Thinking of adding a new pet to your family? Start here!

Bringing another animal into the home can be a nerve-racking experience — especially if your resident pet has never lived with another dog or cat before. But there are some ways to predict whether a new pet would be a good fit for your home. In this resource, we will cover things to consider when making this decision and tips on how to find the right pet for you.

If you decide to move forward with adding a new pet to your family, check out our guides on how to make successful introductions: Introducing Dogs, Introducing Cats and Introducing Dogs and Cats.

Are You and Your Current Pet Ready?

• Follow the 3-3-3 Rule to ensure your current pet has had enough time to adjust and decompress. Make sure you have had your current pet for longer than three months and they are comfortable and relaxed at home.
• Assess your resident pet(s). Before bringing a new pet home, assess whether this will increase or decrease your current pet’s overall quality of life. If your cat or dog hasn’t been able to spend time comfortably with other animals in the past, getting a second pet could be challenging, stressful and even harmful to your current pet's emotional well-being.
• Is your resident pet healthy and happy? Bring in another pet only if your current pet is healthy and their behavioral and emotional needs are being met. If you’re not sure, consider taking your current pet to the vet to confirm they are not experiencing any medical issues or pain, as these challenges lead to heightened stress and could make your pet less tolerant of another animal.
• Do you have the appropriate setup? To successfully introduce your pets, you’ll need to be able to keep them separate. Consider how you would do this, whether in a room with a closed door (ideal for cats) or using baby gates or exercise pens. Also keep in mind that all interactions between the two pets should be supervised for the first few months and that training may be required if the two pets aren’t comfortable with each other right away.

Your pet may be a good candidate for having a roommate if:

• They have already successfully shared space with or lived with the type of animal you are considering adding to your home.
• They are generally confident, mellow and easy-going and friendly and gentle with other animals.
• They don’t have any current behavior challenges that may get worse with the addition of a second pet, such as poor impulse control, increased stress, fearful behavior, litter box issues or spraying.
• They don’t guard resources (food, bones, treats, toys, beds, people, scratchers, etc.) from other animals by tensing, freezing, growling, marking, snapping, hissing, swatting, spraying or biting. Or if they do show any of these behaviors, it's mild enough that you can prevent it from occurring or easily manage the environment to protect both pets.

Finding The Right Pet for You

When thinking about adding a new pet to your family, avoid selecting a specific breed and instead focus on their personality traits and sociability.

Behavioral History

Find out as much as you can about the behavioral history of any cat or dog you are considering adopting. Ideally, the new pet you plan to bring home will have a history of having lived comfortably with other pets without conflict.

Avoid adopting a dog who has a history of resource guarding, high prey drive (if you have a resident cat), fights with other animals (dog or cat), a bite or injury to another animal (dog or cat) or extreme over arousal.

Avoid adopting a cat who has a history of fights with other animals (dog or cat), harm to another animal (dog or cat), or extreme shyness or fearfulness.

If adding a dog to a home with a cat:

Consider the dog's energy level, play style and prey drive. It's possible dogs who aren’t socialized to cats may treat them as prey. If a dog does not have a history of high prey drive (i.e., doesn’t chase cats, squirrels or other small animals and hasn't harmed or attempted to harm a cat in the past) and appears gentle and relaxed, they may be a good candidate to consider.

Additionally, look for a dog who has low to medium energy and is not easily over-aroused. Avoid dogs who enjoy rough play, lack impulse control or are particularly mouthy.

If adding a cat to a home with a dog or a resident cat:

Look for a confident cat or kitten. Relaxed and confident cats are more likely to adjust comfortably to living with a dog or another cat without becoming overly stressed or negatively impacted.

Shy, fearful and declawed cats may feel vulnerable or threatened around dogs or other cats. Nervous, sensitive or shy cats will display fearful behavior, like hiding or fleeing, which can trigger the dog to feel frustrated or chase them.

If adding a dog to a home with a resident dog:

Consider energy level and play style. Ideally, the new dog's energy levels and play style would be similar to and compatible with your current dog.

If your current dog is low energy, sensitive, gentle or nervous, look for a dog who appears to also be gentle and relaxed, with low to medium energy levels. Avoid dogs who enjoy rough play, lack impulse control, are easily over-aroused or are particularly mouthy, as these traits can be overwhelming, stressful and intimidating for softer, sensitive dogs.

Additionally, a sensitive, low-energy dog who is unsure and doesn’t reciprocate play can be frustrating for dogs who seek high-energy, rough play, which can lead to conflict. Consider a dog who engages in soft play or games of chase rather than physical play.

If your current dog is high energy, rambunctious and easily over-aroused, look for a dog who appears to be outgoing and confident, with medium to high energy levels. If a dog is very tolerant or dog social and is not easily frightened or overwhelmed, they may be a good candidate to consider.

Shy or fearful dogs often benefit from living with a more confident and outgoing dog. Sharing space with a confident dog can help a shy dog come out of their shell and feel more comfortable. If your current dog is shy and sensitive, consider adopting a confident, mellow dog and vice versa. If you adopt a shy dog, your confident dog may be able to help them build trust and confidence.

For socialization tips, check out our YouTube playlist: Well-Socialized Pet Resources. Enroll in all six of our free Well-Socialized Pet Chats held live online over Zoom.