10 top tips to help your pet settle into their forever home

When welcoming a new pet into your family, getting off to a good start can make things a lot easier for everyone. There are some steps you can take to help your new cat or dog settle into their new home, here are 10 of our top tips.

1. Make sure you’re prepared

Having all the right necessities and accessories for your pet can help keep them feel comfortable and content as they get used to their new home. Being prepared also means you won’t (hopefully) have to make any last-minute dashes to the pet shop.

2. Be patient with your pet

Your new pet will need some time to get used to their new surroundings. This adjustment period will vary from animal to animal, so patience is key to helping your new cat or dog settle in.

3. Slow & steady

It might be tempting to get out and about to show off your new addition to all of your friends and family but this can be incredibly overwhelming for a pet that’s already got a lot of adjusting to do. As you have provided a forever home for a cat or dog, there is no real rush to introduce your new pet.

4. Establish a routine

When bringing your new pet home, they will be used to doing things a little differently to how things flow in your family home. While each pet will have its own needs, establishing a routine will makes things easier for everyone.

A routine isn’t just about time, it also affects their feeding and sleeping areas and making sure these remain the same so they can get used to it.

5. Give them their own space

Providing your new pet with their own space can help them feel safe and secure if they’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed or simply tired.

6. Make sure everyone knows how to behave

Making sure that everyone your pet is likely to meet knows how to properly behave around your cat or dog can help ease your pet’s stress or anxiety. Loud noises and big groups are probably going to overwhelm your new addition, so plan relaxed and quiet introductions.

7. Establish the rules from the start

Rules are very important for all family dynamics but even more crucial when welcoming a new pet into the home. Establishing the rules will help make sure that everyone knows what they should and shouldn’t do around, or with, your cat or dog.

So, if your pet isn’t allowed into a specific room, make sure that everyone sticks to the same rules so that your new pet doesn’t get confused.

8. Training is a great way to bond

While you won’t want to overwhelm your new addition, some basic training can be a great way for the two of you to bond.

9. Understand things from their perspective

Just imagine being torn from one place and a set routine to a completely different environment with new people, new pets and a new normal. It will take some time to get used to. Try to understand things from your pet’s perspective, and that while you are providing a loving and forever home for them, the experience can still be a little daunting.

10. Keep stress to the minimum

We are all affected by what happens around us in the world but it’s important to try and keep these stresses to a minimum. Your new pet can pick up on your anxiety and it can make it harder for them to relax and properly adjust to their surroundings.

Have you adopted a rescue cat or dog? Are you looking to rehome a pet? Margaret Green Animal Rescue has lots of adorable animals looking for their forever homes. Can you help?