The ultimate checklist to prepare for a new pet
Bringing a new pet home can be both exciting and overwhelming, so I have compiled a checklist to help you prepare for your new pet. Whether you are a new pet owner or a seasoned veteran, there are many ways to prepare for your new pet to help make their transition as stress free as possible. At the end of the article, you will also find a copy of the checklist that you can download for free, or follow this link: “The ultimate checklist to prepare for a New Pet”.
The checklist is broken down into 3 separate sections including: “Research”, “Products”, and “Preparing Your Home”. Note that “Research” refers to the important things to know about your new pet prior to bringing him/her home for the first time. Let’s get started!
Research (breed specific)
1. Temperament
This includes things like the amount of exercise the pet needs, possible training needed, how the animal may interact with children, how well the animal may interact with other dogs, etc.
For example, a household with children would likely do better with a breed that historically does well with kids, such as a lab or a beagle. Dogs with high energy that need a lot of daily exercise, such as an Australian Shepherd or Border Collie, would likely do best with an active owner with access to land for the dog to explore.
2. Cost
As much as I wish cost was not a factor, it is crucial to keep finances in consideration when adopting or purchasing a new pet. Some things to consider include:
- Size of the animal (larger animals typically are more expensive)
- Common diseases that may need to be addressed in the future
- Routine grooming (if needed)
- Boarding/daycare
- Food (larger animals need to eat more)
- Routine preventative care
- Training or agility classes (if needed)
- Pet insurance (I highly recommend. Look out for future posts about pet insurance for more information.)
3. Common diseases
Some animals are more prone to certain diseases than others. Educating yourself on possible health concerns that may arise for your new pet is important. This allows you monitor for possible early signs of disease and plan for the cost of possible treatments needed in the future.
In addition, if you plan on purchasing your pet from a specific breeder, it is important to ask about the health of the parents and health issues seen within the bloodline. Breeders provide this information, and if they fail to do so it should be viewed as a potential cause for concern.
Now that you have gained more knowledge about your new pet, it is time for the fun part! Your new pet is going to need various items to meet their daily needs, offer entertainment, and keep them comfortable in their new home. Below you will find a list of items you will need to care for your new four-legged friend. Let’s get shopping!
Products
1. Food and treats
There is plenty to be discussed about pet nutrition that goes beyond the scope of this post. For additional information about pet nutrition please watch out for future articles where I will discuss things like popular pet food brands, interpreting food labels, selecting pet treats, and more.
2. Food storage container
I recommend airtight storage containers for dry food and covering open wet food containers with a can lid to prolong freshness.
3. Food and Water bowls
Bowls should be the appropriate size and height for your new pet. I recommend avoiding plastic bowls due to increased bacteria buildup that can occur on a plastic surface. Instead, aim for a metal or ceramic bowl. In addition, some cats do not like when their whiskers contact the edge of a bowl, so consider a plate for feeding wet food and/or a broader rimmed bowl to help prevent whisker contact.
4. Pet bed
5. Crate/kennel
Be sure the kennel that you purchase is an appropriate size for your new pet. Unfortunately, you will likely need to purchase new kennels/crates down the road as your pet continues to grow. In addition, consider what type of kennel would be best for your pet. For cats specifically, I recommend a hard kennel where the top can be easily removed to help decrease stress associated with veterinary visits and increase their safety in the car.
6. Blankets
You may have some old blankets around the house that you can use for your new pet. Consider purchasing a blanket or cushion designed specifically for the crate/kennel for extra comfort.
7. Toys
Stuffies and ropes and bones! Oh My! There are so many pet toys to choose from! Toys are a great way to help increase your pet’s activity level and bond with your new pet. I recommend purchasing a variety of safe and age-appropriate pet toys to help determine what your new pet enjoys. Please be sure to always monitor your pet with a new toy to ensure their safety and prevent them from accidentally inhaling the toy, choking on the toy, injuring themself on the toy (i.e. fracturing a tooth), etc.
8. Leash
(Not indicated for cats unless you are planning to take your new cat outdoors)
9. Collar
Please be sure the collar is an appropriate size for your new pet, and be sure that all cat collars are “break away” to ensure optimal safety.
10. Identification tag
This is especially important for dogs and any cat that goes outdoors. An identification tag should include owner contact information at a minimum, but I also recommend including the name of your pet. You can typically purchase and personalize ID tags at your local pet store.
11. Brush
There are multiple different types of brushes available for dogs and/or cats including: slicker brush, pin brush, undercoat rake, bristle brush, and furminator.
- Slicker brush: helps to detangle and remove loose fur
- Pin brush: better for longer/silkier coats
- Undercoat rake: ideal for pets with a heavy coat
- Bristle brush: ideal for pets with a short and wiry coat and can be used to help remove debris from the coat
- Furminator: deshedding tool that can be used on most coat types and help decrease the amount of overall shedding
12. Shampoo
Be sure to use a dog/cat specific shampoo to help prevent possible toxin exposure, irritation, coat drying, etc. Personally, I am a fan of the Earthbath pet shampoos due to its soothing qualities and more natural ingredients. However, any non-medicated pet formulated shampoo would be appropriate for routine bathing.
13. Toothbrush
I recommend starting with a finger toothbrush to get your pet used to the sensation. However, it is best to transition to a soft bristled toothbrush once your pet has adjusted to daily brushing. There are many pet specific bristle toothbrushes available for purchase, but a soft bristled human toothbrush of appropriate size (pediatric vs child vs adult) is also fine. Please keep an eye out for for future articles where I will discuss dental care, brushing your pet’s teeth, and more.
14. Nail clipper
I recommend all pet owners purchase an appropriately sized pet nail clipper to help your pet get used to nail trimming. There are many types of nail trimmers available for dogs and cats; such as pliers, scissors, guillotine, and file/grinder.
- Pliers: this style of nail clipper works best on medium and large dogs
- Scissors: this style nail clipper works best for cutting the nails of cats and small dogs
- Guillotine: I tend to avoid this type of trimmer due to the increased learning curve, increased difficulty of positioning the nail, and potential to crush the nail as opposed to a clean cut.
- File/grinder: I do not recommend this for cats, but they can be good for dogs of any size. However, some dogs can find the noise and vibration scary/stressful making them better candidates for a more classic style nail clipper.
15. Floor/carpet cleaner
Let’s face it, your new pet is going to have an accident (stool, urine, vomit, etc) at some point in its life. Therefore, it is important to have an appropriate cleaner on hand to tackle the mess. Some of my favorite brands include: Rocco and Roxie, Puracy, and Biokleen.
16. Poop bags
(more dog specific and great for taking with you on walks)
(Cat Specific Products)
17. Litter box
When purchasing a litter box it is important to prioritize function over appearance/convenience/etc. An ideal cat litter box is uncovered, has low edges, and is 1.5x the size of the cat. Covered litter boxes can deter the cat from the litter box due to the entrapment of odor, and a litter box with a high edge can be hard to enter for some cats. That being said, there are many appropriate options available to choose from ranging from a low-sided storage bin to a fancy self-cleaning smart litter box.
18. Littler
Your new cat will likely have a preference for a specific litter substrate. Therefore, I recommend starting with a purchase of a small/medium amount of litter prior to buying anything in bulk. Possible litter substrates include: clay, silica gel, natural substrate (pine/wheat/grass/corn/walnut), and paper.
- Clay: this is the most common litter substrate and comes as both clumping and non-clumping
- Pro: well established, readily available, affordable
- Con: not environmentally friendly, easily tracked through the house, heavy, aerosolized dust
- Silica gel (a.k.a crystal)
- Pros: less aerosolized dust, better odor control, lasts longer than clay, some have color-changing indicators to monitor urinary system health
- Con: more expensive, not environmentally friendly, not all cats like the substrate
- *The color changing litter cannot be used to definitively diagnose a problem and I am unable to confirm the accuracy of this technology. It is always recommended to bring your pet to the veterinarian if you suspect a potential urinary issue.
- Natural substrate (pine/wheat/grass/corn/walnut)
- Pro: environmentally friendly, some owners find it provides better odor control
- Con: not as readily available, does not clump quite as well as clay
- Paper: paper litter is typically used short term when a cat is healing from an injury with the potential for wound contamination
- Pro: good for cats with paw injuries, softer than clay pellets, absorbent, no dust aerosolized
- Con: non-clumping, poor odor control
19. Scratching post
Scratching posts help naturally file your cat’s nails, deter your cat from scratching furniture, helps your cat stretch, acts as a form of exercise, helps reduce stress, and is a way for your cat to mark its territory. They come in many forms; such as built into a cat tree, vertical against a wall, a post with a base, material hanging from a door handle, toy/scratcher combo, etc. It is important to buy multiple types of scratching posts (including both cardboard and rope) to determine what your cat prefers.
20. Cat tree
Like scratching posts, cat trees can act as a form of exercise for your cat. In addition it provides entertainment, increases overall security, provides mental stimulation, allows cats to perform their natural instinct to climb, and more. Consider purchasing/building multiple cat trees and placing them in different rooms throughout your house.
The final step of preparation is puppy/kitten proofing your home. As you likely know, a new puppy and kitten can be like having a toddler, and they typically get into EVERYTHING! I cannot count the number of times that I have found my cat stealing hair ties and helping himself to a glass of unattended milk. For their own safety, it is important to make some alterations around the house to help prevent injury. Below you will find a list of what should be puppy/kitten proofed around the house:
House proofing
1. Protect electrical cords
I highly recommend covering exposed electrical cords to help prevent injury if your new four-legged friend decides that the cord looks like a tasty snack. There are electrical cord covers commercially sold that are affordable, easy to install, and come in a variety of colors and materials.
2. Cover outlets
Open outlets should be covered as you would when child-proofing a home for a crawling toddler. I feel like this home alteration is slightly less crucial given that I have never experienced a pet getting injured from accidentally licking an electrical outlet. However, it is something to consider for a little extra security.
3. Put away small items and clothes
Puppies and kittens are often guilty of being bandits of small items and clothing, such as socks. Be sure that all small objects and small articles of clothing are put away. I say small articles of clothing, but nothing is off limits when you have a larger dog. As a small animal veterinarian, I once had a lab come in for ingesting almost an entire pair of pants! You will be surprised by what your new pet could potentially eat when you are not paying attention.
4. Secure breakables
Securing breakables or placing them somewhere your new pet doesn’t have access to is recommended. Cats especially have a tendency to jump onto counters/dressers/etc and knock things over. For example, my cat will push my nightstand lamp on the floor to wake me up in the morning if he wants food. Obviously this is not ideal! Nobody wants to be cleaning up glass from a broken lightbulb at 5 am.
5. Block off areas of the home you do not want your pet to enter
Baby gates work great for this purpose if you have a small or medium dog. However, cats will often just climb the baby gate and large dogs can sometimes jump over a baby gate. Instead, simply closing a door to prevent a cat or large dog from entering a room typically works well.
