Caring for cats & dogs — a friendly starter guide
Catchmemeow is a game about loving cats and dogs, so it feels right to share a little about loving the real ones too. This is a gentle, beginner-friendly introduction to adopting, fostering and caring for a pet. It isn’t veterinary advice — always talk to a vet or your local shelter for guidance specific to your animal.
Thinking about adopting?
Adopting a cat or dog from a shelter or rescue is one of the kindest things a family can do — you’re quite literally saving a life and freeing up space for the next animal in need. Before you bring someone home, it helps to ask a few honest questions together:
- Time: Dogs need daily walks, company and training; cats are more independent but still need attention and play every day.
- Budget: Plan for food, litter or poop bags, regular vet check-ups, vaccinations, and the occasional surprise. Pet insurance is worth a look.
- Energy match: A sleepy senior cat and a bouncy puppy ask very different things of a household. Shelters are wonderful at helping you find the right fit.
- The long haul: A cat or dog may share your life for 12–18 years. It’s a beautiful, long commitment.
What is fostering?
Fostering means giving a shelter animal a temporary home — for a few days or a few months — until they’re ready for adoption. It’s perfect for families who love animals but aren’t ready for a forever pet, and it makes an enormous difference: foster homes free up shelter space, help shy animals learn to trust people, and give puppies, kittens and recovering pets a calm place to grow strong.
Most rescues provide the food, supplies and vet care — you provide the couch, the cuddles and the patience. It’s a lovely way to introduce children to caring for animals, and saying goodbye at the end (the “foster fail” or the happy adoption) is part of the gift.
The basics every new pet needs
For a new cat
- A quiet room to settle into at first, with a litter box, food, water and a hiding spot.
- Fresh water, good-quality food, and a scratching post to save your furniture.
- Play every day — a wand toy or a ball keeps them happy and healthy.
- A vet visit to check their health and set up vaccinations and parasite prevention.
For a new dog
- Daily walks and plenty of fresh water and the right amount of food for their size.
- A comfy bed, a collar with an ID tag, and gentle, reward-based training from day one.
- Time to decompress — many newly adopted dogs need a quiet week or two to feel safe.
- A vet visit for a check-up, vaccinations, parasite prevention and a microchip if they don’t have one.
Find a shelter or rescue near you
Ready to adopt, foster or simply help out? These trusted, well-known organizations can connect you with animals and shelters in your area:
- Petfinder — search adoptable cats and dogs at thousands of shelters and rescues.
- Adopt a Pet — another large directory of adoptable pets near you.
- ASPCA — adoption, foster and pet-care resources.
- Best Friends Animal Society — adoption, fostering and how to get involved.
- RSPCA (UK) — rehoming and animal-welfare advice.
Your own local shelter is always a wonderful first stop — a quick search for “animal shelter near me” will point you to the people doing this work in your own community.