How to Prepare to Adopt a Pet

Are you fully prepared to adopt a pet? Are you sure you even know what that really means? Not only will preparing for an adoption ahead of time help the experience run smoothly, it will help make the experience of pet ownership all the more enjoyable! Do Your Pet Adoption Research!

Probably the absolute number one, most important step before you actually adopt a pet involves knowledge. Make sure you know what you’re getting into. What resources will your pet of choice require, and can you provide them? You should do your research about specific breeds, consider your activity level as well as if your home life will be a good match for the new pet. Adoption is for life, most pets live 10-15 years and some cats up to 20 years.

When thinking about this you need to consider if you could still care for your pet when lifestyle changes happen such as moving, a new job or having a baby. Not only should you consider the adoption costs but also the cost of food, veterinary care including monthly flea, tick and heartworm preventatives and supplies over their entire lifetime. Don’t forget about the standard set of vaccinations coming your way. As well as, does your daily schedule support the time needed to care for the new pet.

Dogs benefit from several hours of exercise and companionship daily. Cats are healthiest and happiest indoors and love their daily energetic play sessions. If you travel often or you’re out of the house a lot during the day and evening, a new pet may not be for you. Unless you want to consider hiring a pet sitter to check in on your pet once or multiply times a day. Lastly, it is also important to consider if children or other resident pets will get along with the new pet.

How do you determine which pet is right for you?

Dogs are loyal, loving social animals who thrive on pleasing their family members. If you have young children then puppies may not be well suited to your household. You should consider a medium-sized breed over 5 months in age. You should also create a daily schedule that includes everyone in the household taking turns caring for the new dog, including walking, playing, feeding and grooming.

Cats are energetic, playful, sensitive affectionate animals. It is true that cats are very independent by nature but you should make sure that everyone in the house is prepared to care for a cat. Cats need to feel safe and have their needs met before you can start to really have fun with them. You should create a schedule that includes everyone in the household feeding, changing the litter and grooming the kitty.

How to prepare your home for the arrival of a new pet

Getting your pet’s new home ready before he even gets there can not only relieve tons of stress, but prevent the need to rush around with a last minute’s notice. First you’ll need a collar, leash (dog), identification tags, food water, a litter box for a cat, and don’t forget the toys! Next, you will need to pet proof your home before the new pet arrives. This includes keeping toxic foods, pet-unfriendly plants and dangerous household items out of paw’s reach. You should check that all trash cans have a tight seal and that there are no dangerous decorations around during the holidays.

Here are some more tips to help prepare your home for the arrival of your new pet.

• Have a cozy pet bed in each room to deter them from getting on furniture.
• Roll up any rugs or fabric items until your new dog is fully potty-trained.
• Use dog crates or baby gates to keep your new dog isolated to certain areas until s/he proves that they can behave when left unsupervised.
• Have plenty of toys and bones for your dog to chew on so that they are less likely to chew up your things.
• To prevent cats from clawing up your furniture you can use double-sided tape or furniture protectors.
• Avoid vertical blinds, long drapery, ornate tassels and long cords that can become strangulation hazards.
• Check that all screens on your windows are secure and cat proof.
• Having scratching posts and cat trees throughout will also deter cats from tearing up furniture or jumping on counters.
• Be sure you are ready to offer plenty of social interaction as your (puppy) grows, constantly building on social skills.
• Over 50% of all domestic pet dogs cats in America are considered clinically overweight or obese, amounting to tens of millions. Don’t forget to rack up your nutritional knowledge!

Dog Crate Tips

• Great tool for potty training!-Dogs prefer not to eliminate where they sleep, or in confined places.
• Safe place for the puppy when you can’t observe. Ensure crate is large enough to allow for growth, but not too large.
• Line bottom of crate with soft material.
• To avoid separation anxiety, don’t rush crate training.

Cat Litter Box Tips

• Choose a quiet (preferably private) yet easily accessible location.
• Try to avoid covered boxes.
• Invest in a metal litter scoop.
• Clean your litter box regularly.
• It’s a good idea to purchase one litter box per cat.

Are you fully prepared to adopt a pet? Are you sure you even know what that really means? Not only will preparing for an adoption ahead of time help the experience run smoothly, it will help make the experience of pet ownership all the more enjoyable! Do Your Pet Adoption Research! Probably the absolute number…