Treat your pet’s routine—exercise, feeding, appointments—as you do any other family member’s: by scheduling it on your calendar. Read on for more tips.
1. buy the right supplies
Many items—collars and harnesses, food and water bowls, beds and crates—depend on the size of the dog (not so much for a cat; buy these now in that case).
Wait to buy the above if you are adopting from a shelter rather than getting your dog from a breeder, as you will usually have no way of knowing who your new four-legged friend is going to be.
You’ll also need to buy the same food your pet was eating, to ease the transition; after he’s settled in, talk with your vet about switching to another food.
2. Give pets their own special place
Fit out a spare bathroom, the mudroom, or a cozy corner of a living room with a pet bed, water bowl, and some toys.
Just don’t put them in an out-of-the-way spot like the garage—pets derive comfort from knowing their people are around, even if not in the same space.
At least in the beginning, you may want to section off a room (or the stairs) with a baby gate—pets feel more secure when they don’t have the run of the entire house, especially when home alone.
Many dogs like to retreat to a crate with a cushioned liner—add a favorite soft toy for extra security.
A cat might like a window perch (put a bird feeder outside for entertainment), or a wall-mounted bed (such as the repurposed basket shown here, furnished with a soft blanket for a cushion).
3. feed pets a healthy diet
Adult dogs (over 1 year of age) typically need two meals a day; puppies often require three or four. Felines (young and old) may prefer more frequent smaller meals, but avoid overfeeding (ask your vet).
Follow the food-package recommendations—and your vet’s advice—for the total daily amount; divide that by number of meals.
Monitor your pet’s weight with what is called a body-conditioning scoring test: Looking at it from above, the abdomen should be narrower than the hips and chest; from the side, the chest should be lower to the ground than the belly; and when rubbing, you should just barely be able make out the ribs. Then adjust daily food accordingly.
Make sure pets always have access to fresh water—and replace it often (cats are especially finicky about the smell). Wash the bowl at least once a day.
And because cats aren’t so good at drinking water on their own, many vets recommend giving them wet food over dry—or at least a combination. Talk about this with your vet.
