Acclimating and introducing a new pet into your home is a process, especially if the home already has other pets. It is a process that takes time and dedication, making it something that should be considered when adopting or fostering a pet. If you introduce your pet into its new environment and its surroundings too quickly, it can result in rocky introductions and ultimately determine the comfortability of a pet in a home. A home to a pet is their sanctuary and territory, meaning they can be protective over it and their owners. It would be hard for you to have someone completely new live in your home, so as pet owners it is important to be understanding of your current pets and new pets process into getting to know each other. Dogs and Cats are different when it comes to the process of introducing new pets to each other. The key to introducing both species, whether it be to each other or their species alike, is being understanding with your pets. 

When introducing two dogs to each other, be sure to remove any of your current dogs’ water or food bowls and any toys away, as they can be seen as something that the new dog is threatening to take away. Start off by putting both dogs on a leash or have them both be held carefully. Put the dogs facing each other but with a significant amount of space to start off with. You can start off by having the dogs far apart, but loosening the leash gradually as time passes by. Before loosening the leash, be sure the dogs are maintaining a decent composure and give them both a treat. If they are maining this decent composure throughout the whole exercise and make it close to each other, allow the dogs to smell each other, give them a treat, and then lead them away from each other. This gives the dogs a chance to smell each other and get acquainted. 

If the dogs begin at any time to get angry or stand still as if they are planning to attack, make sure to pull them apart. If any of the dogs get angry and the exercise is making one or both of the dogs upset, pull the dogs apart and leave them apart for a break. Dogs may need to be housed separately for the first couple of days to get all household pets adjusted properly. This is completely acceptable and it is important to remind yourself that this is a process that takes time! Once there have been a couple of successful meetings between the pets, a supervised interaction in a closed space between the pets can be attempted. Taking these steps and multiple slow interactions can help build a good relationship between your current and new pets, to ensure the comfortability of all the pets within your home.

When introducing a cat into your home, this process can take longer than dogs. Cats need to take a new introduction slowly, especially if they haven’t had much interaction with other animals during their kitten stage. A proper introduction is essential to maintain a positive attitude and the mental health of your pet. When introducing a new cat into your home, it is important to set up a separate room with their own litter box, food bowls, and toys. When you first bring a cat into your home, keep them completely separated from current household pets. Have them become accustomed to their new environment in a separate room of the house before introducing them to the rest of the house and the pets that reside in it. After a time in the separate room, switch the new cat’s toys with those of the other pets in the home. This will introduce their scents to other pets. Be sure to recognize when cats are feeling stressed and remove the new pet or their items if it causes a negative reaction. 

After a couple days separated, let the new pet play with the current pets through the gap underneath their separating door. If the pets appear comfortable, allow them to see each other. Be sure to have a barrier separating them or someone holding each pet. If the pets show any signs of aggression or stress, be sure to separate them again. You can always try introducing them slowly again through these exercises after a break from seeing each other, but rushing this process can hurt the pet’s relationship forever. If the pets are showing no signs of stress or aggression, you can have them interact with supervision together after at least 10-14 days separated in total. Be sure to take this supervised playtime slowly and make the experience positive. After a couple of positive playtimes, you can try to let them interact by themselves. If there is ever a moment of aggression or stress that is not playful, be sure to separate them and try again later. Introducing cats can take from only a couple of weeks to possibly months, so being patient with new and current pets is imperative.

Ultimately, taking this process slowly and taking time to cultivate a positive relationship between your pets is key. Every pet is different and while some acclimate faster than others, some can be more fearful or territorial and take longer to adapt. Be sure to show understanding with your pets and use positive voices around them while they interact rather than any tones of anger. Introducing your pets to new pets can be stressful and time-consuming, but it is ultimately worth the positive relationship between your pets!

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References:

Animal Humane Society. n.d. “How to successfully introduce two dogs.” Animal Humane Society. https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/how-successfully-introduce-two-dogs.

Hart, Hannah. 2023. “How To Introduce Cats the Right Way.” PetMD. https://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/how-to-introduce-cats.