Question posed by Dave Mackenzie
Get down to ground level and remove potential risks such as small chewable items, plants, electric cords and grates where a pet could get a foot or leg stuck.
For dogs – buying a crate is essential. Dogs like to den in small dark spaces and this will give your new dog a place to retreat to if he becomes stressed and overwhelmed. Remove the door (so it can’t get closed by accident) and cover it with a dark blanket on all three sides, leaving only the front open. Place the crate in a room where the dog will be near you most. A second one in the bedroom or a guest room would be ideal, in case he wants peace and quiet away from guests and other family members or pets.
For cats – a tall carpeted kitty condo with some fresh catnip (catnip for adult cats only) will make even the scardiest of scaredy cats feel at home. Your new cat or kitten will be happy to hide and play inside the dark spaces of a kitty condo. It’s a great tool to fill all needs of a new feline friend. Also, to avoid potty issues, always have two litterboxes per cat in each household and clean it as soon as possible after being soiled. Cats are very sensitive to dirty litterboxes (wouldn’t you be?) and may start to potty on your carpet - which quickly becomes a hard habit to break.
Photo by Tom Sadowski
