🤔
Before You Adopt
Ask yourself these questions first
- Do you have enough space at home? (Even a small apartment works — cats especially adapt well)
- Are you or anyone in your household allergic to pet dander?
- Do you travel frequently? Who will care for the pet?
- Are you renting? Does your landlord allow pets?
- Are you financially prepared for vet bills, food, and supplies?
- Do you have young children or other pets at home?
💡 Tip: Adopt, don't shop. Every rescue animal you adopt frees up space for another animal in need.
🛒
Essential Supplies
🐱 For Cats
- Litter box + litter (at least 1 per cat)
- Stainless steel food & water bowls
- Dry and wet food (ask us which brand)
- Scratching post (saves your furniture)
- Cat carrier (for vet visits)
- Collar with ID tag
- Toys (wand, crinkle balls, tunnels)
- Comfortable sleeping bed or blanket
🐶 For Dogs
- Collar, harness & leash
- Stainless steel food & water bowls
- Dog food (age-appropriate)
- Crate or dog bed
- Poop bags & waste scoop
- ID tag with your phone number
- Grooming brush & nail clippers
- Toys (chew toys, balls, tug ropes)
💰
Cost of Owning a Pet in Pune
| Expense | Cat (Monthly) | Dog (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Food | ₹500–1,500 | ₹800–2,500 |
| Litter | ₹300–600 | — |
| Vet (routine) | ₹200–500 | ₹300–800 |
| Grooming | Minimal | ₹300–1,000 |
| Estimated Total | ₹1,000–2,600 | ₹1,400–4,300 |
🩺
Veterinary Care
First vet visit (within 1 week of adoption)
- Health check — weight, eyes, ears, teeth, coat
- Fecal test for intestinal parasites
- Deworming if needed
- Review existing vaccination record
- Schedule upcoming vaccines
Routine annual visits
- Annual booster vaccines
- Dental check
- Weight and nutrition review
- Heartworm test (dogs)
🩺 Our vet network is here to help. See our trusted vets in Pune →
💉
Vaccination Schedule
🐱 Cat Vaccinations
- 6–8 weeks: FVRCP (1st dose)
- 10–12 weeks: FVRCP (2nd dose)
- 14–16 weeks: FVRCP (3rd dose) + Rabies
- Annual: FVRCP booster + Rabies booster
FVRCP = Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia
🐶 Dog Vaccinations
- 6–8 weeks: Parvovirus + Distemper
- 10–12 weeks: DHPPiL (combo)
- 14–16 weeks: DHPPiL booster + Rabies
- Annual: All boosters
DHPPiL = Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis
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Nutrition
General principles
- Feed age-appropriate food: kitten/puppy food until 12 months, then adult formula
- Always have fresh water available
- Don't free-feed (leaving food out all day) — it causes obesity
- Divide into 2–3 meals per day
🐱 Cats — what to avoid
- Milk and dairy products (most cats are lactose intolerant)
- Onion, garlic, grapes, raisins
- Raw fish (causes thiamine deficiency)
- Dog food (cats are obligate carnivores with different nutritional needs)
🐶 Dogs — what to avoid
- Chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol (deadly)
- Onion, garlic, avocado
- Cooked bones (splinter and cause injury)
- Macadamia nuts
⚠️
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the first vet visit. Always go within the first week, even if they look healthy.
- Not sterilizing. Unsterilized pets contribute to the stray population problem. Sterilize by 6 months.
- Isolation in a new home. A new animal needs time to adjust. Don't overwhelm them — set up one safe room first.
- Punishing accidents. Never punish litter box or potty accidents. It creates fear and makes training harder.
- Feeding homemade food without research. Rice and dal is not a balanced diet for cats or dogs.
- Skipping rabies vaccination. Mandatory and life-saving. Don't skip it.
- Not microchipping. A microchip is permanent ID — if your pet is lost, it's the only way to reunite.
- Leaving them alone for too long. Especially dogs — they need interaction and exercise every day.
📍
Pune Resource Directory
🚨 Emergency Contacts
- Cheetos Foundation Helpline: —
- SPCA Pune: 020-2612-3939
- Blue Cross Pune: 020-2686-0101
📚 Learning More
- Knowledge Hub — articles and guides
- Adoption Process — how it works
- Report an Emergency
Ready to Adopt?
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