Is he solitary or social?

If your older animal is relatively healthy, your next consideration is personality. “If your animal has lived alone all her life, she may be happy being an only pet,” says Nancy. “A new one will upset the routine, and territorial issues will arise.” If you think your animal is lonely, but fear he won’t adapt to a newcomer, see if you can solve the problem by squeezing in extra outings or play sessions.

If your animal is used to living with others of his kind, he may be more welcoming to a new companion. However, dogs and cats differ widely in their social habits and personalities. Observe how your dog behaves around other canines, particularly younger ones.

Hint: A tolerant, social senior dog may welcome a newcomer,
while a defensive or high-strung one is probably happy
with life on his own!

Introducing a new cat into a household, whether or not you already have more than one cat, always takes time and patience. Talk with your vet about the best way to introduce two cats; a slow, closely monitored introduction may help your older feline adapt to a newcomer.

Dealing with grief

Sadly, part of sharing your life with animals means eventually having to say goodbye. Families sometimes hope to soften the blow by introducing a new puppy or kitten when their resident animal is aging. But is this fair to everyone?“Again, the first thing to consider is the health of the older pet,” advises Nancy.“If your older animal is dealing with a chronic condition, or is very elderly, bringing in a newcomer probably isn’t fair to him. As for the family and kids, it may be easier when they lose their pet if there’s another one in the house. But nobody knows until it happens, and that shouldn’t be the guiding factor.”

Hint: Your human and animal family will be living
with the new dog or cat for many years, so making a hasty
decision right after a loss is not the best way to start off.

If your family has always had more than one dog or cat, you may feel you should find a new playmate for the remaining animal when the older one passes. But let the death settle in first, and take some time to observe how your animal adapts.

“Every animal is different,” says Nancy.“I had a pair of cats, and when one passed, the other grieved. I’ve also had cats where when one passed, the other almost rejoiced and seemed glad not to have the other one around.”

Review lifestyle changes

Your family and lifestyle have most likely changed since you brought home your first animal ten or twelve years ago. Take a look at how these changes will affect a newcomer.

John Ashling discovered that bringing a kitten into a busy family wasn’t the same as it was when he and his wife got their first kitten as newlyweds. “Lucky was an easy kitten, probably because we had a lot of time to play and cuddle with him,” he says. “We added Fudge almost nine years later – now our time is filled with kids, a house, and jobs. Fudge gets into more mischief, and she’s left on her own more often.”

Also consider your financial situation. Your older animal may run into ailments requiring veterinary care or medicine, and a new animal will alsoneed regular checkups. You’ll also have to buy or make twice the amount of pet food. Make sure you can accommodate this increased cost.

Before concluding that your senior animal would benefit from some younger companionship, always remember to look at the big picture. “Personality, temperament, physical activity, and the medical condition of your present dog or cat should guide your decision,” says Nancy. “If your animal is happy, why mess with success?”

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Published in the June/July 2008 issue of Animal Wellness