Bringing a pet home
The First 24 Hours With a New Pet
Calm, quiet and predictable beats exciting. What to do — and what to resist doing — on day one.
Keep the world small
Give the animal one quiet room rather than the whole house. A smaller space with familiar-smelling bedding, water and a hiding place lowers arousal and helps the animal orient itself.
Cancel the welcome party. Meeting the extended family can wait a week.
Let the animal set the pace
Sit nearby, read quietly and let the animal approach you rather than reaching for it. For cats and rabbits in particular, being able to retreat is what eventually makes them confident enough to approach.
Food, toileting and sleep
Feed the same food the animal has been eating, even if you intend to change it later; transition gradually over a week or more. Offer frequent toileting opportunities for dogs and puppies, and reward outdoors calmly.
Expect a disturbed first night. A warm bed near you helps more than isolation does.
When to call the vet on day one
Book a health check within the first few days. Call sooner for laboured breathing, repeated vomiting, blood in stool, complete refusal of food for more than 12 hours in a rabbit or guinea pig, or any collapse.