Adopting a pet is exciting, and a great way to expand your family, but the new arrangement requires planning. Our team at Memorial Villages Animal Hospital wants to help by providing steps to ensure your pet adoption is successful.

#1: Pick the right pet for your family

If you have decided your family is ready to adopt a pet, choosing a pet that will fit into your family’s lifestyle is extremely important. Considerations include:

  • Commitment — All pets require daily care, but some need more attention than others. Dogs need exercise at least twice a day, and they will be better behaved if socialized properly, which takes time. If you are away from home for large parts of the day, and have limited time, a dog may not be the best option for you.
  • Activity level — Different pets have different activity requirements. Border collies and Labrador retrievers need extensive daily exercise to keep them fit and mentally engaged. If your family is happier pursuing idle pastimes, a cat or less active dog, such as a bulldog or Pekingnese, may be more suitable for your family.
  • Temperament — Some pets enjoy frequent petting and handling, while others are more solitary creatures. Ensure the pet you choose has a temperament that suits your family’s expectations.
  • Expenses — Monetary expenses can be significant, depending on the type of pet you choose. Ensure you have the financial means to take care of the pet you adopt.

#2: Obtain all the necessary items for your new pet

Acquire all the supplies your pet needs before bringing them home, which will allow them to settle and acclimate to your home as soon as possible. Items you need include:

  • Pet food — If possible, purchase the same food that the pet has been eating, to avoid gastrointestinal upset. If you need to change their food, do so gradually over at least a week.
  • Food and water bowls — Your new pet should have their own food and water bowls. If you have another pet in your home, making the pets share can lead to turmoil in the household.
  • Toys — The appropriate toys will help your pet more readily accept their new home, and make them less likely to chew on your belongings.
  • Collar and leash — Your pet should always wear a collar with identification tags with your current contact information, to ensure you can be reunited should they go missing. 
  • Litter boxes and litter — You should have one litter box for each cat in your house, and one extra box. Most cats prefer unscented, clumping litter. 

#3: Properly introduce your new pet to your current pet

If you already have a pet in your home, properly introducing the new pet is crucial for ensuring they get along. 

  • Introducing your new dog to your current dog — Ideally, the initial meeting between dogs should occur before you bring the new dog home. One person should handle your new dog, and another your current dog. They should remain at a distance that allows the two dogs to acknowledge each other without having contact, and be allowed to gradually get closer to each other only once they both remain calm. When you bring your new dog home, ensure every dog has their own toys, beds, and bowls, and provide equal attention to every dog.
  • Introducing your new cat to your current cat — When you bring your new cat home, they should be sequestered in a room with all the necessary supplies. After they have acclimated to their new environment, exchange the cats’ bedding, to allow them to become accustomed to each other’s scent. You can also feed the cats on either side of the door to let them make positive associations with each other. The initial physical meeting should be monitored, and the cats watched, until you can ensure they won’t be aggressive toward one another.
  • Introducing a cat and dog — The new pet should initially be kept in a room that has all their necessary supplies until they acclimate to their new home. Their bedding can be switched to get them accustomed to each other’s scent. For the initial meeting, your dog should be kept on a short leash, and your cat should be free to escape. Provide plenty of treats to make the situation positive, and don’t force your cat to approach your dog if they are afraid. Don’t leave your pets alone until you can ensure they won’t be aggressive toward each other.

#4: Socialize your new pet

Two women wearing sunglasses, one holding a small black dog, taking a selfie at an outdoor cafe. They are smiling and dressed in casual summer attire, after visiting veterinary care in Houston.

Introduce your new pet to as many new experiences as possible, to decrease their likelihood of being stressed or afraid. 

  • People — Introduce your pet to many types of people, such as tall people, children, people wearing hats, men with mustaches, people of different races, and people wearing different types of clothing.
  • Noises — Introduce your pet to many types of noises, such as traffic, the vacuum cleaner, storms, fireworks, and crowd noise.
  • Other animals — Introduce your pet to other pets and animals.
  • Sights — Introduce your pet to as many different sights as possible.
  • Textures — Introduce your pet to different textures, such as carpet, tile floors, wood floors, grass, sand, and gravel.

#5: Schedule a wellness exam for your new pet

Schedule a wellness exam for your pet to ensure they are as healthy as possible as they start their new life in their forever home.

If you have adopted a pet, contact our team at Memorial Villages Animal Hospital so we can help ensure your new family member has a successful start to their new life.