{"id":1740,"date":"2012-08-16T18:50:20","date_gmt":"2012-08-17T01:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/?p=1740"},"modified":"2020-10-26T12:53:55","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T19:53:55","slug":"helpful-tips-for-introducing-cats-and-babies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/2012\/08\/16\/helpful-tips-for-introducing-cats-and-babies\/","title":{"rendered":"Helpful Tips for Introducing Cats and Babies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally posted August 2012<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Judging from my mailbag, summer\u2019s the season for new mothers to bring home their babies, and worries about how their resident cats will react abound. It also means, unnecessarily and often tragically, that more cats are dumped at shelters\u2014or worse\u2014because of that. Therefore, a few suggestions for keeping everybody happy. Cats and babies coexist quite well, of course, and there\u2019s no better way to raise children than in a pet-populated home!<\/p>\n

First, be safe: ensure your cat\u2019s current on all meds, worming, shots\u2014have that vet check. Altered pets are also calmer. Trim claws. Keep her indoors, of course. Toxoplasmosis is rare in the US, and you probably have it dormant in your body, anyway, if you handle raw meat or garden without gloves, but clean the litter box with gloves, anyway, and wash hands well afterward.<\/p>\n

A few months before baby\u2019s due: repainting and carpeting the nursery, as well as changing furniture means disruption. Cats hate disruption, and they hate change. Keep those alterations easy and gradual, though quickly done; she needs to get used to those differences in what\u2019s still, in her eyes, her territory. She\u2019s no outsider, but welcome in that room, and needs her natural curiosity satisfied. The novelty will subside. Let her explore the crib or bassinet, but cover them with nets if you don\u2019t want her there, afterward. Lemon spray or double-sided sticky tape in certain areas will also keep her away.<\/p>\n

As the time gets closer, get Bella used to the baby lotions, wipes, mobiles, toys, and the other baby things. Treat and praise her, as she investigates, so she associates positive things with those new items. Have friends bring their own babies over, so Bella can get used to the idea of a wee thing taking attention – the crying, the burblings, the smells\u2026 The idea: whether it\u2019s the new nursery, the new items, the new smells, the new presence – keep her part of everything! If Bella\u2019s bonded with you, and you\u2019re not only away, but certainly preoccupied (and will be until This Thing is 18?), have someone else in the home give extra attention and caring to Bella, so she continues to feel loved.<\/p>\n

While you\u2019re in the hospital, have a family member bring home a soft blanket, with the baby\u2019s smell. Put it in the favorite nesting area, so your cat can lie on it. You\u2019re beginning a kind of scent-bonding, hopefully.<\/p>\n

The second (home) coming! When you walk through the door, Bella may well be glad to greet you. For a cat, mind you\u2014no rose petals, but she\u2019ll be there. Give the baby to someone else for a bit, and pay attention to her, with caresses, a warm, calm voice and treats. After all, you haven\u2019t been there in a while, and her routine has been upset.<\/p>\n

Then bring your cat with you to sit next to the baby, and treat and praise her for good behavior\u2014all that sniffing is just fine. Don\u2019t force, or hold, or restrain her\u2014let her find her own pace. If there\u2019s any negative reaction, simply stop, pick up baby and walk away. If cat continues to hiss or growl, keep calm, but silently put her in another room, let her cool, and try an introduction later. Don\u2019t reassure her that “It\u2019s all right”; she needs to understand that if she wants good attention, she needs to behave.<\/p>\n

Remember, Bella was your first baby, and she could well feel jealous. Some behaviorists question whether cats feel that emotion; I\u2019m firmly of the opinion they do. Keep the changes as gentle, calm and gradual as possible, and keep her loved.<\/p>\n

Think of it from the cat\u2019s point of view: “Ohhh, this is new. I hate change. What is this? It\u2019s loud! It\u2019s taking all her attention! What about me? Take it away\u2014oh, I\u2019m bored. Then again\u2026what\u2014?” The baby\u2019s point of view: “Zzzzzzz\u2026whaaaaa! Burp. Pooop. Ohhhhhh! Zzzz\u2026”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally posted August 2012 Judging from my mailbag, summer\u2019s the season for new mothers to bring home their babies, and worries about how their resident cats will react abound. It also means, unnecessarily and often tragically, that more cats are …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cats-children","category-iaabc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1740"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1740\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1741,"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1740\/revisions\/1741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1740"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cattitudebehavior.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}