How to add a second pet to the family

How to prepare your pets for a second cat, dog or pet
Once you've decided to get another pet, you should ideally lay some groundwork before you bring the new animal into the home. "Animals are very keyed in to smell," explains O'Sullivan. He suggests rubbing an old T-shirt or towel on the new animal and then leaving that item around your house. "Leave it near your current pet's food or bed. Let them get used to the scent."

How to introduce your pets to each other for the first time
The most important thing to remember when introducing the animals to each other is to create a controlled situation in an open environment, such as a park or spacious room that doesn't have any items that "belong" to the current pet, such as food dishes, toys or litter boxes. Make sure that there are enough people present for each animal to have an attendant. Dogs will circle and sniff each other, but can also growl a bit and even try to stand on each other's shoulders. This is normal and shouldn't be interrupted, as they are trying to determine who is the dominant dog. Warning signs include raised hackles, prolonged stares and snapping. If you see this behaviour, O'Sullivan suggests separating them by squirting them with water or calling their attention with a training clicker. Cats prefer to be introduced more gradually, through a screen or a small opening in a door. Hissing, growling and swatting is to be expected, but if they are causing physical damage to each other, use the water squirting technique to discourage them. Once they can encounter each other without the nastiness, it's time to let them fully interact. "The nice thing about animals," explains O'Sullivan, "is that they don't want to hurt other animals."

Pets need love and affection
Just like children, pets need individual love and affection. That's why each animal should have their own bed at night, their own toys and their own food dishes, although a communal water dish is fine. "If you give attention, you have to do it equally," says O'Sullivan. Try not to change too many old routines with your first pet, but be sure to spend one-on-one time with the new pet as well, to allow them to bond with you. After all, happy pets make a happy home.   

Read more:
Should you make your own pet food?
Canada's cutest pets: A slideshow

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