Welcoming a dog into your home is a big decision, especially if you have a family. Caring for a pet involves a lot of commitment, and that’s especially true for dogs. They generally need more space and attention than cats, and most will need to go outside to relieve themselves a couple times per day. If you’ve decided to adopt a dog, prepare your home and vehicle before picking up the pooch. Use this checklist to ensure that your pet has a safe and smooth transition to its new home.

• Crate or cage – While it’s not a good idea to cage your animal for extended periods of time, having a place where it’s safe and secure while you’re cleaning the house or bringing in loads of groceries can be helpful. Make the crate a safe and comfortable place with bedding, and keep the door open whenever possible so your new pet can come and go as it pleases.
• Bed – If your dog won’t be sleeping in its crate, make sure it has a place to lie down. Designating a comfortable sleeping area will make it easier to keep your pet off the furniture and out of your bed.
• Grooming supplies – While you may prefer to have most grooming done professionally, it’s still a good idea to have dog shampoo, a brush and nail clippers on-hand just in case.
• Lint rollers – If you get a breed of dog that is prone to shedding, a lint roller can help keep your clothes fur-free.
• Vet – Before adopting a dog, it’s a good idea to find a vet in the area, especially if you need advice choosing a breed or finding a place to get your pup.
• Food – Ask your vet what kind and how much food your dog should get daily, and stick to his or her recommendation. Many dogs will eat well past the point of being full, so you have to help enforce portion control. It’s also a good idea to find out what kind of food your dog has been eating, and if you transition to a new one, do so slowly to avoid an upset stomach.
• Dishes – Get food and water dishes for your pup, plus a couple spares to keep in the car for when you travel or go to the park.
• Toys – Get a couple toys before you bring your dog home, then buy more based on what your pup likes. Having toys to play with will reduce the chance that your dog will start playing with your shoes or the furniture. A few good chew toys are essential when adopting a dog.
• Vaccines – Ask the shelter or breeder whether your dog has been vaccinated, and be sure to get documentation. If your pet needs additional shots, arrange a vaccination schedule with your vet.
• Spay and neuter – Unless you have a show dog, or plan to stud or breed your new pet, you should consider spaying or neutering. According the Animal Protective League, companion animal overpopulation is a problem, and reducing the risk of unexpected puppies is the responsible thing to do.
• I.D. tags and microchip – After picking up your new companion, make sure it gets an I.D. tag, or even better, a microchip implant.

When taking your new pet home for the first time, keep in mind that animals can cause a distraction in the car, especially if they’re in a new environment. Make sure you’re covered by affordable auto insurance, and if you’re looking for a provider, compare auto insurance ratings between companies before choosing a policy.

Dale Cooper has been blogging about financial services, insurance and education for more than three years. He holds a B.A. in English and lives in Cleveland. In his spare time, Dale enjoys cooking and traveling.

Sponsored content was created and provided by Nationwide Insurance.

My totally crazed cats can’t get over the new Yeowww!® catnip toys that we received in the mail for review about two weeks ago.

They have been hovering over them like hoarders ever since they came out of the box and hit the counter (I couldn’t even get the tags off the toys OR get the toys off the counter onto the floor before Max had strutted off with the fancy red heart toy in toe).

Since that very evening, Max has been attached to his red Yeowww!!® Heart like a starry-eyed lover. He never lets it go. He carries it around in his mouth and he gets the zooms late at night when no one is around and “me-yells” at 1 a.m. into the empty hallway in the dark because he wants someone to play with him!

Sasha prefers the rainbow. Every single night – all night – I mean from like the time I get home from work at 6:30 until I go to bed at 11 (and apparently during the afternoon – or so I hear) since we’ve had it, Sasha is rubbing her neck and little long-haired black body all over that rainbow like it’s filled with tuna. It is adorable because Sasha NEVER plays with toys. But she LOVES the Yeowww!® rainbow and the plain catnip, too!

Tate prefers the hard stuff. HE likes it when I just put the plain Yeowww!® Catnip down on the scratching post for him to eat and roll around in. He’s hard core considering he’s the teeny-tiny, itty-bitty-kitty-committee-kitty cat. He takes all six pounds of his body and throws himself at the nip on the post like he’s diving into a pool. It makes such a loud sound – I wish I could convey how funny this is because it’s so out-of-character for him, especially when people are around!

I swear, Yeowww! Catnip and catnip-filled toys are like crack for cats.

Some might scoff at that analogy, but I can’t think of a better one. It’s like an addiction to them – they can’t control it, they want it 24/7 and they think it’s the best thing since minced tuna.

I think it’s the best invention in the pet industry since the pooper-scooper. The catnip is SUPER-potent – you can smell this stuff from a mile away… and the cats can from two miles away.

All three of them keep trying to break into the cabinet where we keep it (on the bottom shelf); they go in there and knock the container around until someone comes and gives them some! SMART CATS

The award-winning Yeowww!® Catnip and cat toys are heaven-sent. They keep our kittehs busy for hours, and we don’t have to worry about something being unhealthy or harmful to them.

Like it says on the Yeowww!® website (DuckyWorld is the company that owns them…), they are catnip toys that ACTUALLY WORK!

Our old and new Yeowww! cat nip products!

To me, DuckyWorld and Yeowww!® products stand out amongst competitors for two reasons:

1. DuckyWorld stands out in the pet industry because of its especially potent catnip and the toys that are stuffed with it.
2. DuckyWorld also stands out because of their commitment to quality products.

All of their toys are made in the USA and are 100% stuffed with only the finest, organically grown catnip.

From the site: “DuckyWorld closely works with private farmers to grow, manage and harvest the best organically grown catnip on the Earth. We also obtain samples from additional professional growers each year to ensure that we are offering the highest quality based on freshness, color and aroma. No chemicals or pesticides are used in cultivation, which means Yeowww!® Catnip is completely safe for cats and humans. The signature all leaf and flower top blend ensures Yeowww!® Catnip to be the most effective on the market that no competitor can compete with!”

You can find Yeowww!® Cat toys and other products at most local pet stores, independent stores, boutiques and gift shops; the company does not sell to ‘big box’ retail stores.

You can also order online at www.duckyworld.com. I highly encourage you to visit the website and read more about their products, order some up, and then sit back and watch and enjoy your cats FREAK OUT over them!

ThoughtsFurPaws.com gives Yeowww!® a rousing four-paws-up with gusto!

I’ve got great news… another awesome new app just hit the market and it’s totally going to dominate the pet app market I bet… It’s called Oh Kitty and it is bundles of fun, just like your kitties themselves.

Released with perfect timing for holiday cat pictures to be taken, Oh, Kitty! is a fun free app for cat owners and their friends that provides tons of amusement. It allows you to virtually dress-up and accessorize your cat! MOL! How neat! After sending some family members some creations they are all asking me about it!

With Oh, Kitty! you can:

• Magically bring your kitty into the App using the eraser tool.
• Virtually dress your cat with over 400 items such as wigs, hats, glasses and more.
• Place your kitty in backgrounds ranging from The Eiffel Tower to the beach and more.
• Give your kitty a voice using text bubbles.
• Share your creations with family and friends using Facebook and email.

For more information and to download, head over to www.ohkittyapp.com right now!

Available on the App Store (Link to App Store Download ) Oh, Kitty! is bound to be a hit with cat-lovers the world over.

This kewl Oh, Kitty! YouTube video shows a great reel of how it’s done and how customizations can be made to a cat picture using the App and your phone. MOL again!

Furthermore – coming soon, you’ll be able to purchase keepsakes of the creations you’ve made on items such as iPhone and iPad cases, mugs, t-shirts, posters and more. How cool is that?

I highly encourage you to download Oh, Kitty today. I have it and it’s so much fun. I can’t’ stop sending my sister and cousin and best friend my silly cat pictures.

Celebrate the season – and save a life – by adopting a pet into your family during the PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend, sponsored by PetSmart^®, from November 2-4 at your neighborhood PetSmart store. Together with more than 2,000 U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican animal welfare organizations, PetSmart Charities hopes to find homes for thousands of wonderful adoptable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.

Nearly 8 million pets end up in U.S. shelters every year, and half – about 11,000 every day – are euthanized. PetSmart Charities’ programs, including National Adoption Weekend, are made possible through donations.

*Just $25 saves the life of a healthy, adoptable pet and funds programs focused on giving these pets a second chance.* Donations can be made online, by email at gifts@petsmartcharities.org or by calling 623-587-2826.

“Not only does an adoptable pet bring joy to our lives, but adoption is one of the key ways to end pet homelessness,” said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc.

“While adoption is one piece of the solution, we know not everyone is able to adopt. You can help celebrate saving a pet’s life with a donation that will fund adoption events like this that have played a role in finding homes for more than 5 million pets.”

During National Adoption Weekend, animal-welfare organizations will be on-site at all 1,250 PetSmart stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

These events are proudly sponsored by PetSmart, Purina^® Pro Plan^® and Tidy Cats^® (MAXX Scoop^® in Canada).

As an added incentive, participating local shelters and rescue agencies will receive $35 in adoption-reward grants from PetSmart Charities for every pet they adopt during the event.

“We are committed to saving the lives of homeless pets by donating space in every PetSmart store nationwide for pet adoptions. Together with PetSmart Charities, we’re truly making a difference one life at a time,” said John Alpaugh, chief marketing officer, PetSmart.

“And to ensure these pets find happy, forever homes, our stores offer a wide selection of products and services to help pet parents care for the newest member of the family – everything from food and apparel to training classes and grooming.”

How to Adopt

Visit the PetSmart Charities’ adoption center inside any PetSmart store in the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4. To find the PetSmart store nearest you and to learn about the adoption center’s fees and guidelines, visit www.PetSmartCharities.org/adoption or call 1-877-473-8762.

Stay up-to-date on the many ways PetSmart Charities is saving the lives of homeless pets by visiting www.PetSmartCharities.org and by following on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PetSmartCharities.

About PetSmart Charities®

Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. The largest funder of animal-welfare efforts in North America, PetSmart Charities has provided more than $165 million in grants and programs benefiting animal-welfare organizations and has helped save the lives of more than 5 million pets through its in-store adoption program. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working toward its vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS (7387).

Things to consider beforehand

Welcoming a new kitten into the household is a serious step requiring careful consideration and some planning. Cats live on average up until the age of fourteen years so a new kitten should be viewed as a long term commitment requiring ongoing care.

Are there already pets in the home? Kittens may find it stressful being introduced into an environment already populated with adult cats, dogs or other pets. Minimize the kitten’s exposure to hostile pets and introduce them gradually into their new environment, taking care not to leave them alone with any animals that may threaten them. Kittens can fit into households with other animals but do not under-estimate the patience and care required to achieve a successful outcome.

Kittens are cute and adorable little things and can be hard to resist when seen curled up in a pet shop basket, but they can also be inquisitive, destructive and demanding creatures that can turn a home upside down given half a chance.  To help a kitten grow into a contented cat it needs love, shelter, warmth and companionship as well as a balanced nutritional diet and good healthcare.

Kitten kit

There is a long list of things to acquire before welcoming a new kitten into the home. It will need somewhere warm and safe to sleep, such as in a basket or a comfortable box. Cats are notoriously fickle creatures and may choose to sleep somewhere entirely different, so be warned. Separate food and water bowls, litter tray, collar, scratching post, grooming brush, cat flap and special cat treats and toys are well worth investing in.

It may take a kitten some time to settle into a new home and owners do need patience. Encourage positive behavior with specially formulated cat treats. For example, if the kitten uses its litter tray, reward it with a chicken flavor treat, they are an effective way of reinforcing positive behavior and establishing good habits early on.

A healthy kitten is a happy kitten

New kitten owners need to be aware of the healthcare required to keep their new pet in peak condition.  Regular worming and flea treatments are essential to help a kitten thrive and vaccinations against a number of feline diseases should be administered around the age of nine weeks, followed by boosters throughout the cat’s life.

Bringing kitten home

Weekends are the ideal time to bring kitten home for the first time, as it is less likely to be left alone. Try to make sure the home is as calm and quiet as possible to minimize the kitten’s anxiety. Think about how the kitten is transported. If traveling by car, have a suitable carrier available as driving with a kitten loose in the car is dangerous. Cat-proof the home in advance. Remove anything the kitten may injure itself upon such as electric wires, plastic bags, medicines, etc. Ensure the kitten is secure inside the home and prevent access to hazardous high windows or balconies. The kitten will want to explore its new territory in minute detail, so be ready for this.

There is a lot to think about, but all the planning and preparation is well worth it. After all, there few things better in life than a purring kitten on your knee…

Thanks for the Guest Post Dave!