If you bring a pet into your home, then you need to be prepared to take good care of your new furry friend. Whether you’re adopting a puppy or a cat, there are different ways to prepare your home. If you want to make good preparations to welcome your first pet, you should check out these tips.

Pet-Proof Your Home

It’s always natural for animals to be curious about getting into different things and they are also fond of interacting with humans. To pet-proof your home correctly, you should invest in tightly-closed trash cans and pet food containers, and you should always keep it fully closed to avoid it being scattered by your pet. It is also best to keep electrical cords from dangling around the home, in order to prevent entanglement since puppies and kittens like to chew on them during the teething phase.

Reconsider House Plants

Remember that there are more than 700 plants that are toxic to dogs and cats if ingested. Take the time to look for safe house plants. While many house plants are toxic to pets, here are some plants that they can chew on without incident: Air plant; Christmas cactus; some ferns, including the Boston fern and maidenhair fern; Friendship plant; Orchid; Polka dot plant;  Spider plant; some succulents, including echeveria, haworthia, and hens and chicks; Money tree; Parlor palm; and some herbs including basil, thyme, and sage.

Set Up the Pet’s Space

When you want your dog or cat to feel more comfortable in their new home, make a small house entirely theirs. Consider investing in a pet bed and place it in a crate. Having your dog placed in a crate will provide your pet with a secure place to go when you’re not home.  Whatever kind of pet you have, make sure to prepare the area and set it up completely before bringing the animal into your home.

Purchase a Few Toys

It’s natural for cats and dogs to play with a variety of pet toys, and it’s important to keep them occupied with the proper things to chew on so they don’t get into something they shouldn’t. If you get a puppy, give it something to play with, such as balls, chew toys, or string toys. For a cat, you need to get a scratching wood as cats usually have a habit of sharpening their claws. As pets often explore with their mouths, make sure that anything you buy can be bitten, licked, or chewed on. Try a couple of basic toys and see what your pet likes before buying more. 

Stock Up on Supplies

After you have acquired a pet, you need to stock up on supplies such as food, dishes, collars, and treats. You also need to have a litter box for your cat and get a leash and waste bags for a dog. Once you have named your dog, don’t forget to attach an i.d. tag in case your pet gets lost. Make sure to include in the tag the pet’s name, your address, and a contact number so that people can contact you should your furry friend get lost away from home. Consider also buying training pads or pet spray and cleaning supplies, like spot remover. After you have welcomed your first pet, be sure to find a vet to take care of your furry friend.

Secure Your Home and Yard

Every pet owner needs to ensure that doors and windows are correctly latched to minimize the chance of your pets escaping. Cats can climb on open window screens and even in the attic, so make sure there are no open spaces in your home. If your dog can get to the yard during the day, make sure that the fence is entirely secure. 

Plan for Play Areas

It’s natural for animals to play, so every pet owner needs to make an area for them to play. You can make a dog run installed in your yard so your pet can run around without having access to the whole yard. While it’s natural for cats to climb, purchase a cat condo or climbing shelf to give your cat a room to roam or nap.

If you live in an apartment or condo, make sure to leave time in your schedule to go outside to walk your dog or to take them to a local dog park. It’s important for your new pet to be able to exercise and get out lots of the energy they built up throughout the day. 

Before you bring your first pet home, make sure that every member of your family also wants to have a pet. Make sure to create rules about where your pet can and can’t go, if you plan to allow them on the furniture, and where they should be sleeping. Making sure all family members trains the new pet with the same rules is important to avoid confusing the new pet and will make for a happier home life together.

If you are looking for a pet-friendly apartment in the Hollister, MO area contact Thousand Hills Realty at (417) 337-8081. We are the premier property manager in the Branson and Hollister area and we would love to help you find your next place to call home.