When you bring home your new pet, you're both likely to feel a wide range of emotions. On the one hand, you're incredibly thrilled about your gorgeous new pet, but it's likely that you're also a little concerned about how they'll fit into your family and how you can help them adjust to living with you.
Although despite these challenges, you can’t deny that it’s exciting to have a new addition to the family. Once you've made the decision to adopt a pet, it's time to get your house ready for the new resident. While you might not want to buy everything on this list at first, it is a good idea to have some of the essentials available when your pet comes.
But, what should you get? While it might be tempting to get all the toys and items you think your pet needs, it’s vital you get some essentials first. With these supplies on hand, you'll be ready for anything that comes with owning a pet. We’ve made a list of the top 6 items we think you should have if you’re a first-time furparent. Read on to find out more!
Food & Water Bowls
When getting a pet, you have to first consider how they will be eating and drinking. That’s why it’s essential to have food and water bowls on hand before your pets arrive at your homes. Whether you choose to use ceramic bowls, metal ones, or plastic, having 2 reliable bowls for their meals and water is necessary.
You should keep in mind though that the materials each have their pros and cons. Ceramic bowls are sturdy and easy to clean, but they can break easily if you have a rowdy pet that might knock them over. However, keep in mind that plastic is more difficult to clean than steel bowls and it’s also a little more bacterially prone.
Pet Collars
Dogs aren’t the only pets that need pet collars. After all, collars are ways for your pets to keep some form of identification on the occasion they get out of the house and end up getting lost. Now, if you adopt from a breeder or rescue, they might provide you with a collar, but it's likely that you'll prefer one that matches your preferences.
It's important to choose a collar that fits your pet properly, has a tag with their name and your information, and one that has a quick-release clasp for security.
Quality Food
If you think it’s easy to feed pets, for the most part, you’re right. That’s because pets will typically eat whatever you put in front of them. However, for their health, it’s worth getting to know their medical history first before you buy food. That’s because some pets are allergic to some things.
Finding a diet that suits your pet's demands is essential if you want to make sure they obtain the best quality ingredients to support their health. High-quality food isn't inexpensive. While some foods may be intended for pets of a certain size or activity level, others may induce systemic allergies and other health issues. Your veterinarian may have some useful advice depending on your pet’s age, size, and lifestyle if you're unsure of what kind of food is best for them.
Bed or Crate
At some point, acclimating your pet to a new environment will certainly become unpleasant for them. They aren't used to anything in this odd atmosphere, therefore everything is different. A healthy pet lifestyle requires a crate and a comfy bed for them to sleep on. It serves as a haven for your pet to hide in when frightened and is a useful tool for housebreaking and training.
When choosing a crate, you have to make sure that your pet can still stand up comfortably, move around in a small circle, and sleep comfortably inside the crate. It will be cozier still if the bottom is lined with a mattress or a pet bed.
Treats & Toys
Now, getting your pets used to your spaces is a process, and one that usually begins with them breaking a few things or marking some furniture that you’d rather they not touch at all. So, when it comes to training your pet and teaching them how to live with you, you’ll have to get a sizable quantity of treats and toys to encourage them while teaching them.
Treats are essential as they serve as a prize and positive reinforcement for the actions they do and it helps them understand boundaries and expectations too. Treats and toys also help ease their anxiety and give them something to do so they’ll be too distracted by those items and will tend to leave your furniture alone.
Potty Training Tools
Potty training is probably the most difficult process for any pet to master. You can use cat litter in a wide tray, puppy pads, or even sheets of old newspaper to help train your pets. After they get used to this process, it will be easier for them to take their potty breaks as they’ll know where and when they can go.
Owning a pet is thrilling and joyful, but it also comes with a lot of responsibilities. You may start a joyful, life-changing journey with that new member of your family if you've taken the essential precautions to guarantee that it will be at ease, content, and healthy in your house.
