Category: Pet Care

Why Bonded Pairs, for Both Dogs & Cats, Should Be Adopted Together

Bonded pairs are animals that have an emotional attachment to each other. When separated, they get physically sick and emotionally distressed.

Bonded Pairs: Two Animals Who Are Deeply Connected & Emotionally Attached

Bonded pairs is used to describe animals who are strongly attached to each other in a way that can cause separation anxiety and other health ailments if separated.

When rescuing animals it’s important to see if they’re by themselves or they are attached to a companion animal. When they are with a companion, it’s likely that they are a bonded pair.

Bonded animals do not have to be from the same litter, although they may be. Sometimes bonded pairs are rescued together when they are still strays, or their former owners have died. Often a cat and a dog who’ve been through a lot together or owned the same former owner, become bonded pairs.

What Happens When Bonded Pairs Are Separated?

Separating bonded pairs tend to have many different signs to look for:

• Anxiety issues in one or both animals.
• Excessive barking, meowing, whining, or crying.
• Destructive chewing.
• Peeing or pooping in the house excessively.
• Difficult to potty train.
• Vomiting and difficulty keeping food down.
• Overall sickness and having low energy or fatigue.
• Emotional distress that can manifest as depressive behavior like pouting and disengagement with new owners and surrounding.

When rescuing animals always ask if the pet you’re looking to adopt is a bonded pair with any other animals in the rescue facility to avoid separating bonded pairs.

Bonded pairs do handle new and unfamiliar environments, because they have a healthy relationship to support each other. Bonded pairs usually appear in adult dogs, and even in cats. Puppies born in the same litter sometimes appear to be bonded, but aren’t always compatible in adult hood, so it’s important to observe their behavior and relationship with each other as they grow.

How Are Bonded Pairs Formed Between Dogs & Cats

Animals begin forming a bond when they’ve spent a significant amount of time together. From an early age bonding takes place if the animals have depended on each other for survival. This often happens with strays in the wild who band together for survival. It’s been observed that deep bonds between animals form after spending about 6 months together. However, the conditions that animals have lived through can start the bond earlier, and it is not always about the duration of time they spent together.

Benefits of Adopting a Bonded Pair

Dogs, cats and other animals who are bonded often depend on each other to overcome challenging situations. Bonded pairs help each other by reducing anxiety and destructive behavior, because they calm each other in stressful and frightening situations. Keeping a bonded pair of pets together guarantees a great companion and gives your pet a familiar play mate to help ease the need for excess attention from their new owner.

Is Caring for Two Animals More Challenging Than One?

Actually it’s a benefit! You have two animals that can keep each other company and play together. Most importantly, when two animals are together, they keep each other calm when you’re away from home. Caring for 2 pets is not any harder than caring for 1. You end up with happier pets when they have a companion to keep them company.

Before Adopting A Dog or Cat

When adopting from a shelter do not split bonded pairs, because you favor one animal over the other. Always adopt them together if they are a bonded pair for their well being. Consider adopting another animal who is not bonded.

Remember, closely bonded animals grieve the loss of each other when they are split apart. This is akin to how people grieve when separated just like a brother and sister split up in adoption. This can happen to your animal if you aren’t careful when choosing an animal to adopt from the shelter.

When adopting, it’s essential to consider adopting both animals if they are bonded. Always ask the keepers if they been close with any other animals, and monitor your pets behavior for signs of separation when you take them home.

Grief is no stranger to paired dogs, cats, or other animals when split up. Think how you would feel if you separated from a close family member or loved one, and understand that your animal feels the same emotions when separated.

Signs of Bonded Pair Separation

Pets, just like people, when morning the absence of a loved one will experience:

• Less interests in activities.
• Sleep more often.
• Withdraw from people.
• Refuse to eat and experience loss of appetite.
• May be aloof and stare into space.

Let’s all unite together in saving our animals for a better future for them and ourselves. Always consult a vet when your dog or animal shows signs of sickness or irregular behavior.

The Importance of Spay & Neutering Dogs & Cats

In Los Angeles and other big cities, stray cats and dogs often mate with their kin causing over population to occur in dangerous areas. Spaying and neutering helps keep the stray population from breeding and having baby kittens or puppies who are stuck living on the streets without proper food, shelter, water, or vet care.

The decision to have your pet spay or neutered is one of the most important decisions you can make as a per parent. It is also the best decision you can make for their well being.

14 Reasons Why You Should Spay/Neuter Your Dog, Cat, and even Your Rabbit

1. Spay and neutering will help your dog or cat live longer and overall a healthier life.
2. For female dogs and cats spaying helps to prevent uterine infections and some forms of cancer.
3. It also helps to spay your dog or cat prior to going into heat for the first time.
4. However, spaying them anytime in your pet’s lifetime, is better than not spaying them at all because of health risks.
5. For male dogs and cats, neutering has health benefits such as preventing testicular cancer, while rare in male cats, testicular tumors are most commonly found in none-neutered male dogs.
6. A very important reason for spay and neutering your cat or dog to prevent over population of animals.
7. In the United States, for every human born, there are 7 puppies and kittens born. The reality is there aren’t enough homes for these animals. Spaying and neutering is the best form of population control to prevent homeless animals.
8. By not spaying or neutering, as your pet starts to age, they can also develop different forms of cancer, which can be expensive to treat, and painful for the animal. An investment into spaying or neutering early in your pet’s life can save on expensive vet bills.
9. Licensing fees for un-altered pets are much higher than spayed or neutered pets.
10. Spaying and neutering can help with behavior problems, both in cats and dogs. After spaying and neutering, your pet will be less aggressive, and stop marking their territory with urine.
11. Your animal will be less likely to run away from home.
12. Your pet will be less likely to fight with other males.
13. Your pet will be less likely to bark or cry excessively.
14. Spaying and neutering will decrease the urge for your pet to try and mate.

Guideline for When to Spay & Neuter Your Pet

When to Neuter Your Male Cat

• Male cats are best to neuter between 6 and 9 months old.

When to Spay Your Female Cat

• Female cats are best to spay before becoming 5 months of age.

When to Neuter Your Male Dog

• Male dogs are best to neuter between 6 and 9 months old.

When to Spay Your Female Dog

• Female dogs should ideally be spayed before their first heat, which usually happens between 6 and 9 months old.

Always Consult Your Vet

When getting a new puppy or kitten, consult your vet for the best recommendations based on your pet’s individual health needs.