Living in a house with multiple pets can be amazing, but deciding whether or not to get another pet can be a big decision. You’ll need to consider your ability to foot regular vet costs, grooming, food, and other recurring necessities for more than one pet.
Regardless of whether you have one pet and considering the idea of extending the family, or you’re thinking of adopting multiple pets at once, there are a few things you might want to consider. Here’s how to decide if you’re ready to be the owner of more than one pet:
Ensure you’re financially able to take care of multiple pets
A pet (or multiple pets) is a lifetime obligation that comes with a lot of financial responsibilities. You’re looking at paying the initial adoption fees plus you’ll need to fork out cash for leashes, collars, and food. There will inevitably also be medical bills and other recurring costs like grooming that you need to keep in mind.
Consider bonded pairs if you’re looking to adopt more than one pet
Most rescue organisations prefer to rehome a pair of pets together, especially when it’s young siblings who have a strong emotional bond. If you already know you want to become a multi-pet household, it’s worthwhile inquiring about such an option. This ensures that your new pets already have buddies when they get home and can help keep any aggression issues at bay, especially if you’re adopting cats.
Get the shelter’s opinion
It’s always wise to get the shelter staff’s suggestions regarding a potential new pet. They might also be able to give you specialised advice for taking your new pet home since they already know a little bit about the pet’s behaviour.
Plan ahead
As an existing pet owner looking to adopt a new pet, you really need to set reasonable expectations. Plan controlled meetings between the new and existing pets. When it comes to dogs, you’ll want to introduce your resident dog to the new one in a neutral setting, not your home. Animals are individuals, so they might not love every dog or cat they meet, even if they’re used to other animal friends. Keep in mind that it might also take a few attempts to get things right. You need to ensure that the experience is low-stress for all parties involved, so consider how much time, space and energy you’re able to dedicate to multiple pets.
Consider your own limitations
Although their happiness is important, your pets aren’t the only ones that need to be happy. You also need to take the amount of time you can devote to caring for your pets into consideration. If you rent a home, be sure to check out your lease to ensure you won’t be breaking any rules with regards to owning multiple pets.
