How Do I... Prepare My Home for a Rescue Pet?
New furry family member on the way? Congratulations! An expert reveals how to get your home ready
Georgia Madden
12 March 2022
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning questions. To mark National Pet Adoption Month this month, Lara Shannon, an animal behaviourist and PETstock ambassador, shares some simple, practical tips for welcoming a rescue pet into your home (and keeping your furniture and garden intact!).
How do I choose the right pet?
Acquiring a new pet is a huge commitment but can also be one of the most enriching relationships you will ever experience.
Most people start their search for a rescue pet with a particular type, breed, age or size in mind. However, it’s your lifestyle that you should be evaluating in order to give a rescue pet the life they deserve.
Acquiring a new pet is a huge commitment but can also be one of the most enriching relationships you will ever experience.
Most people start their search for a rescue pet with a particular type, breed, age or size in mind. However, it’s your lifestyle that you should be evaluating in order to give a rescue pet the life they deserve.
What are the main lifestyle considerations?
Ask yourself:
Ask yourself:
- How active you are? A dog such as a kelpie or terrier will need regular walks. Large dogs including great danes and smaller dogs such as shih tzus require regular exercise in order to keep them in optimal health, but they don’t need as much exercise as other breeds. Greyhounds don’t actually require a lot of vigorous exercise, despite their running prowess.
- How much time will you spend with your pet? Cats are generally more independent than dogs, and the same goes for rabbits, reptiles and guinea pigs. Dogs will typically require their owner to spend more time with them at home. As pack animals, they thrive off companionship.
- Do you have enough space and what type of home do you live in? If you live in an apartment, consider a smaller animal such as a cat, small dog or reptile. If you have a larger house with a backyard, consider a large pet such as a big dog or a bonded pair.
- How do the traits of different breeds fit in with your lifestyle and family situation? For example, if you have small children, how will an individual breed cope with this?
- Do you have any other pets? The rescue group should have assessed whether the rescue pet you’re considering is okay with other dogs, cats or so-called pocket pets.
- Can you afford food, vet care, training and supplies?
How do I prepare for a rescue cat?
Before you welcome a cat into your home, make sure you have the essentials and create an environment they can thrive in.
Before you welcome a cat into your home, make sure you have the essentials and create an environment they can thrive in.
- Position a scratching post in front of a window or in the corner of the room so they have a view – cats love a view.
- Purchase enough litter boxes and toys and offer them a comfortable bed and a place to hide – even a cardboard box will do the trick.
- When the cat arrives, let them roam around and explore their new home.
- Provide a place up high to escape to.
- Have a collar for your cat with an ID tag that has your contact details engraved on it.
How can I make my living room cat-friendly – and protect furniture?
- One of the easiest ways to make your room cat-friendly and protect your furniture is to use an anti-scratch spray, such as PETstock’s Aristopet No Scratch Spray for Cats. Unlike humans, cats are highly sensitive to its odour, so simply spray it on your furniture to prevent scratching.
Vanessa Walker, editor of Houzz Australia and New Zealand, who owns a rescue birman cat and a boxer dog, adds; “You can also protect your sofa from damage by spraying it with a protective upholstery spray, such as Scotchgard, which makes liquids pool on the surface rather than penetrate so you have time to mop them up.
“Or, give your pet their own special sleeping spot on the sofa with a pet couch topper. These toppers are great as you can simply run them through the washing machine when they’re dirty.”
“Or, give your pet their own special sleeping spot on the sofa with a pet couch topper. These toppers are great as you can simply run them through the washing machine when they’re dirty.”
How should I prepare my backyard for a big dog or one that might dig or climb?
- First, ensure that you have pet-friendly plants and flowers in the backyard. Many common plants and flowers, such as azaleas, sago palms, gardenias, birds of paradise and wisteria are toxic to dogs if ingested, so do your research and remove any that could be harmful. You can find a list of plants that are toxic to dogs on the RSPCA website.
- Some plants can be toxic to cats too, including peace lilies, begonias, aloe vera, eucalyptus and tomato plants. Again, check the RSPCA website for the full list.
- Examine your fences and gates for weak spots so you can block potential escape routes using bricks, wood or mesh.
- Some breeds can scale 1.8-metre-high fences, so inward-facing lattice may be needed to stop your pet escaping.
- Provide plenty of water and shade for your dog.
- For large dogs that love to dig, fill a kids’ plastic clam pool with sand and hide toys throughout to act as a boredom buster.
How can I help reduce my pet’s anxiety in the first few days?
- Make sure you are home for the first few days and give yourself time to bond with your pet as they get used to their new surroundings.
- Establishing a routine early will help them feel settled, so try scheduling mealtimes, daily walks and play sessions for the same time each day until they get comfortable.
- Don’t force interactions with children or other pets.
What’s the best way to introduce my existing cat to my new cat?
Introducing your new cat or kitten to other furry family members, no matter the type, can be daunting. Cats are very territorial and any existing feline family members may feel put out by the new addition.
Start by limiting your new kitten or cat to one room of the house. Not only will this help them adjust, but your existing and new pets will be able to sniff each other through the door and get used to each other’s scent.
After a few days, give your new cat or kitten a larger area within the house to roam and explore.
Introduce them to your other pets slowly and with adult supervision.
Ensure both cats have their own litter box in their own space, plus an extra one in another room.
Introducing your new cat or kitten to other furry family members, no matter the type, can be daunting. Cats are very territorial and any existing feline family members may feel put out by the new addition.
Start by limiting your new kitten or cat to one room of the house. Not only will this help them adjust, but your existing and new pets will be able to sniff each other through the door and get used to each other’s scent.
After a few days, give your new cat or kitten a larger area within the house to roam and explore.
Introduce them to your other pets slowly and with adult supervision.
Ensure both cats have their own litter box in their own space, plus an extra one in another room.
How should I prepare for a bonded pair of dogs?
It takes a special type of someone to consider adopting two animals. But there are so many benefits to adopting a bonded pair – the transition into their new home is generally easier and they have established social skills.
To prepare for their arrival, make sure you have two of everything – collars with ID tags that have your contact details engraved, leads, comfortable beds, blankets and enriching toys such as puzzle feeders.
When it comes to food, find out what they are eating before they come to your home as you don’t want to cause an upset stomach by introducing a new diet too quickly.
Prepare a place for them to sleep, play and eat together.
It takes a special type of someone to consider adopting two animals. But there are so many benefits to adopting a bonded pair – the transition into their new home is generally easier and they have established social skills.
To prepare for their arrival, make sure you have two of everything – collars with ID tags that have your contact details engraved, leads, comfortable beds, blankets and enriching toys such as puzzle feeders.
When it comes to food, find out what they are eating before they come to your home as you don’t want to cause an upset stomach by introducing a new diet too quickly.
Prepare a place for them to sleep, play and eat together.
If they do show signs of resource guarding over their food, don’t worry – this is a natural instinct for a dog, even with bonded pairs. You may not be aware of their history around food so instead of punishing them, feed them in separate rooms to avoid scuffles.
How long will it take for a pet to settle in?
Every rescue pet is different and comes with their own backstory. It can take weeks, sometimes months, for a rescue pet to feel comfortable in their new home.
But the three-three-three rule generally applies. In the first three days your new dog is likely to feel overwhelmed with their new surrounding, so they may not eat and they may whine and show anxious behaviour such as chewing, digging or following your every move.
Patience is key, so ensure you have time to dedicate to getting your pet settled.
Every rescue pet is different and comes with their own backstory. It can take weeks, sometimes months, for a rescue pet to feel comfortable in their new home.
But the three-three-three rule generally applies. In the first three days your new dog is likely to feel overwhelmed with their new surrounding, so they may not eat and they may whine and show anxious behaviour such as chewing, digging or following your every move.
Patience is key, so ensure you have time to dedicate to getting your pet settled.
After three weeks, they generally start to settle in and get used to their routine. You might start to see their personality emerge – and this might be when you see some behavioural issues show up too.
After three months, your dog should be feeling comfortable in their new home, your bond should be established, the routine set and they should be feeling much more secure in their new life.
After three months, your dog should be feeling comfortable in their new home, your bond should be established, the routine set and they should be feeling much more secure in their new life.
Your turn
How did you prepare for the arrival of your rescue pet? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more on rescue pets? Don’t miss this story – Second Chances: Why Adopting a Senior Pet Might be Right for You
How did you prepare for the arrival of your rescue pet? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more on rescue pets? Don’t miss this story – Second Chances: Why Adopting a Senior Pet Might be Right for You
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Please add 'microchip my beloved new companion' to the list of things to do before they arrive at their new home.
I have one GSD and one German Shepherd cross. I live on a farm but entirely disagree that active dogs can only live in homes with “space”. Why - because my dogs are never more than a couple meters from my side no matter what (except when machinery is involved then they are behind a fence). If you are giving your dog adequate exercise and stimulation (agility training, nose training etc) they do not need “big” spaces. They are quite content in a small space as long as you spend time with them. As with everything, a happy dog is about the owner and how they live and care for the animal, not about where they live.