Preparing your Cat for a Baby in the Home
Expecting a new baby, while exciting can be stressful for everyone concerned. While this period is filled with joy, of course, new parents are concerned about the safety of their baby at the forefront of their minds.
Being owned by a beloved cat may cause further anxiety. Some new parents may struggle about whether to keep kitty or find it a new home. Keeping a beloved cat for many first time parents is a priority, yet nagging questions often arise about safety for the baby. This being said, giving your cat away is not a requirement. Learning the language of cats, and how they think, is. Being cat “fluent” prevents many problems and surprises.
A new baby does not mean you have to give away your cat
Cats are definitely creatures of habit. The arrival of new and unfamiliar objects into their "territory" will arouse their curiosity. Since cats thrive on schedules, even redecorating a familiar and comfortable room into a nursery can drive the calmest of cats batty at first. They do not enjoy changes in routine. Therefore setting up the nursery way ahead of time so kitty can become familiar with all its nooks and crannies, and the new furniture will reap untold benefits for both cat and caretaker.
That "old wives’ tale" about cats sucking babies' breath is, just that. Sadly, to say many cats have been tried and convicted for this behavior attributed to felines. In fact, Pediatricians are now attributing those deaths to Sudden Death Syndrome as the root of this unfounded belief.
Having to make a decision to find a home for one's kitty due to anxiety about the infant's safety is probably one of the most difficult ones to consider. Happily, though, there are many ways to insure your baby's safety and cat's sanity.
In preparing to bring that blessed arrival into your home, take your time. Do things slowly and gradually, thinking carefully about where you want to place new items. Your cat can then become accustomed to these changes. Let your kitty sniff the new furniture and items, as they take on your environmental scents. Within a short time, your cat will become blasé about these changes, and they will no longer pose any threat to their survival. They will probably get bored and stop paying attention to the new items, or, they may find a comfy spot in a crib in which to curl up, if access is provided to the nursery.
If you decide that the crib is "off limits”, you will want to make it as unattractive to your cat as possible Drape a sheet of aluminum foil on the mattress. Cats hate the texture of foil and find it most unappealing. You can also fill the crib with cans filled with small stones or coins, with the opening taped shut. Shake the can vigorously if the cat shows a proclivity to hang out in the crib. They will soon associate the sound with the crib and avoid it. Always be methodical and consistent with this method of dissuading your cat from the crib.
If you are uncomfortable with your cat having access to the nursery, keep the door closed when you are away. There may be times when this room is off limits to your kitty. Soon, even this restriction will become commonplace for your cat, and it will be no big deal.
Play with your cat in the new room so that he or she will associate pleasant activity with the area. This lessens the chance that kitty will feel insecure. Folks often mistake changes in their cat's behavior as jealousy. It is really anxiety that causes these changes. The more comfortable your cat is with the new environment, the less kitty will become anxious. Rewarding your cat and reinforcing pleasure aspects with changes in the home will alleviate and more than likely prevent any "antisocial" reactions to anything associated with the new baby.
Initially cats may find the sound of an infant's cry distressing. They sure don't understand what this small hairless creature is trying to communicate. One way to get your cat accustomed to the sound is to play a tape of an infant crying, while you stroke and emotionally support your cat. If you have a friend with a baby, invite them to visit, so your cat may get a first-hand preview.
Purchase your baby powders, lotions and other baby products ahead of time. Let your cat become familiar with these scents. Product test them personally and let your cat get a whiff of you. Within no time at all, these aromas will become associated with humans that your cat loves.
When the baby does arrive, of course monitor the interaction carefully between them. Keep your cat's nails trimmed as well. Aggression toward babies by cats is extremely rare behavior, but accidents can happen.
Cats and babies can and do become friends. We are responsible to ensure that both are safe and in no danger. With common sense and care, a happy and harmonious union is a certainty.
Would you trust your cat with a new infant? Leave a comment and share your feelings, either way.
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Comments (2)
Donna October 8, 2008 6:08 PM
When my grandson Douglas, was born in 1989, Rocky, my daughter's cat, slept with that boy from the day they brought him home from the hospital. Until the day Rocky went to Rainbow bridge, Douglas could do *anything* to that cat...I have pictures of Douglas using him has a pillow, a toddler trying to carry him around (but poor Rocky bent in half) yet he never raised a paw to that child. He accepted him the moment they brougt him home. Of course they watched, buy Rocky always slept at Douglas's feet. I wasn't so fortunate with Clifton, he was a stray I'd pickup up in downtown Cincy, very abused, burned toes, broken tail, and HATED kids, right down to my 6 week old granddaughter. He'd swipe at her or even just her blanket. I had to make a very tough decision, but after talking it out with my vet, he agreed that while neither of us are "for" declawing, that would be an answer to let me keep the kitten I loved, yet protect my granddaughter.
These days the granddaughters are 13 and 10 and the most fun they have when they come over is finding the flashlight and looking for the 5 cats. We still don't know why Toey thinks sitting on TOP of a white dryer is hiding. LOL
Margie October 17, 2008 3:54 AM
From the day I was brought home from the hospital as a newborn baby I was inspected and adopted by a cat. Miney undertook the job of nanny, teacher and protector until she went to the Bridge when I was 14. I would highly recommend that no one gets rid of their cats just because a human baby comes into the family. Miney taught me to love all living things and to respect them at all times. I still marvel that what she taught me in my childhood has enriched my life 40+ years after she passed to the Bridge
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