Start with what your new pet needs to travel home, eat, rest, and use the bathroom. You can choose extra toys and accessories once you know their size, routine, and preferences. Ask the shelter, rescue, breeder, or previous caregiver what already works for them before placing your first order.
This checklist separates the essentials for dogs and cats so you can make one practical shopping list for your household.
Before you shop: ask five questions
- What food does the pet currently eat, and what is the current feeding routine?
- Which supplies, toys, bedding, or familiar items will come home with them?
- What sizes or measurements are available for a carrier, collar, harness, or bed?
- Are there medical needs, dietary instructions, or activity restrictions to discuss with a veterinarian?
- What records and contact details will you receive at handover?
Write down the answers. They help you avoid duplicate purchases and give everyone at home the same starting information.
New dog supply checklist
- For coming home: suitable travel arrangements, a properly fitted collar or harness, identification, and a leash.
- For meals: the current food and appropriately sized food and water bowls.
- For rest: a quiet resting area with suitable bedding; a crate if it fits your care and training plan.
- For cleanup: waste bags and cleaning supplies stored out of reach.
- For play: a few appropriately sized toys for supervised introductions.
- For routine care: grooming supplies matched to the coat and guidance on how to use them.
Browse dog supplies and use our dog toy guide to choose a small starter selection.
New cat supply checklist
- For coming home: a secure, appropriately sized carrier.
- For the bathroom: a litter box, litter, and scoop, with the current litter preference noted where known.
- For meals: the current food and separate food and water bowls.
- For rest: a quiet hiding and resting space with suitable bedding.
- For scratching and play: a stable scratching surface and a few appropriate toys.
- For routine care: grooming supplies suited to the individual cat.
Compare cat supplies. For playtime, our cat toy guide helps you choose by activity and plan storage for wand and string toys.
Prepare the space before arrival
Choose where meals, rest, and bathroom routines will happen. Walk through that area at pet level: look for accessible medications, cleaners, cords, small objects, open bins, and easy escape routes. Store hazards securely and check doors and windows.
Place supplies where everyone can find them. Keep cleaning products separate from pet food. Decide who will handle feeding, walks or litter-box care, and veterinary appointments. A note on the refrigerator can prevent the “I thought you fed them” problem.
A practical first-week plan
Arrival day: make the handover simple
Collect records, food information, and any familiar belongings. Bring your pet to the prepared area and keep the first day calm. Follow the caregiver's and veterinarian's guidance for introductions, especially when children or other animals are involved.
The next few days: learn before adding more
Notice where your pet rests and which supplies are easy to use. Check equipment fit and inspect new toys during supervised play. Keep notes about questions you want to ask your veterinarian. Avoid making several unnecessary changes to the setup at once; it becomes harder to tell what helped.
By the end of the week: adjust your list
Look at what you actually used. Does a bowl need a different location? Is a toy the wrong size? Would another resting spot make the routine easier? Buy from this observed list instead of feeling that a new pet needs every accessory immediately.
Keep one care folder
Save the handover records, veterinary contact information, identification details, product instructions, and your household care plan together. Arrange veterinary care and discuss nutrition, preventive care, identification, and any concerns specific to your pet.
Check availability before planning around a delivery
Have essentials ready before arrival. PawShips' selection changes, and some orders contain products fulfilled separately by independent suppliers. Check current product details and the shipping policy when planning your order.
Shop dog supplies or shop cat supplies using the checklist that fits your new companion.
Photo: Julia Filirovska / Pexels