Below is a list of items you will need when you adopt a dog or a cat. Each pet is different, and some may need more, or different items, but this list gives you an idea of what you should have before your new pet comes home!
Dogs
- An appropriate sized crate
- A Kong (for stuffing with good treats and keeping your dog busy, especially when crated!) The black Kongs are the strongest
- Food and water bowls-porcelain or stainless steel are best
- 6 foot nylon leash
- Flexi lead
- Rollover or liver treats for training
- Cookies
- Good quality dry food-no byproducts, additives or dyes
- Wet food, peanut butter or cheez whiz for stuffing Kong
- Bones
- Toys
- Bitter Apple spray if your new dog is a chewer
Cats
- Non-clumping litter if kitten
- Clumping litter for adults
- Litter box (If you are adopting a small kitten, make sure the box is low enough that they can get in. If you are adopting an adult cat, the bigger the box, the better and be aware that some cats don’t like using covered litterboxes)
- Food bowls (stainless steel or porcelain are best, as some cats can get acne from the bacteria held in plastic dishes)
- Cat bed (doesn’t have to be fancy, even a cozy towel in a box will do!)
- Good quality dry food-no by-products, additives, dyes
- Good quality wet food
- Toys (again, doesn’t have to be fancy, homemade are just as fun! Fishing pole toys and laser pens work great for tiring out energetic cats!)
- Scratching posts (be aware that some cats prefer Sisal (coiled rope), and others prefer carpet. The most important thing is that the post is tall enough for your cat to stretch fully out, and is sturdy enough that it will not tip over)
