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Overview:
There is
nothing more exciting than being pregnant & planning for the
arrival of your new baby. However, many new parents are
naturally concerned with how to introduce their cat to their
baby. They worry if the cat will be jealous of the baby, if
it's nose will be out of joint at the new arrival, if the
cat will harm the baby, either intentionally or
unintentionally.
The good news
is that cats & babies can live together. Some cats won't be
bothered or interested at all in the new baby, other cats
may have feelings of jealousy.
Preparing your
cat:
Preparing your
cat in advance is recommended.
Firstly, if
your cat isn't up to date on it's medications, flea &
worming treatment then make sure this is done prior to your
baby coming home. Also take your cat to the veterinarian for
a health check.
Trim your
cat's claws before the baby arrives.
If possible,
obtain a recording of a baby crying to play in your home.
Many parents
slowly set up the baby's arrival before it is born. Allow
your cat to become familiar with the baby's items. Let it
become used to smells such as baby powder & wipes. While I
think it's a great idea to let your cat become familiar with
the baby's furniture, I wouldn't recommend allowing the cat
to jump in or sleep in the crib, as it will lead to
confusion once the baby arrives & the cat is no longer
permitted to do this.
Before you
bring your baby home from the hospital, send home a blanket
that your baby has been wrapped in, so your cat can become
familiar with the baby's smell in advance. When the cat
sniffs it, give it lots of praise.
If you are
concerned that your cat may be upset by the new addition,
you could try using some Feliway diffusers around the house.
They are synthetic pheromones which have a calming effect on
your cat.
The
homecoming:
Keep the same
routine for your cat. They are creatures of habit.
When you are
with your baby, talk to your cat. Make sure that the cat has
positive associations with the baby.
Let the cat
become familiar with the baby in it's own time, don't rush
the introduction. We found our cats showed mild curiosity by
coming up & sniffing the new baby in our arms, but that was
the extent of it. Naturally, only permit your cat to come
near the baby when you are around to supervise.
Set aside time
during the day just for your cat, so he still feels included
in your life. This time may be spent grooming him, stoking
him, playing with him, walking him on a leash or some other
activity your cat enjoys doing with you.
It will be
some time before your baby is mobile, but it's always an
idea to think ahead of time. Place food bowls & litter trays
in an area your crawler can't access. Also, provide your cat
with a place to escape to if need be. We have a large
scratching post for our cats which our children can't climb.
We also have two gated areas which the cats can hop over but
the children can't.
Ensure that
when your baby is sleeping, your cat doesn't have access to
her. You can either put her in her own room & close the
door, put her in her own room, replacing the door with a
screen door, so the cat can see but can't actually get into
the room, or you can buy a crib net to keep the cat out.
If your cat is
having problems adjusting to the new baby it is worth
talking to your vet, who should either be able to assist, or
put you onto a feline behaviourist.
Summary:
Babies & cats
are perfectly compatible to share a house together. All too
often, well meaning but poorly informed people will expect
you to rehome the cat once a baby is on the way out of fear
the cat will harm the child, or spread disease. While this
can happen, it is extremely uncommon, your baby would in all
likelihood be more vulnerable to catching a disease
from a human than a cat. With forward planning & proper
supervision your baby can be safe & your cat remain a part
of your family. There is nothing sweeter than watching a
toddler & the family pet playing together. I know our
daughter gets immense pleasure from our cats, and she has
already become a firm animal lover, which is a nice trait to
have.
Remember that
your cat was once the baby of the family & received lots of
love & attention, just because there is a new baby in the
house shouldn't mean that the cat is pushed aside.
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