New Puppy or Kitten Cleanup Checklist: What to Have Before They Come Home

Bringing home a new puppy, kitten or adopted pet is exciting, and it also comes with accidents. A young animal is still learning where to go, a new pet may be nervous in an unfamiliar home, and the first few weeks are when messes are most likely. Having the right supplies ready, and a few rooms set up before they arrive, makes those first weeks much easier on everyone.

This checklist covers the cleaning supplies to buy, how to set up your home, and the habits that keep accidents from turning into lasting smells.

Cleaning supplies checklist

Keep these together in one place, ideally a bin or bag near where your new pet will spend most of their time:

Disposable gloves. The CDC recommends cleaning up pet urine, poop or vomit right away and washing your hands with soap and running water afterwards.
Paper towels or white cloths. White, so dye does not transfer to wet carpet.
Poop bags or plastic bags for solids, indoors and out.
A dull scraper, such as a plastic spatula or a piece of stiff card, for lifting solids without grinding them in.
An absorbent powder for soaking up liquid messes like diarrhea and vomit before you clean.
A pet stain and odor product. The AKC suggests an enzymatic pet stain cleaner, used as the label directs, to remove the odors that draw puppies back to the same spot.
A brush for working cleaner into carpet fibers.
A UV black light for finding dried spots you missed. See our black light guide.
A spray bottle of cool water for rinsing. Avoid hot water and steam on urine: Humane World for Animals warns heat can set the stain and odor.
Washable throws or covers for the sofa and your pet’s favorite spots.
A waterproof mattress protector if your pet will be allowed on the bed.

What to leave off the list

Ammonia-based cleaners. The ASPCA explains that urine contains ammonia, so cleaning with ammonia can draw a pet back to the same spot.
Vinegar for urine spots. Humane World for Animals advises avoiding ammonia or vinegar, because strong smells may encourage a pet to mark the area again.
Air fresheners as a fix. They cover the smell for you, not for your pet.

Never mix cleaning products, especially bleach with ammonia, which can release dangerous fumes. And store all cleaners where your pet cannot reach them.

Set up your home before they arrive

For a puppy

Choose a confined area for when you cannot supervise. Humane World for Animals suggests a small space such as part of a bathroom or laundry room blocked with baby gates, or a crate.
Get the crate size right. The AKC advises a crate big enough for your puppy to stand, turn around and lie down, but not so big they can go in one corner and rest in another.
Pick easy-to-clean floors for that area if you can, such as tile or vinyl rather than carpet.
Roll up valuable rugs for the first few weeks.
Pick an outdoor potty spot and plan to use the same one every time.

For a kitten or cat

Have enough litter boxes. The ASPCA recommends one box per cat plus one extra.
Use unscented, clumping litter in a shallow layer of about one to two inches, which the ASPCA says most cats prefer.
Place boxes somewhere quiet but not cornered, where your cat can see anyone coming and has more than one way out.
Plan your cleaning routine: the ASPCA recommends scooping at least once a day and washing the box with warm water and unscented soap once a week.

For the bowls and the feeding spot, see how to clean pet food and water bowls.

Habits for the first weeks

Clean accidents right away. The faster you get to it, the less soaks into the backing and pad. See how to get pet urine smell out of carpet for the full steps.
Take puppies out often. Humane World for Animals recommends at least every two hours, and especially after waking, playing, eating and drinking. Our potty training basics has the full routine.
Never punish accidents. Scolding makes pets fearful and slows progress. Clean up calmly and reward the right behavior instead.
Check for missed spots weekly with a black light, especially behind furniture and along baseboards.
Wash pet bedding regularly. The CDC suggests keeping your pet’s bedding and the areas where they spend time clean.
Wash your hands after cleaning up after your pet, even if you wore gloves.

If you use a water fountain, see how to clean a pet water fountain.

Book a vet visit early

Schedule a check-up soon after your new pet comes home. Your veterinarian can check for parasites and other problems, set up vaccinations and give advice on diet. Frequent accidents, diarrhea, straining or blood in urine are all reasons to call sooner. In cats, the ASPCA says the first step with any litter box problem is to rule out a medical cause. If a cat, especially a male, strains in the litter box and produces little or no urine, treat it as an emergency and call your vet right away.

Using a playpen with puppy pads? See how to clean a dog playpen and the puppy pad area.

A ready-made option

If you would rather not put the kit together yourself, our Pet Cleanup Kit includes a stain and odor eliminator foam, an absorbent powder, a brush, a black light and gloves in one pouch. Whatever you use, have it ready before your pet arrives, not after the first accident.

Guides for every kind of mess

For the smudges on low windows and glass doors, see how to clean pet nose prints and drool off glass.

Frequently asked questions

What cleaning supplies do I need for a new puppy?

Gloves, paper towels, bags, a scraper, an absorbent powder, a pet stain and odor product, a brush and a black light. Washable covers for furniture help too.

Is vinegar safe to clean puppy accidents?

Animal welfare groups advise against vinegar and ammonia on urine spots, because strong smells can draw a pet back to mark the area again. A product made for pet urine is the better choice.

How many litter boxes does a new kitten need?

The ASPCA recommends one per cat plus one extra, so one kitten would have two boxes.

How often will my new puppy have accidents?

It varies a lot. Frequent trips outside, close supervision and a consistent routine reduce them. If accidents are very frequent despite a good routine, talk to your vet.

Sources

CDC: Dogs (Healthy Pets)
American Kennel Club: How to potty train a puppy
Humane World for Animals: How to housetrain your dog or puppy
Humane World for Animals: How to remove pet stains and odors
ASPCA: Litter box problems
ASPCA: Urine marking in cats
Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline lower urinary tract disease

This checklist is general information, not veterinary advice. Contact your veterinarian with any questions about your pet’s health.