a bed, bowls for food and water, and toys. For house-trained pets include a litterbox or something else to collect excrement. If he or she had a blanket or special toy from their shelter days, include it. It can help your pet feel more at home. Both dogs and cats need some time to properly adjust to their new homes. They may spent days in small, dark places like under the bed or the sofa.
Food and Other Supplies
Make sure you know what they were fed at the shelter, and for pets using a litterbox, find out what kind of litter they used. If you want to change their food or litter, do it gradually. New pets especially have difficulty coping with sudden changes.
Collar and ID Tag
Every pet should have a collar and a name tag, even indoor pets. It should contain your pet’s name and your phone number, and it should be on hand when you pick up your pet. Without a tag, the likelihood of being returned home after running away is much lower. Some pets have a small chip, embedded under their skin, that can be scanned and traced back to their owner.
Veterinarian
Before taking your pet home, contact a local animal hospital or veterinarian and schedule a few appointments within a few days of the adoption. Making a connection with a vet early on is the start of a good relationship, both for you and for your new pet.
Housebreaking
This is going to take a lot of patience and love. You should begin almost immediately after bringing him home. Puppies need to urinate approximately six times a day, and keeping up with him will take energy. There are many resources with tips or step-by-step instructions that could help you through the process.
Bonding
Finding time for your pets is time well spent. It gets them used to you and makes them feel more comfortable. Sometimes spending just ten minutes a day playing with your new pet is enough. Not to mention that snuggling with your dog or cat can actually lower stress and strengthen your immune system.
Introduction to Other Pets
It may take a lot of time for them to be friends, but it is essential for them to get along. It’s also important too make the process gradual. Give both pets space and time to adjust to each other. Do some looking into reputable sites such as the ASPCA site and WebMD. There are a lot of tips on those sites that could help you.
Patience is key. It may take a while for your pet to acclimate to their new environment, but eventually, everything will return to normal. And congratulations on your adoption!
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