Meet and Greet!

 
 
 

The phrase ‘fights like cats and dogs doesn’t exist for no reason but that doesn’t mean it has to be true! Introducing a new dog or cat into your household with an existing fur baby can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. While cats like to take their time to get to know their new surroundings and their new siblings, dogs often like to jump right in, immediately getting up close and personal with the new family member. So what’s a human to do?! 

Whether you are bringing home a new cat or a new dog, these tips and tricks can help you to make sure your cat or dog gets along well with their new counterparts.

  1. Let Them Get the Lay of the Land, Uninterrupted: Cats are generally timid creatures and like to take it all in before settling into a new space or getting to know a new animal. Dogs on the other hand like to take it all in as quickly as possible! Whatever the case, give your new animal the opportunity to look around and get cozy before introducing them to your existing pets. This will keep them from being overwhelmed and have an opportunity to settle in before adding another element to their arrival.

  2. Face to Face (with a barrier): After your new pet has had a chance to get to know the environment, it’s time for them to meet! Some experts suggest keeping the dog leashed or placing one animal behind a barrier to keep control of the situation. Keeping a treat or two on hand to help keep the pace also helps! Once they’ve gotten to meet in this controlled environment, you can then monitor when it feels comfortable to have both animals share the space freely.

  3. Be Patient: Some animals take to each other immediately and some take more time. Experts say cats and dogs can sometimes take up to a few months to be totally comfortable around each other. In this interim period, it’s important to consistently monitor how the animals do around each other and make adjustments to their interactions. 

Bringing home a new pet can be a daunting task but so rewarding once the animals get settled into one big family. Using the guidelines below, you can be ready for your new dog or cat to enter your home and know that they will get along just fine in a few short months.