by Ashley Long, a life-long lover of animals, experienced animal foster parent and FUR volunteer.

Should I Get Another Pet?

If you’re a fan of 80’s movies (and really, who isn’t?), you’ll recognize this quote:

“Dogs and cats living together. Mass Hysteria.”

But successfully co-mingling your furry family doesn’t have to be a supernatural event. However, except for the very few and lucky, it’s going to be a process. So, let’s roll it back a minute and get to the core question: “Should I get another pet?”

YES. Maybe. Of course, there’s a caveat. If in your heart you’re ready for another pet, the first thing you need to do is an honest resource analysis. Do you have the space, the time, and the means? Let’s consider each in turn.

Space, Time, and Means Analysis

Do I Have the Space?

You’ll want to ask yourself if you have the physical space for another pet. The answer to this question will depend not only on the size and layout of your home, but on the animal you intend to adopt.

If you add another pet, do you have enough safe and quiet space for your new pet to adapt to your home and other pets? Is there space for your existing pets to go to that allows them to feel sane when a puppy comes storming through the doors, or a kitten comes ripping down the curtains?

And what about the nature of the animal you’re bringing into your home? A Yorkiepoo is going to need a lot less run-around space than a Great Pyrenees. Different animals, different breeds, and different sized creatures have different needs, and you’ll want to account for those needs before you adopt.

Do I Have the Time?

Adding a new pet will, at least in the short-term, take time away from you. You’ll have to split your bandwidth between the new pet and the existing pets to make sure that no one feels left out. You may not be able to be gone from home as long as usual, as you wait for the new pet to acclimate to your home (and until you trust it enough to leave it in the house).

And, if you’re adopting a young pet or one that’s suffered some trauma, you’ll lose time in other ways. Precious, precious sleep may be something you’ll do without, as the pet adjusts to new sleep and wake cycles that will be very different from their prior lives. There may be interruptions as you work on potty training.

Or, you may be wonder why you haven’t heard a peep from any of the pets in 5 minutes, as you know silence means trouble. So you get up from whatever else you’re doing to discover the pets have started a revolution, overthrown a small government, and are now holding court for their various stuffies from the prime position of the couch.

If that all sounds doable, and you can make room in your schedule to let another life in, then it’s onto the next question.

Do I Have the Means?

In a perfect world, Santa would give out pets left, right, and center, each with a lifetime supply of pre-paid food and vet care. Let’s face it though, pets cost money. And pets do ridiculous things. So, at some point, you will have to visit the emergency vet because maybe the dog stole an extra-large chocolate bar off the kitchen counter. Or the kitten dislocated its knee leaping off of furniture (true stories, but thankfully, neither are mine). And speaking of the furniture, don’t get too attached to its permanence. Though it may have survived the first and second pets, there’s no guarantee pet number three won’t have a serious obsession with the tags on all your sofa cushions (that story, for better or worse, is mine). Then there’s the extras: pet sitters and walkers and doggy day care and the like. So ask yourself very seriously if you have the funds to keep all of your pets – old and new – happy and healthy.

Say “Yes” To the Pet!

You’ve done your analysis, and you’re feeling good about this additional pet business. Now how do you integrate them? Will the new pet like your existing pets? What if they hate each other? Will the new pet be happy and will the old pets ever forgive you?

I think this is a question of honesty, time, and a bit of luck.

True Tales of Pet Integration

Even though you might not know much about your new pet’s personality, you have to gauge – to the best of your abilities – whether this will be a temperament match. When I brought a 4-week-old kitten home to my mini-poodle, it was as though the heavens burst open. I had literally never seen my dog happier. She instantly offered her complete obeisance to the cat. That dynamic continues to this day.

Flash forward to several months after the kitten arrived. Someone dumped a German Shephard puppy at the old farmhouse we were fixing up. The puppy was probably about 6-7 months old. And though the puppy was a very good boy, it was clear from the get-go he’d had very little training and no interaction with other animals. At that time were living in an apartment in the middle of town. And though we hated to do it, we gave him to a rescue. It just wasn’t the right match for our lives or his. (He was quickly adopted, and we found and reported the person who dumped him.)

Since then, we’ve added two new furry family members to the crew. One is an outside cat who is perfectly happy having the outdoor patio as her exclusive domain. Though we tried to bring her inside, none of the pets were happy with this arrangement. Ultimately, a posh new cat condominium – with heat and insulation – was installed on the patio. There was peace in the kingdom.

The other new addition is a rescue puppy who came into our lives at the end of April. She’s funny and sparky, but scared of everything. Our mini-poodle has been a good sister to her, and eventually, our indoor cat will forgive the intrusion.

Conclusion

Some days are hard. Neither my husband nor I have had a full night’s sleep since Easter. Potty training has been a challenge. The puppy has random anxiety attacks. And she farts. Often. Audibly. Joyfully.

But she knows this is home. When she jumps on the bed in the morning, happy as anything to be alive and with her family, we know we made the right decision.

In closing, when you’re ready, I hope you’re can successfully bring a new pet into your family. If now isn’t the right time, that’s okay too. The future may hold someone for you.

Someone furry.

Someone cuddly.

And possibly, someone a little stinky at times.