Think of the last time you added a new cat your existing menagerie. How much thought did you give it beforehand, or did you take a desperate kitten off the streets? Or received a pet as a Christmas present (never a winner)? Or, did your child come home with a cuddly thing from the school fair?

Whether you waited six months for a pedigreed kitten, or whether your heart went soft at the adopt-a-pet roadshow, it is never easy bringing a new cat home - not if you have a dog there. Prepare yourself for some problems. Imagine how you would feel if your partner brought someone home to come and share your house. Right, now you’re in the picture.

The dog will see the new cat as an enemy that must be eliminated. Grown cats can react in the same way towards puppies. For your dog, you are not simply bringing a new pet, but an enemy in its territory.

Dogs constantly seek attention form their owners and a new cat will make the dog very jealous, as it will assume that you will be giving all your attention to the new kitten. Jealousy can be expressed in a number of ways: either through aggression, or constant yapping, or an effort to block every move the new pet makes.

A dog will also see a cat brought into its territory as a huge threat. This could turn into something very nasty. But take heart – most pets eventually get to tolerate each other, even if they don’t become best friends. But in extreme cases you might have to consider finding another home for your new pet. The last thing you want is bloodshed in your backyard.

So what on earth can you do to get your dog and cat not to fight, like well, cat and dog? Here are some tips from people who have had the experience...