We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. The 17 Pet Supplies That’ll Make Adopting a New Pet That Much Easier Everything you need when you adopt a new cat, dog, or rabbit. By Alena Kharlamenko Updated on 09/24/25 Credit: The Spruce Pets Adopting a new pet can be extremely exciting—and also extremely nerve-wracking. And the same goes for buying all the pet supplies you might need. We interviewed fellow pet parents to find what you should buy when you first adopt a new pet—whether that’s a cat, dog, or even a rabbit. Depending on the furry animal you’re adopting, there are some obvious basics you’ll need right away. We’ve tested hundreds of kitten products, so don’t forget to stock up on cat food, scratchers, and a litter box. If you’re getting a dog, don’t forget the poop bags, potty pads, and a quality crate. Here’s what else we recommend buying to be extra-ready once you welcome your new pet to your household. 01 of 17 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness Credit: Amazon $46 at Amazon View on Chewy “If you adopt a dog that's not used to walking on a leash or that has aggression issues like my little mutt, a regular harness or a collar can be a disaster. Some dogs pull even harder against regular harnesses, like they think they're sled dogs, and some choke themselves on their collars or manage to slip out of them. I use the leash that attaches at the front and back of this harness (and comes with it), and I have complete control of my dog without him pulling my arm out of its socket when he sees a squirrel.” —Sabrina, dog mom to Obi The 5 Best Harnesses for Dogs That Pull, According to a Certified Dog Trainer 02 of 17 ChomChom Pet Hair Remover Credit: Amazon $25 at Amazon View on Chewy “This thing is amazing! We use the ChomChom mainly for my dogs, but it works for my cat, too.” —Julia, dog mom to Fudd and Darla and cat mom to Pepe The 12 Best Pet Hair Removers of 2026 03 of 17 MoonGem Lick Mat Credit: Amazon $7 $6 at Amazon “Lick mats have been the perfect addition to our household. They are great for when my dog and cat need some enrichment or a distraction when we’re leaving to go somewhere. Licking is also proven to lessen anxiety, which is great for my anxious doggy. A little peanut butter does wonders!” —Maddie, editor and mom to Pickles the dog and Jazzy the cat 04 of 17 Frisco 42-in Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo Credit: Chewy $59 at Chewy View on Friscopetcats.com “My cat liked this cat tree so much that she barely let me finish assembling it before claiming it as her own. In the three years we’ve had it, she’s used every single level and the three scratching posts. It’s her go-to spot whether she’s sleeping, watching bird TV, chasing after treats, or simply staring at me while simultaneously trying to telepathically communicate that it’s time for lunch.” —Alena, cat mom to Squishy Continue to 5 of 17 below 05 of 17 Petkit PuraMax 2 Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box Credit: Amazon $450 $400 at Amazon “This is expensive, but it's as close to no maintenance as you can get. I change the litter every two weeks and literally do nothing else. It's a game changer for both me and my roommates.” —Christian, cat dad to Lord Cat The 9 Best Automatic Litter Boxes, Tested and Reviewed 06 of 17 Litter Genie Plus Pail Credit: Amazon $28 $25 at Amazon View on Chewy "I went many years without one, and I don't know how we ever managed. This thing locks in smells. It's a serious game changer if you, like me, have a cat who doesn't care to cover what they leave in the litter box." —Amanda, cat mom to Boss After Months of Scooping, We've Found The Best Cat Litter Disposal System 07 of 17 Ruffwear Crag EX Extendable Dog Leash Credit: Amazon $32 at Amazon $40 at Chewy View on Ruffwear.com “My dog is pretty strong, and he pulls a lot and goes crazy every time he sees a squirrel. I use this leash around my waist so I have better control, and it frees up my hands.” —Hildara, dog mom to Tico The 12 Best Dog Leashes of 2026 08 of 17 Cat Dancer Products Interactive Cat Toy Credit: Petco $9 at Amazon View on Petco View on Catdancer.com “I think it's great for kittens and high-energy cats. They're super cheap too. Also, it’s nice to have something I hold, so that he can't bat into hard-to-reach spaces." —Breanna, cat mom to Jack (O’Lantern) The 22 Best Cat Toys That Your Cat Will Love Continue to 9 of 17 below 09 of 17 SportPet Designs Travel Master Collapsible Cat Carrier Credit: Amazon $43 $30 at Amazon $33 at Chewy “We love this cat carrier! The large side opening makes it SO much easier to get our cat into it for vet appointments, road trips, etc.” —Emily, cat mom to Hazy The 13 Best Cat Carriers of 2026 10 of 17 Naturals by Rosewood Trio of Fun Balls for Rabbits Credit: Amazon $18 at Amazon View on Chewy “We literally have these on auto-ship because we go through so many! They love to toss them around their cage, and we’ve even put “ball pits” together for them in the past. Crunch Berry is a shredder, so he goes nuts on these. There are layers to them, so he thoroughly enjoys himself, and they’ll take him a few days to break down. Doesn’t hurt that they don’t break the bank, either.” —Kailey, rabbit mom to Anchovie and Crunch Berry The 15 Best Rabbit Toys for Digging, Foraging, Chewing, and Hiding 11 of 17 Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush Credit: Amazon $16 at Amazon “When we adopted our sweet, fluffy kitty as an adolescent, we had never had a long-haired cat, and thus had no idea what we were getting into, which was grooming—and lots of it. Without a consistent brushing routine, his lion-like coat becomes matted within a matter of days. Brushing him was a great way to bond with our energetic new kitty, and 9 years on, an evening brush session is still a soothing ritual for PF Chang and for us.” —Cecily, cat mom to PF Chang The 7 Best Cat Brushes of 2026, Tested With Real Cats and Kittens 12 of 17 Snuggle Puppy Original Heartbeat Anxiety Relief Dog Toy Credit: Amazon $40 at Amazon $40 at Chewy View on Snugglepuppy.com “When we got our dog as a puppy, she definitely was struggling being away from her mom. Getting one of these helped so much! It has a spot inside for a heat pack and a little device that sounds like a heartbeat, so it kind of replicates sleeping with their mom. My only advice is that it's more for young puppies who aren't big on chewing yet, since there is that plastic device inside.” —Genevieve, dog mom to Carmela The 17 Best Dog Toys for Mental Enrichment, Tested With Real Dogs Continue to 13 of 17 below 13 of 17 ThunderShirt Dog Anxiety Jacket Credit: Amazon $40 at Amazon $50 at Chewy $52 $40 at Petco “We adopted our little anxious dog a little over three months ago, and the ThunderShirt has been an absolute game changer for her adjusting to all the new sounds. She even loves putting it on and it totally chills her out.” —Kailey, dog mom to Nino The 8 Best Calming Aids for Dogs That Helped Soothe Our Anxious Pets 14 of 17 Moody Pet String Cat Toy Credit: Amazon $35 $30 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Scratchlounge.com “My energetic kittens LOVE this toy. It occupies them for hours! They sit by it and stare at me until I turn it on. Then, they sit and watch it like a TV show, and pounce at the string every once in a while.” —Lauren, cat mom to Lucy and Phoebe The 12 Best Interactive Cat Toys, Tested With Real Cats 15 of 17 Scratch Lounge The Original Scratch Lounge Credit: Chewy $40 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Scratchlounge.com “This helped me train my cat not to scratch the furniture. I bought the scratcher when Marcello was just a kitten. It comes with a little bit of catnip to help attract the cat to the scratcher. I put it in the living room near the couch, but not in the spot he likes to scratch. The idea is to get them to change their preferences. He is 11 now, and it’s still his favorite place to scratch.” —Tara, cat mom to Marcello The 8 Best Cat Scratching Posts of 2026 16 of 17 Goldpaw Stretch Fleece Dog Coat Credit: Amazon $38 at Amazon View on Goldpawseries.com “The stretch fleece by Goldpaw is great as it fits my American Staffie well, but is also super stretchy, so it’s easy to get on and off. For a pup with minimal fur, having a light cover for her to stay warm is great.” —Sarah, dog mom to Bueller The 8 Best Dog Jackets Tested With Real Dogs In Real Weather Conditions Continue to 17 of 17 below 17 of 17 Dr. Elsey's Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter Credit: Amazon $23 at Amazon $21 at Chewy $23 at Petco “As boring as this is, if you’re adopting a cat, you’re going to need to buy cat litter. I got this litter when I first adopted Squishy, and it’s been the only one I’ve used since (besides the time I accidentally bought a scented one from a different brand and instantly regretted it). It clumps for easy cleanup, controls odor well, and is unscented, much to the benefit of my nose…and my cat’s.” —Alena, cat mom to Squishy The 5 Best Cat Litters, Tested and Reviewed More from the Ready, Set, Adopt Issue Are You Ready to Adopt? Here's What Animal Shelter Employees Say Test-Driving Pet Ownership: How Pet Fostering Works—and Why It Matters 5 Fun and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Your Pet's Gotcha Day 7 Reasons Why Adopting a Pet Is the Best Decision You’ll Ever Make 1 of 4 Explore more: What to Buy