10 Ways to Make Adoption Easier on Your New Pet

After careful consideration, you have decided to add another member of the family to your home.  If you have not read about what to consider before adopting, check out this article before you continue.  Now, you need to prepare for your new fur baby to make a smooth transition from the busy shelter to the quiet comforts of home.

Here are 10 things you should do before bringing home your newest family addition.

1. Make sure you have a comfortable way to transport them.  Though, you may opt to keep your current household pets on a leash or kitty harness when bringing them to the vet or dog park this is not recommended for a new furry friend.  They may seem calm or easy to hold at the shelter, however, there is no way to know how each new pet will react to being in a car and transported until it is too late to take precautions.  This is as important for your safety driving as it is for the new pet since they may hurt themselves if they become nervous or panicked.  The best method for transport home from the shelter is a large comfortable carrier.  This will keep them contained and ensure the safety of everyone in the car.

2. If you don’t already have other animals make sure to pet proof your home.  There are many common household products that prove harmful to pets if ingested.  For a list of these products visit this site.  Also, be sure to hide wires or electronic devices to ensure your new arrival will not be able to access them because many pets may have a tendency to chew on them.

3. Have a bathroom area ready.  If your new addition is a kitty, make sure the litter box is set up in an easy to access place.  If you are bringing home a pooch instead, inspect any outdoor areas they might use for hazardous material or holes in a fenced in backyard.  If you plan on letting your dog out unsupervised you will not want them to get through some overlooked weak spot because they will not yet know that this is their home and may be hard to find.

4. Bedding is also very important for a new addition. It gives them a comfortable area they can settle in while becoming familiar with the rest of the house.

5. If you are able to, ask if you can bring their toy from the shelter if they have one.  This is not usually a problem if you are willing to buy a replacement and trade at the time of adoption.  Bringing a toy to the new home that they like and has familiar smells is very comforting to your little friend when making this transition.

6. Get a private room ready which they may stay and come out to explore the rest of the house on their own when they feel comfortable.

7. If you have other pets make sure you prepare them for the new arrival.  Continue to give them lots of love and attention before and after your new pet comes home.  This will decrease the likelihood of them feeling ignored or threatened which may lead to territorial behavior.  Preparations may include closing the door to the room you have set up to let your new pet adjust to their surroundings and placing items that smell like your new pet around the house prior to the adoption date.  This will make adjusting to the new addition easier on the older members of your family, especially if they have never lived with another pet.

8. Use smells  for both the new addition as well as older members of your family acclimate them to one another.  Get them used to the presence of each other’s smell as much as you can before introducing them.

9. Let your pets meet each other when they are ready, do not force any unwanted interactions because they may not be able to adjust emotionally to sudden change or “intruders.”  Unless you believe that serious bodily harm might occur, it is best to let each animal meet on their own terms.  Though there may be sounds of aggression do not intervene unless you believe it is a dangerous situation for either animal.  Keep an eye on them. Since it may take them some time to get used to each other it is best to leave it up to them to figure out what their relationship will be.

10. Introduce them to members of your family, including a sitter. This can be done gradually, or if your new pet seems ready and eager, all at once.  Just be sure to pay attention to the non-verbal queues and make sure not to overwhelm them. Don’t have a sitter for your new furry family member? Consider checking out Sitting for a Cause to find an awesome sitter in your area to assist you with the care of your new furry family member!

Other than that, enjoy the new happy addition to your home!

Was there something we forgot to mention?  Tell us in the comments below!