How to make a new pet happy

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Some big problems can be avoided if owners of a new puppy or kitten welcome it right.

A new pet is an exciting development — but it can also mean a lot of extra time and work.

However, making the effort to settle a new puppy or kitten — or even an unfamiliar adult pet — into your home will pay off in the long run.

If you're introducing a new dog to your home, the SPCA recommends being prepared with a few basic essential items: a bed, kennel or crate for it to sleep in, food and water bowls, a collar and lead, grooming products and, to corral puppies into the appropriate parts of your property, a play pen or baby gate.

Dogs like to have their own space, so set up a corner or area which has a bed and feeding area, preferably in an easily cleaned room like the bathroom or laundry. Make sure you dog-proof it first: ensure there are no hanging wires or cables or breakable items and shut the lid of the toilet so the puppy doesn't fall in trying to take a drink.

A normal-sized house can seem huge to a small puppy, so introduce it to the different areas slowly and always on a lead, rather than letting it free-range.

Your puppy can be allowed to go outside into the yard or garden under supervision but shouldn't be taken off your property until they have been fully vaccinated (at around 12 weeks). Make sure the garden is dog-proofed, both in terms of items that might get chewed or eaten, but also fully fenced – without any little gaps your puppy could slip through.

Then there is the all-important toilet training: be prepared to get up a few times in the night if needed and for a few accidents around the house until your puppy gets the hang of holding on and going outside.

Kittens and cats are a slightly easier prospect to deal with, being naturally more independent than dogs, and able to use a litter tray for toileting. Most cats find moving to a new home stressful and may hide for a few days before they start to feel more confident.

Again, the SPCA recommends setting up a special space where your cat can hang out and get used to its new home, keeping it in one room for two or three days.

Set up the litter tray at least 1.5 m away from the sleeping and feeding areas, as cats don't like to toilet near where they eat. Cats should be kept inside for three or four weeks after arrival, and six to eight weeks for kittens.

A good feeding routine is also important to help your new pet feel at home. Sam Boston, pet advisor Sam Boston for the Real Pet Food Company, manufacturers of Jimbo's, says kittens and puppies need more frequent feeding than adult animals, due to their rapid growth.

"Puppies need to be fed three or four times a day, as opposed to only once or twice for adult dogs, and kittens really should be eating all the time," she says. "Cats are designed to have 12-24 small meals a day — they are real grazers."

During the work week, that might mean popping home to make sure they have enough food during the day, working flexible hours to be at home more, or, if you have a really pet-friendly employer, taking your pet to work with you. Regular feedings are also an opportunity to bond with your pet — and find out what is being chewed in your absence.

"Kittens and puppies do need a lot of attention and care, so you need to think about how that is going to work for you and your lifestyle and work commitments, as it can be quite an issue," Boston says.