You pictured an instant cuddle puddle. Instead, your cat is giving you the "you've betrayed me" stare from under the bed.

In this episode, we break down what actually works when introducing a new pet to your household. That fantasy of love at first sight? It rarely happens. A thoughtful, gradual approach works 70% better for creating lasting bonds.

What we cover: why separate spaces matter, scent swapping before face-to-face meetings, reading body language like "whale eye" in dogs and puffed tails in cats, common mistakes to avoid, and when to bring in professional help.

Every pet has their own timeline. Patience and observation are your best tools.

Subscribe and follow for new episodes every Tuesday. Then visit socialpetwork.com to meet pets looking for new families. Your share could change everything for them.

Before You Go Fetch Another Episode...

We used AI hosts for this episode because our real pets kept interrupting recording sessions to show us their toys, demand belly rubs, or mysteriously stare at empty corners of the room! Join our absolutely real, slightly obsessed pet parents at socialpetwork.com where we share stories of triumph, disaster, and that time someone's cat deleted an entire PowerPoint presentation by walking across a keyboard. Social Pawdcast: Making pet parenting joyful, one "did your dog really eat THAT?" story at a time! 🐾