Printable PDFs and phone worksheets
Free new pet checklists for the first week home.
Bring them home ready, not scrambling — whether it's a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, or bird.
Free. No account. No email.
Pick your pet, grab your checklist
Tap a pet to narrow it down. Every checklist opens as a tappable worksheet on your phone, or a printable PDF.
Everything for one pet, in one PDF
All four checklists (first week, supplies, first vet visit, home safety) in a single printable file.
First Week Home Checklist
Day-by-day settle-in tasks so the first week feels calm instead of chaotic.
Dog
15 items
Set up a crate or designated sleep space in a quiet corner; Pick up food and water bowls and place them in one steady spot, and more.
Cat
13 items
Set up one quiet base room with litter box, food, water, and a hiding spot; Keep the litter box far from food and water, and more.
Rabbit & Guinea Pig
13 items
Set up the enclosure in a quiet, temperature-stable spot away from drafts; Add hiding spots, bedding, and a litter corner if litter-training, and more.
Bird
13 items
Set up the cage in a draft-free spot, away from the kitchen; Add perches of varying width and a few safe toys, and more.
New Pet Supply Shopping List
Everything to have ready before, or right after, pickup day.
Dog
16 items
Food and water bowls; A few days' supply of their current food, and more.
Cat
13 items
Food and water bowls or a fountain; A few days' supply of their current food, and more.
Rabbit & Guinea Pig
14 items
Enclosure sized appropriately for the species and number of pets; Bedding safe for their species (avoid cedar and pine shavings), and more.
Bird
13 items
Cage sized appropriately for the species, with horizontal bar spacing for climbing; Several perches in different widths and textures, and more.
First Vet Visit Prep Sheet
What to bring and what to ask at their first checkup.
Dog
11 items
Any records from a shelter, rescue, or breeder; A stool sample if your vet's office asks for one, and more.
Cat
11 items
Any records from a shelter, rescue, or breeder; The carrier, ideally already familiar to them, and more.
Rabbit & Guinea Pig
11 items
Any records from a shelter, rescue, or breeder; A secure, well-ventilated carrier, and more.
Bird
11 items
Any records from a shelter, rescue, or breeder; A secure, covered carrier for the trip, and more.
Home Safety Checklist
A room-by-room pass to make your home safer before they arrive.
Dog
13 items
Store xylitol, chocolate, onions, and grapes out of reach; Secure the trash can with a locking lid, and more.
Cat
12 items
Store chocolate, onions, and garlic out of reach; Keep the trash can covered or behind a cabinet door, and more.
Rabbit & Guinea Pig
9 items
Remove or cover electrical cords in any play space; Block gaps behind and under furniture where they could get stuck, and more.
Bird
10 items
Remove non-stick (PTFE) cookware and self-cleaning oven use — fumes can be fatal to birds; Keep the cage out of the kitchen entirely if possible, and more.
Already home? Track their health next
Your Pet’s Health Log is a free fill-in pet health log. It has 72 trackers across 40 health concerns, for cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, reptiles, horses and more. Fill one in online or download a printable PDF to bring to the vet. Free, with no account and no email.
Track your pet’s health free: Your Pet’s Health LogHow it helps
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1
Choose your pet
Checklists are written for how that species actually settles in — a cat's first week looks nothing like a puppy's.
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2
Pick what you need
First week plan, supply list, vet visit prep, or a home safety pass — grab one or all four.
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3
Walk in ready
Check items off on your phone as you go, or print it for the fridge. Either way, less scrambling on day one.
Common questions
Are these new pet checklists really free?
Yes. Every checklist on this site is free as a printable PDF and as a web worksheet you can tick off on your phone. There is no account, no email signup, and no locked version with the good parts in it.
What should I buy before bringing a new pet home?
Start with the supply shopping list for your species — food and water bowls, the right bedding or litter, a carrier or crate, and a few days of the food they are already eating so you are not switching diets on day one.
What should I do in the first 24 hours with a new pet?
Keep the world small. Set up one quiet space, show them where food, water, and the bathroom are, and let them come to you. The first week home checklist breaks the rest of the week down day by day.
How do I keep track of weights, vet visits, and medications?
That is what the free Your Pet's Health Log is for. Once the first week is behind you, it keeps the running record a vet will actually ask you about — weights, dates, doses, and questions for the next appointment.
Why is everything free?
Because a new pet is expensive enough. The checklists are simple to host, there are no ads and no tracking, and people who find them useful can leave an optional tip. Nothing is locked behind it.
Can I use a checklist instead of seeing a vet?
No. These checklists help you get organized and ask better questions. Anything about diet amounts, medication, or a health concern belongs with a vet who works with your pet's species.
Before you print: a quick note
These checklists are meant to help you get organized and ask better questions — they're general starting points, not species-specific medical or husbandry guidance for every situation. A vet who works with your pet's species is the right source for anything about diet amounts, medication, or a health concern.
If something feels urgent — your new pet won't eat, seems in pain, or is acting very differently than usual — contact a vet promptly rather than waiting to work through a checklist.
Every checklist here stays free. Hosting and running the site does cost money, so if one helped you, a small tip, any amount, really helps: buy me a coffee. Completely optional, and it never unlocks anything.
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