For those of you who have adopted, congratulations! You’ve just joined the millions worldwide who have found the special loving bond that only their pets can provide.
For Cats
Here are 9 ways to Welcome Home Your New Cat!
*Go slowly at first. A new cat may need seven to fourteen days to relax into her new environment. Save meet-and-greets with friends, neighbors, and relatives until the cat is eating and eliminating on a normal schedule.
*Offer him/her a safe place to hide while she gets her bearings. She’ll appreciate the chance to observe her new family’s routine from a small, dark space or one high above the action.
*Bring your new feline to a caring veterinarian for a wellness exam within one week after adoption.
*Provide the same diet she had at our shelter. –at least for the first week or two. If you wish to switch to a different flavor or brand, slowly make the switch over one to two weeks, starting with a quarter ration of the new food mixed into the old favorite. From there, up the ratio of the new to old about 10% each day.
*Set up a litter box in a quiet, low-traffic area. Unsure of litter to use? The majority of cats prefer fine grain to clumpy litter. Try that first unless the new adoptee is so young that she is in the litter-eating stage. Non-clumping litter is recommended for kittens under ten weeks of age.
*Cats must scratch, so make sure to provide yours with a sturdy, rough textured scratching post to save wear and tear on furniture. Cat manicures every ten to fourteen days also help reduce this possibility.
*Cat-proof your home before giving your new feline the run of the house. Put away harsh cleaning products, human medications, and household poisons. Re-home any poisonous houseplants. And if the newcomer is a kitten, lock away any breakables and remember to keep the toilet lid down.
*Once settled in, a young cat or kitten will be eager to play. Stock up on interactive toys(available at our shelter)Such as feather wands and kitty fishing poles to engage attention and direct energies toward a positive pursuit.
*Ready a comfortable cat perch on a sunny window sill-if this overlooks a birdfeeder, all the better! Observing live birds and squirrels beats out kitty videos any day.
*Most of all, spend time with and ENJOY your new best friend.
For Dogs
Here are some things that you will need to welcome home your new dog:
Food and water bowls
Lots of chew toys such as NYLA BONES and KONG TOYS
A dog-bed or designated spot for sleeping that is cozy.
A leash and CHECK COLLAR- available at our shelter at our online store!
A brush and dog-shampoo for bathing
Food-There are many excellent commercial dog foods on the market today. We recommend that you keep feeding your new puppy the food that he/she was being given at our shelter. This high quality food has a high nutritional content and balance for excellent health. If you choose to use a different food, please note that it is very important for you to slowly mix in the new food with the current food, little by little increasing the amount of the new food. Not making this change slowly is not good for your new dog and can cause diarrhea, stomach upset, and other things.
Puppies under six months are fed 3 times per day. After 6 months we recommend feeding twice per day. Once in the morning, and once in the evening.
We have several recommendations for training your new dog. For local resources on obedience classes and training, please refer to our resources link. We recommend using the crate training method for house-breaking your dog. Please look forward to more detailed information to be posted here about crate training. Meanwhile, call us at 984-5489 and ask to speak with a knowledgeable staff member regarding this wonderful and successful technique. If you adopted your dog at our shelter, you also received a DVD that has very specific training techniques, including crate-training. Please take the time to watch it.
We will be adding more to this page, so meanwhile please call us if you need anything or have any questions.
Thank you for your support