The Ultimate Starter Kit for First Time Pet Owners
So you’re thinking about bringing home a fuzzy bundle of joy. Congratulations! First-time pet owners are in for a long life of love and pleasure, but they also must be prepared to spend money, clean up messes—yes, we’re going to help you find the best vacuum for pet hair before bringing home your pet!—and handle pet-related emergencies. As long as you’re committed to giving your new family member everything he or she needs to thrive, plus plenty of hugs and kisses, you’ll be well on your way to winning the award for First-Time Pet Owner of the Year!
You shouldn’t bring a new pet into your home without a little bit of preparation. In this guide, we’ll help you figure out everything you need to do to prepare for the arrival of your new best pal, from finding the right food and treats to preventing accidents and planning for emergencies. Spending the time to understand everything that pets need before you bring yours home will help ensure that you have the resources and knowledge required to be a good animal owner for her first year with you and the rest of her life!
Before Your New Pet Arrives: What You Need
Get comfortable with the idea of spending money on your pet. The annual cost of pet ownership exceeds $1,000 per year for both dogs and cats, with the average first-year cost of owning a dog around $1,270 and the average first-year cost of owning a cat $1,070, according to the ASPCA. You’ll buy things in your pet’s first year that he or she will use for a long time–hence why first-year costs are a bit higher–so make sure to invest in high-quality items that will be used long-term, like food bowls, leashes and a good vacuum cleaner!
BEFORE YOU GET A PET: The list below is a good place to start if you’re going shopping for your first pet. But before you buy any of these things, it’s vital that you do two things—First, get a good veterinarian using referrals from friends, family and reviewers online. If you have a rare breed or a less common animal, be sure to choose a vet who has experience treating that specific pet type. Next, make sure you know where to find the closest animal hospital and post this information somewhere accessible, like on the fridge or in a note in your phone, so that you can quickly find it in the event of an emergency.
- Food—Know that finding the right food for your pet is an endeavor of trial and error. For the best possible advice, follow the nutrition guidelines presented by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and talk to your vet about finding the right food for your animal.
- Food Bowls—She’ll need somewhere to eat, of course! As previously mentioned, food bowls are one of the things that you can buy once throughout your pet’s life, so if you have the choice, buy a size up and don’t skimp.
- Treats—Treats are vital in the training process, and if you’ve got a puppy, you’re going to need to hop right into training to get your pup housetrained and to prevent messes.
- Collar—Whether it’s a dog, a cat or a ferret, the collar is an essential for identifying your pet, taking walks and adding some style. If you are bringing home a young animal, don’t sink too much into her first collar, as she’ll soon grow out of it.
- ID Tag—Don’t allow your pet to go outside without an identification tag—no excuses. Cats, puppies and new dogs tend to wander off when left outside without confines, so it’s vital that neighbors know where your pet lives.
- Leash—Your new dog or puppy will need lots of exercise, so don’t forget a good-quality leash. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends a 4- to 6-foot leash for a puppy to make training easier.
- Carrier—If you have a small dog, a cat or another lap-sized pet, you’ll need a reliable way to transport him or her to the groomer, vet and boarder.
- Crate—Dogs need a comfortable, confined space to call their own, and a crate is the perfect solution for that. You’ll also want to consider crate training for puppies and young dogs.
- Brush—Long-haired pets shed, but regular brushing can help lessen the effects so you’re not constantly busting out that Miele vacuum and worsening symptoms for allergy sufferers in the house.
- Shampoo—Keeping your pet clean is important to ensuring that she’s healthy and happy and that she’s not tracking in gross or dangerous debris from the outdoors.
- Toys—A busy pet is a happy pet. Always encourage plenty of play with five or six toys. This will keep your pet busy and also help her understand what’s a toy and what’s off-limits.
- Registration—Don’t forget to register your animal with your county (usually only required for dogs). Getting a dog license will help increase the chances that your pup is found if he goes missing and also lets neighbors and the county know that your animal is up to date on vaccines.
- A Pet Toxicity Guide—Make sure that you have a printed out guide telling you what foods are toxic to pets as well as the number to the ASPCA’s Pet Poison Control Center (888-426-4436). You’ll reference the guide more than you think, so put it somewhere that’s easy to access!
Things That Make Pet Ownership Easier
The above items are essentials, whereas the items below are things you definitely should consider having on hand to ensure that your life with your pet is as enjoyable as possible.
- A Good Vacuum—We can’t underestimate the importance of a high-quality vacuum that can handle pet fur and other messes caused by your pet pals. A Miele canister vacuum is always a top-notch choice for animals that tend to shed a lot because it allows for effortless sweeping of many different floor surfaces and has an odor-neutralizing filter. If you have any sensitivity to pet fur or if you live with anyone with pet allergies, be sure that you don’t cut corners on the vacuum, as it can really help to alleviate symptoms for sufferers. A good vacuum cleaner and regular deep vacuuming is also important because it helps eliminate flea eggs that can hatch and pester your pets. We recommend the Miele Complete C1 Cat and Dog Canister Vacuum for first-time pet owners bringing home pets that shed.
Note that you can get a 60-day, risk-free trial when you buy a Miele vacuum from eVacuumStore. We also have everything you need for your Miele, including Miele replacement parts and Miele vacuum bags.
- Pet Furniture Covers—Another great way to keep your pet fur situation under control is to invest in some furniture covers that protect your upholstery or leather from accumulating pet fur. On top of that, good-quality furniture covers that are machine-washable make cleaning simple because you can easily remove the cover from your furniture and toss it in the wash. While dogs are relatively easy to train to stay off the furniture, it’s harder to keep cats from snuggling up on the recliner or armchair, so covers are a great way to keep the situation under control.
- A Microchip—If you have it in the budget, be sure to talk with your pet’s health care provider about microchipping. Your vet will insert a tiny microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, beneath the surface of your pet’s skin at the back of the neck between the shoulder blades. If your dog or cat is lost, any veterinary office or animal shelter will have a device to scan the chip, which will allow them to contact you. You should know that pet microchipping has gone down significantly in price—in some places, you can get your dog or cat microchipped for under $30—so it’s well worth the small investment.
- A Reliable Pet Sitter—Leaving your pet behind when you go on vacation is extremely difficult if you don’t have someone you trust to care for your family members with as much love and attention as you provide yourself. Before getting a pet, it’s a good idea to talk with family members about pet-sitting while you’re away or tour a few local boarding facilities to find one that suits your needs. You can also use apps like Rover and Care.com to find trusted sitters if you’d prefer that someone come to your home while you’re gone so that you don’t have to take your pets out of their own environment.
- An Automatic Feeder—Especially important for cat and dog parents who spend a lot of time away from home, an automatic pet food feeder distributes the right amount of food or water at certain intervals so you don’t have to leave out heaping bowls of chow. These days, there are some really impressive, smartphone-enabled styles on the market, such as the Petnet SmartFeeder, which lets you feed your pet anytime, anywhere using a connected smartphone app. You can even link it up with your smart home devices so you can talk to your pet or watch her on video while she eats!
Before Your New Pet Arrives: Preparing Your Space
Buying the essentials and extras isn’t always enough to get ready for your new addition. You also need to think about your space. Like you would childproof before the arrival of a new baby, you’ll need to do a little bit of dog- or cat-proofing before your four-legged friend makes his debut.
- Put all food that could be accessible to your pet up and out of reach. Never store food of any sort on the ground.
- Make sure your trash cans have secure lids that can’t be bumped off by a curious animal. The trash is filled with food and waste that’s not safe for your pet.
- Put anything that might be mistaken for a toy—your favorite pair of shoes, your child’s stuffed animals and anything breakable—up on a higher surface or locked away in a closet.
- Make sure to get rid of any garden or houseplants that could be poisonous to pets. Reference the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants.
- Be sure that anything that could be toxic, including medications and cleaning supplies, are secure somewhere your pet can’t reach.
- Set up a crate (for a dog) or a blanket (for a cat) in a quiet area so that your pet immediately has a space of her own.
- Close all toilet lids and make sure doors to off-limits areas—such as the basement or the baby’s room—are closed and locked.
- Do a little bit of research about the best vacuum cleaners for pets and put together a schedule for who will be cleaning up pet hair.
As you’ll notice, a good majority of the things you need to do before your pet’s official first day at home have to do with moving things out of reach. The most important rule to pet ownership? Use common sense! Never let your furry or feathered friends have access to things that could be toxic or that could be mistaken for a toy.
Welcoming Your New Family Member
Bringing a pet home for the first time is one of the most exciting milestones in life. Thanks to the lifelong bond you’ll share and the many special memories you’ll forge, there’s a good chance that you won’t ever forget the day you got your first pet! As long as you have all the right supplies, resources and information—plus an endless supply of patience and love—you’ll be well-equipped for a lifetime of pet ownership!
