For you and your pet, bringing home a new dog or cat may be exciting but stressful. You’ll want to ensure your new family member is as comfortable as possible because they’ll probably be anxious and excited simultaneously. Here are some tips on how to ready your home for a new pet. It’s always a good idea to review a checklist to help you get ready for a new pet. It’s also a good idea to microchip your new pet before you bring it home because pets are more likely to get lost soon after a move than at any other time.
How To Ready Your Home For A New Pet
Getting ready for a new pet doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are some key areas to remember as you prep for your new family member.
Make Your Home Pet-Proof
Before adopting, you must keep your house safe, whether that means being aware of potentially dangerous Christmas decorations or securely locking your bins. In addition, keep hazardous foods, pet-unfriendly plants, and dangerous household items out of reach.
Make sure to keep the following things out of your pet’s reach: equipment and supplies for lawn care, cleaning agents, toys with small parts that can be swallowed, prescription drugs, sugar-free gum, and electrical wires. A pet flap will make it easier for your pet to come in and out of your home. However, don’t be alarmed by the cost of a fitting a pet flap. If you shop around for a suitably sized pet flap you can pay someone to install it professionally to ensure you have peace of mind.
You should:
- Fill up cracks under fitted cabinets and behind kitchen appliances.
- Keep open fireplaces covered.
- Close all exterior doors and windows.
- Put medications, disinfectants, and cleaning supplies in cabinets.
- Put electrical cords out of your pet’s reach so they can’t entangle themselves in them.
- Shut the toilet lid.
- Remove all items that might be chewed on or pushed over (such as vases or glass ornaments) and any small objects that could be swallowed (such as reading glasses or books).
Give Your Home A Clean
Before bringing a new pet into your house, you should thoroughly clean it. This is because of several factors, including the fact that you can be overwhelmed by the types of objects that accumulate around the house over time.
A curious pet will explore every corner of your house and discover everything you’ve overlooked or left lying around. For example, it might be reasonably harmless if kids find a pair of worn-out socks. Still, if you overlook some potentially poisonous art or cleaning products, it might be far more dangerous.
Additionally, you should do your part to rid your house of all traces of other animals. However, even if you already have a pet, you should still deep clean the house. In addition, you should provide a neutral environment so your new pet can become used to it.
Review House Plants
Because they resemble the outdoors, indoor plants draw pets but pose a serious health danger. If consumed, more than 700 plants are poisonous to dogs and cats. Spend some time learning whether the plants you now have could be detrimental to a new pet and replace them with safe plants. If your pets can reach your plants, think about moving them. You can also find pet-friendly plants if you want your house to be pet-friendly but don’t want to give up the beauty that houseplants bring.
Prepare The Personal Space For Your New Pet
The area or location where your animal will spend the most time must be selected and prepared. Why? Because it should be both suitable for the animal you are getting and secure. Do you want to confine your new dog or cat to a specific area of the house, or will you let them wander freely? Before you bring your pet home, setting up his crate or installing a cat tree is crucial.
Stock Supplies
You’ll need basic pet supplies, like food, dishes, collars, and treats, to get started. In addition to a leash and waste bags, cats also require a litter box and litter. Finally, remember to get an identification tag once the pet has been brought home and given a name in case it gets misplaced.
Approximately 6.5 million companion animals find themselves in shelters each year. Make sure your pet’s name, address, and phone number are all included on the identification tag so that others may get in touch with you to bring your furry buddy home. If you plan to house or box train your pet, consider investing in training pads, pet spray, and cleaning materials like spot remover. Find a veterinarian to take care of your new furry buddy. Learn more about microchipping to keep your animal safe as you prepare to become a pet owner.
Pets Need Lots of Toys
Give your dog plenty of chew toys if you’re adopting one, so he won’t be tempted to gnaw on other things. Cats should also have toys to play with, such as balls of yarn. Remember that pets, especially young ones, often use their lips to investigate their environment. Therefore, you must ensure that everything that shouldn’t be licked or chewed on is kept out of the child’s reach.
Consider Your Back Garden
If you frequently use pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers, you should keep your new puppy away from your backyard garden. After all, your new puppy’s health must come first. Remove any poisonous plants, as they can endanger the health of your puppy. You must ensure that your dog or cat can’t access them if you don’t want to remove them.
Always remember that a dog, especially a new puppy, should not be exposed to excessive heat. Also, it’s not a good idea to let your puppy outside for long periods if your backyard lacks shade because they could get sick. It’s best to keep cats inside because statistically, indoor cats live longer lives.
Additionally, you should trim and cut your lawn as soon as possible can help prevent comment pet illnesses. Otherwise, ticks and other insects will begin to invade your backyard, which could end up hurting your puppy physically a lot. For instance, ticks may attach to your puppy, necessitating a trip to the veterinarian and a claim on your pet insurance. It’s best to keep your pet healthy because vet visits for illness can be costly.
Even if you live in the city and don’t have a backyard, you can still provide your puppy with a pleasant environment. For example, using positive reinforcement when taking your dog for a walk will help them learn when and where to use the restroom.
