Introducing Your Companion To Other Animals

Integrating a new animal into your home requires time, effort and patience! You may experience some frustrations. Every animal needs time to adjust to new surroundings. This is especially true when bringing a new dog or cat into a home which is already inhabited by other animals.

Here are some tips that will help you make the transition as smooth and painless as possible for everyone:

• Expect the transition to take some time and be prepared to go slowly.
• Be patient with both animals. Don't be surprised if your first animal forgets her manners or housetraining, or begins to act strangely.
• Give your first animal lots of love to assure her that she isn't being replaced.
• Introduce the animals gradually, preferably on neutral territory where neither has been before. This will give your first animal an opportunity to meet your new animal without feeling that her territory is being threatened.
• The introduction process may take several days or more - if you must leave your animals alone, be sure they are in separate areas and are unable to reach each other.
• Once it seems safe for the animals to be together, they will begin sorting out their relationship. One animal will be dominant. Dominance struggles tend to be more pronounced, or visible to you, with dogs than cats. Some fighting may occur, but most situations can be worked out by threat displays that stop short of any serious physical harm being done. This is especially true of animals of the same species.
• Be sure each animal has its own food bowl, water bowl, bed, toys, litterboxes, etc., to minimize the temptation to fight. Continue to reassure your first animal that you love her, even after she has learned to accept/tolerate your new animal.

IMPORTANT MEDICAL ADVISORY: Although we do our best to isolate and treat infected animals, we cannot guarantee health of the animal(s) you adopted. Due to disease incubation periods, please keep your new animal separate from any other animals, including those of friends, families or acquaintances, for the first two weeks after adoption.

With regard to the advisory, we recommend that you:

• Schedule a FREE health exam for your new animal within the first five days after adoption. (A certificate is included in every adoption packet.)
• Ensure your other animal(s) are current on their vaccinations for commonly transmitted diseases prior to introducing a new animal.

If you would like to work with a Wisconsin Humane Society behaviorist one-on-one regarding this behavior topic, please call 414-431-6173 to schedule a consultation.