Introducing a New Furry Family Member into Your Home

How do we help our pets cope with the change of sharing all the love and affection with another pet? Like us, pets struggle with change, especially changes they weren’t expecting. As pet parents, it is our responsibility to ensure the comfort and safety of our fur babies. This article will take you through the obstacles and help you lessen the distress of this potentially major event, for you and your pets.

Whether you picked up your newest family member from the local shelter or a high-end breeder, it is important to remember that we don’t know where they have been. Your new pet may look healthy on the outside, but they could be hiding health concerns. To ensure the safety of your pets at home and the safety of your new family member, you should always begin with a vet visit. Once you’ve verified the well-being and comfort of your new furry friend, you can move on to the next step.

Pets are territorial animals. Oftentimes, they don’t enjoy an animal they don’t know invading their space. Let the pets meet on neutral grounds. Shelters often have this option to ensure a safe adoption. However, if the shelter doesn’t offer this or the breeder doesn’t allow this, try a friend’s house or the local park! It's important not to force anything and to use leashes to aid, in case of aggression. Pets move at their own pace and forcing them to get along before they are ready can damage their relationship right off the bat. Don’t scold or punish, instead use positive reinforcement and treats to reward progress.

It's time to bring them to their forever home. This is such an exciting event, but the newest addition to the family is more than likely reeling with both enthusiasm and anxiety. They are wondering who you are and if this is their new normal. Give them a chance to get accustomed to their new home, free of other pets. They are more likely to get along with the other pets when they become comfortable with their surroundings, otherwise, it can become too much for them to process at once. It can take months for a new pet to get used to the home, but as long as they’ve been acquainted with the new environment, we can move forward. 

We want to keep things as normal for our pets as possible during this overwhelming time. It is a good idea to allow your pets to roam the house and put the new pet into a separate room. Pets rely on their sense of smell, letting them smell each other through the door is a great first step to getting to know each other on a low-risk level. Another great way for them to get to know each other is putting a blanket with them that has the other pet's scent. Once they’ve gotten used to each other in separate rooms, you can provide short meet and greets. Remember, dogs and cats like to have a den or safe space. Keep the meet and greets short and have them return to their territories, allowing them to let their guard down and relax.

If all has gone well up to this point, start integrating the new pet into the rest of the house, but continue to supervise until you are confident neither pet will cause harm to the other pet. Be careful not to push either pet’s boundaries and don’t forget to use treats and positive reinforcement to reward good behavior.

Purr-fect Pet Solutions understands the importance of positive relationships and how they can affect the harmony of your home. We hope this guide was the solution to creating a balanced household. Congratulations on your new family member; we hope to meet them soon!

Written by Amber White - January 25, 2025