Pets bring a new energy and brightness to your home that can’t be matched. If you’ve decided to add a new friend to your household, you might be eager to pick one out immediately! However, you’ll want to take several considerations into account before you do.

There’s a lot that goes into taking care of a pet. Just like humans, cats and dogs are complex creatures that need a lot of attention. Unfortunately, the amount of care pets need sometimes leads owners to overlook a few aspects of their health and wellbeing.

Before they were domesticated, cats roamed the wild on their own, hunting their food and defending themselves against predators. Although many stray cats still do this, cats are largely domestic animals now, content with living in luxury indoors. But if your cat expresses interest in heading out into the great unknown, is it okay to let them tap into their instincts and explore outside?

Most people follow routines in their daily life, whether in the morning, at night or during the workday. These routines provide stability day after day, week after week. In the same way humans like to follow routines, our furry friends do, too!

Cats are particular creatures. At times they may seem comfortable and outgoing, but at others, they might get spooked by seemingly small things. This is why it can be so difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of stress if your feline friend appears more anxious than usual.

Dry air is a difficult thing to contend with. Whether due to your home’s climate or the changing of the seasons, reduced humidity can cause a range of challenges, including dry skin, sleep trouble and breathing problems. To help alleviate these issues for both humans and pets, you might consider using a humidifier.

With many people’s jobs prolonging work-from-home status, employees have had to grapple with the many distractions the home environment produces. Housework, loud neighbors and children all call for attention, but one less-expected distraction is your pets! Meowing, barking, eager to play or just excited that you are home, your pets might be what’s preventing you from staying focused during the workday.

If your home has a lingering odor, you might be tempted to reach for a can of air freshener or light a candle. However, if you have pets at home, you might want to pause before spraying, lighting or diffusing your favorite scents. Many scented products can actually cause problems for your pet’s health!

Cats are creatures of habit. Over time, they get used to your home, right down to the way the furniture smells and where it’s placed in a room. Thus, even slight changes to their environment are typically noticed—and they’re not always appreciated. Big changes, like moving to a new house, can be even worse.