Are you concerned about how to handle your pets and dating? Do you have pets you adore but are worried about how your future dates will react to them? What should you do to prepare for the issue of pets and dating?

Recently, I received this letter from a reader:

Dear Tonja,

I met a guy and I thought we hit it off. After several dates, I mentioned I had two cats. He told me that he was allergic to cats...but that he still wanted to come over. He came over for a couple of hours, left, and I never heard from him again. Now he won't return my calls. What should I do?

Confused Cat Lover

If you have ever had an experience like the above person, or were confused about how your cats or dogs left an impression on another, review the following five tips:

*Learn from the experience of someone telling you they are allergic

You can't salvage a relationship that won't return your calls, but maybe you can save the next one before it starts. Have some of your best friends come over and ask them to tell you what they see, feel and smell in your living space that others might find offensive.

*The Kitty-Litter Box

Does the litter box have an odor? It will if it hasn't been changed in a few days. You may not notice it because you are used to the smell but a sensitive allergic person could have a reaction to it.

*Cat hair and dog hair

Check your car, sofa, chairs, and clothes. If they have dog or cat hair on them, get your animals groomed and have their hair cut close. Following that, get a large roll of tape and remove the hair. If your animal is never going to stop shedding and if you don't care, find another person who doesn't care either.

*Clutter

People who are relaxed about their pets might have a tendency to also be relaxed about housekeeping in general. If you have dirty dishes and dirty clothes piled up everywhere, that alone might be a turn off to a future date. Get yourself organized and cleaned up before you invite a date over. Your life will feel so much better.

*Pet monarchs

Does your pet rule your house? Do they get to sit anywhere, eat off your plate, sleep in your bed, bark as often and as loudly as they want, and tear the place up when you leave? If your pet is in control of you rather than the other way around, a new date may feel intimidated.

Perhaps one of your requirements for a future love is that they feel the same way you do about your pets.

And if your pet is well-behaved, loving, and welcoming to guests, any new date will be lucky to have them in their life.

Tonja Weimer

Tonja Evetts Weimer is a Master Certified singles relationship and life coach, speaker, syndicated columnist and author.

Tonja is a full time professional coach with a practice in Greenville, SC. She helps individuals, especially singles, re-craft their lives and find happiness and success in their career and relationships. Some of Tonja's professional activities include:

==> Syndicated singles relationship columnist, writing SAVVY DATING, a weekly column read by over a million readers in many U.S newspapers. Tonja's column addresses relationship and life issues of interest to all adults, but particularly to the over 110 million singles in the U.S. Tonja has also had articles published in New Woman, Hope, and House Beautiful magazines, and has won 3 Matrix Awards for her writing.

==> Motivational speaker, Tonja has been a keynote presenter at national and international conferences over the last 30 years.

==> Author of materials for educators and parents (7 books, six music albums and 2 videos), which have won 22 awards.

Some Speaking and Media Highlights:

==> Keynote speaker for 2004 Women’s Issues Network Conference, Sumter, SC.

==> Keynote speaker for 2002 Parents as Teachers International Conference, St. Louis, MO.

==> Keynote speaker for 1999 International Conference for Children & Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder.

==> Keynote speaker for 1998 European Education Conference, in Mannheim, Germany.

==> Keynote speaker in 35 U.S. states at educational conferences.

==> Presenter at the International Special Olympics in Notre Dame, at the request of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

==> Created Space Songs for Children, at the request of NASA (album taken into space by astronauts three times.)

==> Appeared on CNN’s Showbiz Today and many other TV shows.

Educational and Professional Qualifications:

==> National Fellow (U.S. Dept. of Education.) M.A. in Human Development and Education, with an emphasis on creativity.

==> Master Certified Singles Relationship Coach, Relationship Coaching Institute.

==> Personal Life Coach, Graduate, Institute for Life Coach Training.

==> Member, International Coaching Federation

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