Bringing your pet home: a checklist and the first month

The day a new pet comes home is exciting for you and often a little overwhelming for the animal. Everything smells, sounds and looks different, and the people are strangers. A bit of preparation makes the change calmer for everyone.

This checklist walks you through what to have ready, how to make your home safe and what to expect over the first month. Settling in is a process, not a single day.

Before arrival: the shopping list

Buy the basics a week or two ahead, so you are not rushing on the day. Most pets need:

• Food the animal is already used to, so any change later can be gradual and guided by your vet
• Bowls for food and water, or a suitable drinking bottle for some small pets
• A bed or a sheltered place to rest
• A secure carrier or crate for travel
• A few safe toys and things to chew, scratch or explore
• Cleaning supplies, including an enzyme cleaner for accidents
• An ID tag and, where required, registration details for the microchip

Then add a few species-specific items:

• Dogs: a well-fitting collar or harness, a lead, poo bags and, if you plan to use one, a crate of the right size.
• Cats: a litter box and litter, a scratching post and somewhere high to perch or hide. Many owners keep one more litter box than they have cats.
• Small pets: a spacious enclosure, suitable bedding, hay or species-appropriate food, hiding places and, for social species, a plan for compatible company.

Pet-proofing your home

Get down to your new pet’s eye level and look around. Check for:

• Cables, cords and small objects that could be chewed or swallowed
• Houseplants, cleaning products, medicines and foods that may be harmful; ask your vet which ones matter for your species
• Open windows, balconies, gaps behind appliances and spaces where a small animal could get stuck
• Bins without secure lids, and toilet lids left open
• Gaps in fences and gates, if you have a garden

Book the first vet visit

Arrange a vet check within the first days or weeks, even if the animal seems perfectly healthy. Bring any paperwork you were given. The vet can examine your pet, check the microchip and talk you through vaccinations, parasite prevention, neutering and diet for your particular animal. It is also a good moment to ask all the questions you have collected so far.

The first day

Keep the first day calm and simple, however tempting it is to celebrate.

• Prepare a quiet space where the animal can rest and retreat, with water and a bed nearby, plus a litter box for cats.
• Let the animal explore at its own pace. Hiding is normal, especially for cats and small pets.
• Keep introductions limited. Visitors, neighbours and other pets can wait a few days.
• Show a dog where to go to the toilet straight away, and praise it when it gets it right.

The first week

The first week is about routine and patience. Animals feel safer when their day is predictable.

• Routines: feed, walk, play and rest at roughly the same times each day.
• Patience: some animals relax within days, others take weeks. Let trust build at its own speed.
• Sleep: young animals in particular sleep a lot. Protect their rest, especially from enthusiastic children.
• Accidents: expect a few. Clean up calmly, never punish, and reward the behaviour you want instead.
• What is normal: note your pet’s usual appetite, energy and toilet habits, so you notice changes later.

The first month

By now your pet is starting to understand its new life. Use these weeks to build good habits.

• Vet follow-up: go to any follow-up visits your vet suggested, for example for further vaccinations.
• Training basics: short, positive sessions teach simple cues and good manners. A reward-based class can help.
• Enrichment: puzzle feeders, new smells, safe toys and regular play keep minds busy.
• Gradual alone time: practise short absences and build up slowly, so your pet learns that you always come back.
• Other pets: keep any introductions gradual and supervised.

When to call your vet

New pets can hide discomfort, and behaviour in a new home is not always easy to read. Contact your vet if you notice, for example:

• Not eating or drinking, or eating much less than usual
• Vomiting or diarrhoea that continues or keeps coming back
• Unusual tiredness, weakness or hiding that does not improve
• Coughing, sneezing or discharge from the eyes or nose
• Straining to go to the toilet, or clear changes in urine or droppings
• Limping, pain when touched or any sudden change in behaviour

In small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs, changes in eating or droppings can become serious quickly, so do not wait long before asking for advice.

This is the last article in the series for now. If you are still deciding which animal is right for you, explore our breed guides, and visit the blog for more practical advice on life with pets.