What to buy for your new pet
2020 was the year of the pet, according to various news articles. If you’re one of the lucky families who adopted a new pet this year, congrats! Pets bring all sorts of joy and comfort and fun into your life! They’re entertaining, give kids a sense of responsibility, and give adults something to take care of. Sometimes when we’re all feeling like there’s nothing to do and nothing to look forward to, a pet can make a huge difference!
Now that you’ve adopted a new pet, you need to think of what to buy for your new pet. Each pet will need different items, which we’ll discuss, but in general: food, toys, a place to sleep/live, and special accessories pretty much cover the basics.
For dogs:
Lots of people adopted new dogs this year! For dogs, in addition to food, and a leash, you’ll need:
- a dog bed
- a crate (optional)
- toys to chew on so they don’t chew up your shoes
- treats for training
- food and water bowls
- a book on dog training (optional)
For cats:
Cats don’t need leashes, unless you’re planning to turn yours into an adventure cat, but they do need:
- a high protein food (there are plenty of debates on wet or dry, but we like a mix of both)
- treats
- a cat tower or something to climb on and scratch
- litter box and litter
- toys to chase
- a cat bed or warm place to sleep
For reptiles:
Reptiles and amphibians can be great fun! Most will need:
- a terrarium with a heat lamp
- faux plants and accessories that provide places to hide (Exo-Terra has great options and we have them in store)
- food and treats
For small pets:
Like reptiles, small pets will need an appropriate cage and also:
- appropriate toys to chew on (you can also use paper towel rolls)
- food and treats
- material to line their cage
- food and water bowls
For fish:
If you got a new fish tank and fish for Christmas, congrats! Wondering what to buy for your new pet? We suggest:
- Fun aquarium accessories like a castle or pirate ship
- Plants (if it’s a freshwater tank)
- A great lighting system
- Appropriate food for your type of fish
- A bottom dweller, if you don’t already have one, for helping to keep your tank clean
- Tank cleaning tools
If you’ve gotten a new pet but are unsure what toys to buy or which food is best, come see us! We’d love to help!