If you are considering adopting a pet, you should do your research to ensure you choose the right pet for your lifestyle. Pet adoption is a big commitment that requires careful planning and consideration. Our Caldwell Animal Hospital team wants to help by offering guidelines that will help guarantee a successful pet adoption.

Determine if you are ready to adopt a pet

Pets are cute and cuddly, but they require time and attention, and can be expensive. Considerations include:

  • Time — Pets need daily mental and physical stimulation to promote their health and wellbeing. If your job requires frequent travel or spending most of the day away from home, pet adoption may not be appropriate.
  • Expense — The initial adoption fee is only the beginning. Pet ownership includes expenses for food, veterinary care, preventive medications, pet supplies, spaying or neutering, training, proper identification, and pet care when you are unavailable. 

Determine the right pet for your family

You must consider several factors, such as your personality, lifestyle, family situation, and space restrictions, when determining the right pet for your family. Decisions include:

  • Cat or dog? — Dogs are social animals who thrive on being around their people, while cats tend to be more independent and self-reliant. However, all pets need time and attention daily. Dogs need a walk at least twice a day, and cats need their litter box cleaned daily. Cats tend to adjust better to being left home alone for extended periods, so a cat may be the better option if you have a demanding schedule, but you must still make time to play with your cat daily. 
  • Young or old? — Puppies and kittens are hard to resist, but they require a lot of work, and need socialization and training to ensure they become well-behaved and well-adjusted adult pets. Until they are properly trained, they may have accidents and make mistakes, such as chewing furniture or belongings, that disrupt your household. They also can be extremely exuberant, so an older, more sedate pet may be better if your household includes children or senior family members. 
  • Big or small? — If you are considering adopting a large-breed dog, such as a Saint Bernard, do you have the space to accommodate their needs? These dogs need plenty of space, and would prefer a home with a spacious yard. If you live in a small apartment, a cat or small-breed dog may be more appropriate.
  • Active or sedentary? — You should also consider the pet’s activity level—some dogs, such as Labrador retrievers, border collies, and Australian shepherds, require many hours of exercise a day, while others, such as bulldogs, basset hounds, and Pekingese, are more sedentary. Determine the time you spend on the couch when deciding the right pet for you. 
  • Exotic rather than traditional? — Exotic pets, such as reptiles, small mammals, and birds, can make great pets, but you must educate yourself on their requirements to help ensure you can meet their needs. For instance, some reptiles require large habitats that must be carefully maintained at a specific temperature and humidity level. 

Prepare your home for your new pet

Before bringing your new pet home, ensure you are ready for their arrival. Recommendations include:

  • Buy pet supplies — Purchase the necessary supplies, such as food and water bowls, bedding, litter boxes and litter, collar and leash, and pet food. 
  • Provide an appropriate number of litter boxes — If you have a multi-cat household, you will need at least one litter box for every cat, plus one extra box.
  • Provide appropriate pet toys — Ensure the pet toys you offer are appropriately sized for your pet, and ensure they have no loose parts that can be swallowed. 
  • Provide scratching posts — Cats need to scratch, so ensure you have scratching posts throughout your home to prevent inappropriate scratching behavior.

Introduce your new pet carefully

If you already have a pet in your home, take the appropriate steps to introduce your new pet, so they accept each other. Considerations include:

  • Introducing dogs — When introducing dogs, let them meet for the first time in a neutral area, preferably outside. Once they are comfortable with each other, you can bring your new dog inside, but ensure each dog has their own supplies, bedding, and toys.
  • Introducing cats — Cats should be introduced gradually over several weeks.  Place them in a separate room with their essential supplies, and then exchange your cats’ bedding once they settle in, to get them used to each other’s smell. During the first introductions, supervise your cats until you are certain they will remain peaceful.
  • Introducing dogs and cats — When introducing a dog and cat, ensure the cat has time to acclimate to the situation, keeping the pets separated and exchanging their bedding. At the first introduction, ensure your cat can escape to a safe place if they feel threatened, and keep your dog on a leash to prevent aggression. 

Adopting a new pet is a wonderful experience, and following these guidelines will help ensure your pet adoption is a success. If you adopt a new pet, contact our Caldwell Animal Hospital team to meet your new addition and ensure they are happy and healthy.