Is your family getting a brand new pet for Christmas? What to do and where to start with your new puppy or kitten.

Congratulations on bringing home your newest fur family member. It’s a fun and exciting time for both of you but it’s also a very important learning phase. This is the time to bond with your new puppy or kitten and make them feel safe and secure. Also, it is an important time to get them trained early. Below are some helpful tips about raising a new kitten and beneath that section is the guide to raising your new puppy.  

Guide to Raising a New Kitten

If you decided on a new kitten for Christmas then here is a basic guide to welcoming your new pet into your family.  One of the biggest mistakes new owners make is training kittens like dogs.  Cats show affection and communicate very differently from dogs. From training techniques to products and vaccinations, cat’s and dog’s needs are not the same. Below are the basic essentials for your new fur baby. You can find these items at Olsen’s pet supplies section.

New Kitten Checklist

• Good quality kitten food
• Freshwater
• A “sanctuary” room where he can be initially confined
• Uncovered litter box (low sides for easy entry)
• Scoopable, unscented litter
• Litter scoop
• Food bowl (a size that’s easy for a kitten)
• Water bowl (separate from the food bowl)
• Scratching post (sisal covered) or Cat tree (for climbing)
• Soft grooming brush
• Safe toys for solo play
• Interactive play toys (fishing pole design)
• Cozy bed
• Hiding places (box on its side, cat tunnel, etc)
• Cat carrier
• Identification (microchip, ID tag, breakaway collar)
• Treats for training (or you can use the kitten’s food)
• Clicker (an optional training tool)

Coming home to a new place can be overwhelming for a tiny kitten which is why it’s important to have a sanctuary room. This is where your kitten will be confined while they are being trained. Keep everything close by especially their litter box. Be sure the litter box and food and water are not together. These should be far from each other. Keep dangerous toys and supplies up and away. Start to introduce them to the rest of your home once they are old enough and are comfortable exploring. If you have other pets, it’s important to introduce them slowly to each other. 

A few last tips are one make sure you keep their crate available for them. Get them used to the crate by placing a comfy blanket and toys in there. This way when it’s time to take them to the vet they won’t be afraid of being placed in a carrier. Keep yarns and strings away when you are not supervising because they can easily choke on these items. Remember to put away medicines and household cleaning products and check and secure places where kittens can hide such as behind washer and dryers. The last important tip is to bond with your new kitty. Be sure to have daily play sessions together to begin the bonding process. 

Checklist by Cat Behavior Associates.

Guide to Raising a New Puppy

Getting a new puppy is an exciting adventure that will be full of love and joy for years to come. Going home with new owners and assimilating to a new home can be daunting to any puppy. It’s important to provide him or her the best transition possible. If you can get past the first month of getting them used to you and their new environment then you will be off to a great new start. 

New Puppy Checklist

• Crate 
• Collar & Leash
• Good quality puppy food
• Freshwater
• Water bowl
• Food Bowl
• Dog Bed
• Treats for training
• Grooming Supplies (brushes & pet shampoo)
• Toys
• ID Tags
• Clicker (an optional training tool)

When you bring your puppy home make sure you have a crate ready to carry them in. This will be a great opportunity for them to get used to one. Make sure you have it stocked full of toys and treats. If you can, try and get a towel that has their mother’s scent which will go a long way of making them feel secure. Once you get home, make sure you let them go potty before entering the house. Reaffirm this behavior with a treat and a pat on the head. This lets them know that going potty outside is the right thing to do not inside your home.

It’s also good to start talking and petting your puppy so they get used to your voice and touch. This lets them know it’s ok for you to touch their ears, paws, tail, etc. as you will be routinely doing this throughout their life to check for any health issues. A good rule of thumb is to also take potty walks in the morning before you go off to work, right after every meal, and in the evening before bed. Remember to keep the crate in a corner where there isn’t too much traffic. They need to feel safe and secure especially in a new environment. Below is a checklist of products to purchase before you pick up your new puppy. You can get these at Olsen’s pet supplies section of the store.