Introducing adult pets into a new home

When pets are raised together at birth or when they're very young, will more likely be best friends growing up, however, when an adult animal(s) are introduced to each another, there are some expressed territorial issues on both sides.

Both cats and dogs are very possessive over their territory, therefore, the idea of a new mate being introduced into their space can lead to anxiety.

Before bringing in a new adult animal into the home there are a few things to consider:

How will the first animal possibly react to attention given to the new family addition? A way to asses the situation before making any commitment is to request to babysit a friend's cat/dog for a weekend, preferably a pet that hasn't been introduced to your already existing companion. Although animals, after they get to know each other, do eventually bond, your cat/dog's reaction during those three days will say a lot about its bonding mannerisms.

Because medical information is vague for adult cats, financially, without sacrificing the care of the main pet, will need to be taken into consideration. If you can't afford the vet bills for two pets, than raising another animal may not be in the cards.

Picking the right kind of cat/dog that is compatible with your current breed is also important.

If you already have a new addition to your home and are noticing bonding issues between the two pets, I suggest using those baby or dog fences around the house to keep both pets temporarily separated from each other. Make sure to purchase a fence in which both animals can see through so that they will get used to each other and eventually, those fences aren't needed anymore.

Luv Sheila & Freedom (my black lab)