Food and Water dishes – metal or ceramic dishes are the best because plastic can cause a skin reaction in some animals.

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Brush and Comb – brushing your cat or dog helps to remove dirt and loose, dead hair which prevents mats and tangles.

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Collar with license and ID tag – make sure that your pet’s collar is fitted properly to prevent escape without being too tight; you should be able to fit two fingers under your their collar. Cats can squeeze into very small spaces so break-away collars are important to avoid injury. Most locations throughout the United States have state or local laws that require dog owners to license their dogs and cats.

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Leash – choose a leash that you feel comfortable using. Type of leash that’s appropriate in one situation might not be appropriate in others. For example, you might walk your dog on a retractable leash in the park so that he or she can roam and get plenty of exercise, but when walking in crowded places, at your veterinarian’s office, or in pet stores, you’ll probably want to use shorter leash to keep your dog closer to you. Cats can be harness trained with some work, if your is then a lightweight leash is important.

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Carrier – a safe, comfortable carrier is essential for small dogs and cats.

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Crate – provides privacy for dogs.

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Bed – a comfortable bed is very important for your pets. Be sure to clean their bedding regularly. Pet toothbrush and toothpaste – use a specially designed pet toothbrush or baby toothbrush with pet toothpaste. *Do not use human toothpaste because it can upset your pet’s stomach.

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Housing – if your dog will be spending time outdoors, be sure he or she has access to shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather as well as a warm, dry shelter in cold weather.

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Toys – There are so many toys out there, you will have to try different toys to see which one your pet prefers. Don’t use anything edible, and don’t use small or smooth balls that they could swallow. Food puzzle toys offer a natural solution to boredom. Dogs also chew for stimulation and to relieve anxiety. Therefore, it is important to provide various chew toys, such as smoked or raw bones, hard rubber bones and other hard chew treats. Cats love playing with wand toys in a hunt-catch-kill manner (make them track the toy and let them pounce on it) but do not ever leave any cat toys with string or feathers lying around as they can be choking hazards for your kitty.

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Scratching posts – Scratching is a natural and normal behavior for cats. Make sure to give them appropriate places to do this by providing scratching posts, scratching pads, and cat trees around your house. Some cats like to scratch vertically while others horizontally so if they aren’t using what you got them, try a different product in a different position.