You're home with your new pet.  Prepare to fall in love and enjoy a liftime of companionship!  Here are some other suggestions to help create a positive experience for you and your new pet.

1)  Contact your veterinarian, learn how to care for your new  pets health.

2)  Choose a name, be creative, have fun. Remember, short names are easier for your pet to learn.

3)  Identification, every year, millions  of companion animals are lost, so identification is a must.  Attach identification tags with your current name and phone number to your pets collar, purchase a license from the animal shelter.  Speak with your veterinarian about microchip insertion. Each of these idenification options help insure that you will be reunited with your pet.

4)  The right collar is important for your cat or kitten.  Use a collar with a bell and it will warn you that your new cat or kitten is underfoot and also alert you if the cat or kitten tries to escape outside.  Use a safety collar made for cats that pulls apart easily in case the collar gets snagged.  Collars should fit with some slack, but not loosely enough to slide easily over the head. Check the collar's fit every week during your kitten's growth and loosen or replace it as needed.

5)  The right collar is important for your dog or puppy.  The collar should fit snugly, but allow for 1-2 fingers width of space between collar and neck.  Loosen the collar as your puppy grows replace the collar as needed.  Include your name and phone number on an easily readable identification tag.  All dogs over five months of age should have a license tag affixed to the collar.  As an added measure you may want to consider micro chip identification.

6)  Food and water dishes, ceramic or stainless steel are best.  Provide fresh food and water and wash the dishes daily.

7)  Litter boxes, cat litter and a scoop are all materials you will need.  Multiple cats need multiple litter boxes.  Their are many types of litter and boxes available, the best is the one that your cat(s) will use.

8)  Toys and games. Choose or make sturdy toys with small parts that can not be swallowed.  Despite the traditional image of kittens playing with balls of yarn or string, these are dangerous if swallowed.  Avoid games that encourage your puppy to fight with you. 

9)  Caution, keep these things away from your new pet. Plastic bags, string, yarn, holiday ornaments, sewing supplies, rubber bands, ribbon, twist ties, paper clips, erasers, staples, coins, board game pieces, medication, pills and pill bottles, dental floss, razor blades and cotton balls.  Pets love to explore but need protection from many potentially hazardous household items that are dangerous if swallowed.  

10) Some foods are harmful to your pet and should be avoided.  Chocolate, can be poisonous for pets.  Onion, is also dangerous for pets and can cause anemia.  Raw fish, causes vitamin deficiency in cats.  Dairy products, can cause diarrhea in some pets.  Bones, (from meat, poultry and fish)  splinters may stick in the throat or cut into the intestine.  Bones can also break teeth.