Bringing a new pet home in Dubai is one of the most exciting things you'll do. Whether you've just adopted a playful kitten from a rescue centre in Sharjah or picked up a golden retriever puppy from a breeder in Abu Dhabi, the first few days at home set the tone for everything that follows.
But between the excitement and the preparation, most new pet owners in the UAE discover the same thing: they weren't as ready as they thought.
The wrong food. The missing litter box. No bed, no bowls, no toys and a very confused pet wondering what's happening.
This checklist fixes that. We've broken down everything a new dog or cat owner needs from Day One -the essentials, the health must-haves, and the products that will make your life significantly easier. Every item is available at PetCentral UAE with fast delivery across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the wider Emirates.
Before Your Pet Arrives - The Preparation Checklist
The best time to shop is before your pet walks through the door. A prepared home means less stress for you and a much smoother transition for your new dog or cat.
PART 1: NEW DOG OWNER CHECKLIST
Food & Feeding Essentials
Getting your dog's nutrition right from Day One is the single most important decision you'll make as a new owner. Dogs have specific nutritional requirements based on their age, size, and breed and the food you start them on shapes their digestive health, immune system, and energy levels for life.
Puppy Food (for dogs under 12 months)
Puppies grow at a remarkable rate and need elevated protein, calcium, and DHA to support brain development, bone formation, and immune health. Never feed a puppy adult dog food as a primary diet - it simply won't meet their nutritional demands.
Our top picks for puppies available at PetCentral UAE:
Royal Canin Breed-Specific Puppy - available for Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, and more. Kibble is sized and shaped specifically for each breed's jaw, making it easier for puppies to pick up and chew. This is our best-selling puppy food in the UAE.
Nulo FreeStyle Puppy - grain-free, high-protein, DHA-rich puppy nutrition with BC30 probiotic for digestive health from the very first meal. An excellent choice for owners who prefer clean-label, natural ingredients.
Hill's Science Plan Puppy - vet-recommended, clinically proven formula with DHA from natural fish oil. One of the most trusted puppy foods in veterinary clinics across the UAE.
Adult Dog Food (1–7 years)
Royal Canin Adult (Size-Specific) - Medium, Maxi, and Mini formulas tailored to body size. The most precisely formulated everyday dog food on the market.
Nulo FreeStyle Adult - high animal protein, low glycemic, BC30 probiotic. Ideal for active dogs and owners who want grain-free nutrition without compromise.
Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Raw - for owners ready to take their dog's nutrition to the next level. 90–95% meat, organs, and bone complete raw nutrition in a shelf-stable format.
Primal Kibble in the Raw - freeze-dried raw coated kibble that bridges the gap between conventional dry food and raw feeding. Perfect for transitioning dogs.
Food & Water Bowls
Your dog needs dedicated bowls for food and water from Day One. Stainless steel or ceramic bowls are the most hygienic and durable options. For flat-faced breeds like French Bulldogs and Pugs, look for shallow wide bowls that don't strain their airways while eating.
Treats — Start Training From Day One
Treats aren't just rewards — they're your most powerful training tool, especially in the first weeks when you're establishing trust, routines, and basic commands with your new dog.
Training Treats — small, soft, low-calorie treats your dog can eat quickly without breaking focus during training sessions. Look for single-ingredient or minimal-ingredient options.
Dental Treats — Dubai's climate and water quality make dental health a priority for UAE dogs. Start a dental treat routine early to prevent tartar buildup and gum disease.
Lickable Treats — perfect for calm moments, crate training, and giving your dog medication.
Freeze-Dried Treats — high-value, single-ingredient treats that work brilliantly for recall training and high-distraction environments.
Comfort & Sleep
Dog Bed — your dog needs a dedicated sleeping space from the first night. For puppies, choose a bed with raised sides that provides a sense of security. For larger breeds, orthopedic beds support joint health from an early age.
Dog Calming Products — new environments cause anxiety in most dogs. Calming sprays, diffusers, and anxiety wraps help settle your dog during the adjustment period — especially important during the first week in a new home.
Collar, Leash & ID
In the UAE, dogs must be licensed and identifiable. Your dog needs a properly fitted collar with an ID tag from Day One. For puppies, choose an adjustable collar and check the fit weekly as they grow.
A standard flat leash works for most dogs. For strong pullers or large breeds, a no-pull harness significantly improves walking control and reduces strain on both the dog's neck and your arm.
Grooming
Dubai's heat and humidity make grooming a health necessity, not just an aesthetic one. Regular brushing prevents matting, removes loose hair, and keeps your dog's coat healthy through the UAE's extreme summer temperatures.
New dog owners need: a breed-appropriate brush or comb, dog-safe shampoo, nail clippers or a nail file, and ear cleaning solution. For breeds with high grooming needs — Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Shih Tzus — professional grooming appointments every 6–8 weeks are recommended.
Cleaning & Hygiene
New puppies will have accidents. New adult dogs in a new environment often will too. Being prepared means less stress for you and a cleaner home from Day One.
Poop Bags — essential from the very first walk. Always carry more than you think you'll need.
Stain & Odour Remover — enzyme-based cleaners break down pet waste at a molecular level, eliminating odour rather than masking it. This is the single most-used product in most new dog owner households.
Cleaning & Potty Supplies — puppy pads are invaluable during toilet training, especially in apartments where immediate outdoor access isn't always possible.
Toys
Toys aren't a luxury — they're essential for mental stimulation, healthy chewing behaviour, and bonding. A bored dog is a destructive dog, especially in the first weeks when routines are still being established.
Every new dog owner needs at least one of each: a chew toy (for teething puppies and stress relief), a tug toy (for interactive play and bonding), a plush toy (for comfort and gentle play), and a rubber toy (for fetch and solo play).
Health & Hygiene
Health & Hygiene Essentials — ear wipes, eye wipes, paw balm (especially important in Dubai where pavements can reach 70°C+ in summer), and dental care products form the foundation of your dog's home health routine.
Paw protection is not optional in the UAE. Hot pavement can cause serious burns in minutes during summer months. Always check pavement temperature with your hand before walking your dog, and consider protective paw wax or booties for midday walks.
PART 2: NEW CAT OWNER CHECKLIST
Food & Feeding Essentials
Cats are obligate carnivores — unlike dogs, they have no ability to synthesise certain nutrients from plant sources and must obtain them entirely from animal protein. Taurine, arachidonic acid, and Vitamin A must come from meat. This makes food quality even more critical for cats than for most other pets.
Kitten Food (0–12 months)
Kittens have the highest nutritional demands of any life stage. They need elevated protein, DHA for brain and eye development, calcium for bone growth, and sufficient calories to fuel their constant activity.
Royal Canin Mother & Babycat — our top recommendation for kittens under 4 months and nursing mothers. The soft mousse texture is easy for tiny kittens to eat, and the formula supports both the mother's recovery and the kitten's early development.
Nulo FreeStyle Kitten — grain-free, DHA-rich, high-protein kitten nutrition with BC30 probiotic. Excellent for kittens from weaning onward.
Hill's Science Plan Kitten — vet-recommended, DHA from fish oil, antioxidant vitamin E for immune development. One of the most clinically studied kitten foods available in the UAE.
Adult Cat Food (1–7 years)
Schesir — our best-selling cat food brand at PetCentral UAE, with over 55 products. Premium Italian natural wet food made with single-protein recipes — tuna, chicken, salmon, duck, and exotic variants. No grain, no by-products, no artificial additives. Perfect for cats that thrive on a wet-food-dominant diet.
Royal Canin Adult — breed-specific and life-stage adult formulas covering Persian, Maine Coon, British Shorthair, Siamese, Ragdoll, and indoor cat variants. The most precise adult cat nutrition available in the UAE.
Nulo FreeStyle Adult — high animal protein, low glycemic, BC30 probiotic. Ideal for healthy adult cats with no specific health conditions.
Monello — Italian grain-free wet recipes with named protein sources. A great everyday wet food for adult cats.
Primal Freeze-Dried Cat Food — for owners interested in raw feeding. Complete and balanced freeze-dried raw that can be served dry or rehydrated with warm water.
Why Wet Food Is Non-Negotiable for UAE Cats
Dubai's climate is extremely dry. Cats already have a naturally low thirst drive — evolved from desert-dwelling ancestors who obtained most of their hydration from prey. In the UAE's arid conditions, a cat fed exclusively on dry kibble is at significantly elevated risk of urinary tract disease, kidney stress, and chronic dehydration.
Feeding wet food at least once daily — ideally twice — is one of the most impactful health decisions you can make for your cat in the UAE.
Food & Water Bowls
Cats are notoriously sensitive about their water source. Many cats prefer running water — a cat water fountain encourages significantly higher daily water intake, which is essential for urinary health in Dubai's climate.
For food bowls, wide shallow dishes prevent whisker fatigue — a real and uncomfortable condition where a cat's sensitive whiskers touch the sides of a deep bowl during eating.
Cat Litter & Litter Box
Getting the litter setup right from Day One prevents accidents, stress, and the habit of your cat finding alternative locations around your home.
The golden rule: one litter box per cat, plus one extra. In a Dubai apartment, this means a minimum of two boxes even for a single cat.
Clumping Litter — the most popular litter type for UAE cat owners. Easy to scoop, controls odour effectively, and most cats take to it naturally.
Dust-Free Litter — essential for cats and owners with respiratory sensitivities. Dubai's dry air already carries significant dust — adding dusty litter to your indoor environment is an unnecessary irritant.
Unscented Litter — cats have a sense of smell estimated to be 14 times stronger than humans. Heavily perfumed litters are often rejected by cats, leading to litter box avoidance. Always start with unscented and only introduce scented options once your cat is settled.
Silica Gel Litter — excellent moisture absorption and odour control with minimal tracking. A premium option for owners who want lower maintenance between full litter changes.
Cat Treats
Lickable Treats — the UAE's best-selling cat treat format. Inaba Churu is the gold standard — irresistibly palatable, high in moisture, and brilliant for bonding, medication administration, and enrichment.
Functional Treats — treats formulated with specific health benefits: hairball control, dental support, joint health, and immune function. A smart addition to any cat's daily routine.
Freeze-Dried Treats — single-ingredient, high-protein treats that work as high-value rewards and enrichment snacks.
Comfort & Sleep
Cat Bed — cats sleep 12–16 hours a day. A dedicated sleeping space is essential, not optional. For kittens, enclosed or hooded beds provide security. For adult cats, self-warming beds are particularly popular in air-conditioned Dubai apartments where temperatures can feel cool.
Cat Calming Products - new environments trigger anxiety in most cats. Pheromone diffusers, calming sprays, and calming collars help ease the transition during the critical first two weeks in a new home. This is one of the most important purchases for a new cat owner that most people don't think to make until their cat is already stressed.
Scratching & Play
A cat that can't scratch will scratch your furniture. This is not bad behaviour - it's an essential feline need for claw maintenance, muscle stretching, and scent marking. Providing a dedicated scratcher from Day One redirects this behaviour immediately.
Every new cat owner needs at least one vertical scratcher and one horizontal scratcher - cats have individual preferences and many use both. For kittens, a cat tree with an integrated scratcher, perch, and hiding space serves multiple needs in one product.
Toys are equally non-negotiable. Cats are natural hunters and need daily interactive play to maintain physical health, mental stimulation, and emotional wellbeing. Feather wands, catnip toys, and soft toys form the core of any cat's play rotation.
Grooming
Short-haired cats require minimal grooming, a weekly brush removes loose hair and reduces hairballs.
Long-haired breeds: Persians, Maine Coons, Ragdolls require daily brushing to prevent painful matting. In Dubai's dusty environment, regular grooming is especially important for indoor long-haired cats.
All cats benefit from periodic nail trimming and ear checks. Getting your kitten comfortable with being handled, brushed, and having their ears and paws touched from an early age makes these routines significantly easier throughout their life.
Health & Hygiene
Eye & Ear Wipes - flat-faced breeds like Persians are prone to tear staining and require daily eye cleaning. All cats benefit from periodic ear checks and gentle cleaning.
Dental Care - dental disease affects over 70% of cats by age 3. Starting a dental care routine early — whether through dental treats, water additives, or tooth brushing — significantly reduces long-term veterinary costs.
Cat Carrier - essential from Day One for vet visits, travel, and emergency situations. A carrier your cat is comfortable with is a safety essential. Introduce it as a permanent fixture in your home rather than only bringing it out for vet trips, this dramatically reduces carrier-related stress.
New Pet Owner Quick-Reference Checklist
For New Dog Owners:
- Age-appropriate dog food (puppy or adult)
- Food and water bowls
- Training treats, dental treats, lickable treats
- Dog bed
- Collar, leash, and ID tag
- Poop bags
- Stain and odour remover
- Puppy pads (for puppies)
- Chew toy, tug toy, plush toy
- Brush and grooming essentials
- Calming product for first week
- Paw protection for UAE summer
For New Cat Owners:
- Age-appropriate cat food (wet + dry)
- Cat water fountain
- Food and water bowls (wide and shallow)
- Litter box (one per cat plus one)
- Clumping, dust-free, unscented litter
- Litter scoop and liner
- Cat bed
- Calming diffuser or spray
- Vertical and horizontal scratcher
- Feather wand, catnip toy, soft toy
- Lickable treats (Inaba Churu)
- Cat carrier
- Brush appropriate for coat type
Shop Everything on This List at PetCentral UAE
Every product on this checklist is available at PetCentral UAE — all the top brands, all the formats, delivered fast to your door across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the wider UAE.
Free shipping on orders above AED 99. Express delivery available across select areas. Pay on delivery accepted.
Call or WhatsApp: +971 56 660 1963
PetCentral UAE — Your One-Stop Online Pet Food & Supplies Store in Dubai Al Mulla Warehouse 9, Jebal Ali Industrial Area 2, Dubai, UAE
