pet adoption – Taste of the Wild Pet Food

Ease the Stress on Puppies During the Adoption Process

Posted on November 17, 2022 - 3:00 pm by [email protected]

A brown puppy with its two front paws up on a fence.

Adopting a puppy can be an exciting time! You’ve picked out their name. You’ve got their food bowl and water dish all set up. You’ve told the family to expect a furry addition. It’s a magical time. But it’s not without stress, especially for the puppy. And new puppy stress isn’t fun for anyone!

While your bundle of fur is excited, too, they’re going through something entirely new and life-changing — and those changes may cause stress and anxiety. What can you do to help keep your new puppy stress free so they can stay calm and truly enjoy the blessing that is adoption? PAWS right there…We’ve got you with some simple tips for de-stressing the adoption process for your puppy.

Request Time Off

Consider taking a day or two off work to help acclimate your pupper to their new home. This may be the first time your puppy has been away from their siblings and their mom. It’s a lot less scary when they’re not navigating a new situation all on their own. The more time their primary caregiver can spend with them, the easier the transition will be.

Also, don’t plan much activity for those first two days. You’ll want those first two days to be focused on giving your new puppy the time and space they need to acclimate to their new surroundings.

Set Up a Safe Haven to Reduce New Puppy Stress

Shopping for puppy toys, bowls and crates or fluffy beds can be quite the fun adventure! When you get everything picked up or delivered, be sure to set it all up and have it ready for their arrival. Fido will feel at ease knowing they have a designated space for eating, sleeping and playing.

Next, don’t forget to puppy-proof your place. Shoes, clothes, floor plants and/or kid toys should all be placed out of reach. Tablecloths, towels and any other low-hanging items should be secured. Wrap or hide cables and electrical cords so your puppy doesn’t chew through them. And lastly, look around your entire house with this question in mind, “Can a puppy hide or get trapped in this spot?” Cover any spots or move any furniture that could be dangerous to your puppy while they are learning the house rules.

Create a Schedule and Ground Rules

If you’re not the only one raising baby Fido, create a schedule and ground rules with everyone on board. Puppies need structure and consistency to feel safe and secure. You’ll want to outline where the puppy will go potty, where they will sleep, and what times they will be fed and walked. With room for flexibility, of course!

If you have kiddos at home who have never handled a puppy, use a stuffed toy to demonstrate how to hold a puppy and ways to play with them. Explain how they will also need to give the puppy space to get used to their new surroundings.

Let Them Slowly Get Acclimated Indoors

The first few hours of your puppy’s arrival can be the most stressful time. New home, new people, new experiences; it’s a lot to handle! It’s best to calm those pesky nerves with fewer people present and a controlled environment. If you can, keep other animals outside or in a separate room. If you have young children, try to choose a time to bring the puppy home when they are with a sitter or at daycare.

Next show baby Fido where their crate, food dish and water bowl are located. Your puppy may be hungry right away or they may need a nap. Be prepared to go with the flow to avoid new puppy stress. Over the next couple of days, your puppy will explore the rest of the house. Continue to let them wander at their own pace, and they’ll quite literally make themselves at home!

Introduce Everyone

After your puppy has been at home for a few hours, slowly introduce them to their new human housemates. While everyone may have an urge to pick up the puppy and hold them, encourage everyone to sit on the floor and let Fido come to them. This will help your puppy not feel smothered or overwhelmed meeting so many new faces at once.

If this is an additional pet, try holding off on introducing them to other animals until day two or three. Then have another adult handy so you can each hold onto each animal’s leash. Bring in one animal at a time for your puppy to meet. Watch both animals’ body language. As soon as you see signs of aggression (i.e., baring teeth, raised hair on the back of neck, etc.) separate the animals. Give them time to cool off and try introducing them again later. It may take time for your other pets to warm up to the newest addition — and that’s OK.

Do Not Scold Your New Puppy

As your puppy gets into things they shouldn’t or nibbles a bit too hard, resist the urge to scold them. They’re still learning the rules, after all. Instead, try a deep, moderately loud “no” just once and redirect their attention to a new toy. Consistency and patience will be needed to help set boundaries in a stress-free environment.

Make Bedtime the Best Time for Your New Puppy

A crate is an essential tool in keeping your puppy safe and secure overnight. It keeps them out of trouble and provides a home within your home: their very own safe space.

For the first couple of weeks, you’ll want to keep their crate in the same room you’re sleeping in. Those first few nights especially, they’ll be looking around for their mother or siblings. Seeing you as a new friendly face can help calm these separation woes.

In addition to putting their crate next to your bed, try giving them a snuggle puppy toy with a heat pack or a hot water bottle wrapped in a hand towel. Heat has been proven to comfort puppies in this transition.

Over the next few weeks, you’ll notice your new puppy will gradually become more comfortable in their furever home. Hoorah!

If anything seems worrisome during this transition, don’t hesitate to give your local veterinarian a call. They’re there to help in this exciting time, too!

How to Adopt an Adult Shelter Cat

Posted on June 9, 2022 - 2:30 pm by [email protected]

Let’s face it. You’ve been thinking about adopting an adult cat since before the #BettyWhiteChallenge. The idea of curling up to a good book with a cat lying next to you brings a twinkle to your eye — plus, not having to train a kitten but still having an adorable cat in the house adds to the shine.

So, it’s time to consider the loving adult cats waiting for their fur-ever home at your local shelter. Not only would your life be enhanced by this adoption, but you’d be literally saving the adult cat’s life. A “golden” opportunity for you both, to say the least.

Let’s step back a moment. You may be wondering, “How do I adopt a cat?” While each situation is different, here are the basics to walk you through your upcoming journey.

LIFESTYLE CONSIDERATIONS

Take allergies and your living situation into consideration. Some cats play better with kids than others. And humans can have varying degrees of allergies to cats.

One of the first steps in the process will be filling out an adoption survey. Your answers will be at the top of the shelter employee’s minds so they can pair you with felines who match your needs.

PERSONALITY MATCH

After going through the adoption survey, the shelter will arrange for you to meet potential fur-babies. They may all be eagerly waiting for you that day or you may need to arrange a time to visit with a foster pet parent. Each shelter is different based on their resources and housing space.

SELECT A PET

Like humans, each animal has their own personality. You’ll start to notice this the more cats you’re around. Throughout the meet-and-greet process, you’ll find the one who takes a shine to you as much as you do to them. That’s your cue. Make sure your home is ready for your chosen feline and inform the shelter that particular cat is the one.

Still a little unsure of how baby Violet and the cat will react to one another? Before signing the dotted line, some animal shelters offer a 7-day trial to make sure your new pet is a perfect fit.

ADOPTION FEES

Adoption fees vary from shelter to shelter, but your money is going toward bringing home a healthy, happy cat. Shelter employees or volunteers care for the animals while at their facility or foster homes. Animals will be up to date on their vaccinations and routine checkups. They’ll also be spayed or neutered — that procedure can cost more than $100 if you pay for it yourself.

GATHER THE 411

You’ve made it to the last step! Be sure to take a cat carrier when you go to pick up your soon-to-be pet.

Prior to you and your new feline heading home, the employees/volunteers at the shelter will brief you on the cat’s current diet, medications (if any) and general information. They’ll also explain that older cats typically need a bit more time to adjust to their new surroundings. Patience is key with any animal you bring home, though.

Okay, you’ve made it through this article. It’s time to channel your inner Betty White and head to your local shelter. Your fur baby is waiting.

How to Make Peaceful Introductions When Adopting a New Cat

Posted on June 17, 2021 - 2:55 pm by [email protected]

Owning cats is like eating potato chips: It’s darn near impossible to have just one. In fact, the average number of cats per household in the U.S. is about two, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

As part of National Adopt-a-Cat month, perhaps you’re thinking about joining the ranks of multi-cat households (and who wouldn’t?). If so, be advised that simply depositing your new cat in the middle of your living room could result in ongoing feline squabbles including hissing, growling, yowling or worse.

To help make the transition easier, here are some tips for introducing your new cat to your current feline housemate(s):

• First stop: the veterinary clinic. Even if you adopt your kitten or cat from a shelter, these organizations can’t always afford to test for every type of parasite or infectious disease.

To make sure you don’t bring anything into the house that could infect your current cat, your veterinarian can check for parasites including fleas and ear mites, as well as contagious diseases such as feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.

Making sure your new cat is neutered or spayed will help minimize the risk of urine marking in your house, as well.

• Give your new cat time to get acclimated. Prepare a room where the new cat can stay on its own for at least a week. Provide a litter box and toys as well as food and water bowls.

Place the new cat’s carrier on the floor of the room, open the carrier door and let the cat explore the room on its own. Using a feline pheromone spray or diffuser in the area may help your new cat feel calm. Keep the door to the room shut, but allow your new cat and current cat to sniff each other under the door.

• Help your cats swap scents. Rub a towel on your new cat and bring it out for the other cat to sniff, and do the same with the other cat. You can also switch litter boxes and food bowls, so they get used to each other’s smell.

• Time for the new cat to explore. Once your cats have had about a week to sniff each other under the door, place your current cat in a separate room and close the door. Now let the new cat explore the rest of the house.

• Hold short, supervised meet and greets. Place your new cat in a carrier in the middle of the room and allow your other cat into the room. This allows your cats to see and sniff each other without potentially swatting each other. Provide lots of treats and encourage calm behavior.

Another option is to have one family member play with a cat at one end of the room, while another plays with the other cat on the opposite side of the room. Make sure to lavish them both with treats. Start with 5-minute play sessions, and over the course of several days, increase the play time and gradually reduce the distance between the two cats.

If they still appear calm after about a week, you can allow them to approach each other for a bit.

• Provide an escape hatch. Once your cats start to mingle more, make sure to keep a room where each cat can get away from the other and feel safe, if needed. Keep a litter box in that room, as well as food and water bowls.

• Count the litter boxes. You should have one litter box for each cat, plus another one. That means you need three litter boxes if you have two cats. Put them in quiet, low-traffic areas where each cat can have some privacy, and scoop litter daily.

• Keep an eye on your cats. During the first few weeks, if you have to leave the house, place cats in separate rooms. You’ll want to supervise all their interactions until you’re confident they feel comfortable with each other.

It may take a few weeks for your cats to become friends. By making gradual introductions, paired with positive reinforcement, you can help them grow to enjoy each other’s company.

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