Bringing Home Baby, but What About Kitty?

You’re happy little family is about to expand with an impending birth of another baby, but this time it’s your own baby instead of a new kitty. How will the current baby cope with the new addition who will surely take up the majority of your time and attention?

Sure, you’re cat has been the apple of your eye since you first brought them into your home. They were your first baby but now, with your growing family, adjustments will have to be made. You can all live harmoniously as a growing family, just make sure you take some time to help your cat adjust as well.

Establish Your New Routine
Things will change with the arrival of your new baby. Start early and get your kitty used to the changes so they won’t be too disrupted. Allow your little one to sniff the new items that your are sure to be accumulating: the crib, pram, baby-bath, etc. Teach your cat to leave these items alone, and the curiosity should diminish once kitty knows what all the new stuff is.

As the time of arrival draws closer, gradually reduce the amount of time you spend  with your kitty. It may be difficult, but when your bub arrives it will be less of a change for kitty. Establish special “kitty-time” after the baby’s asleep to reassure your first “baby” they are still important to you.

Introductions
Like any new change for a cat, introduce your baby slowly to your cat, allowing them ample time to adjust. Let your kitty smell and get used to the scent of the new baby. Don’t ever force introductions, as cats are fiercely independent and prefer to do things on their own. Make sure your cat receives lots of attention while around the baby, with either you or your partner attending to the cat or baby. This will help show your cat that the new baby is a positive addition to the family and they are not being replaced.

If your cat needs to retreat for awhile, after all the adjustment with a new baby can be quite a large one for anyone, let them. In your cat’s own time they will become used to the idea of sharing the affection that once was all theirs.

Here are some other tips to help the process of introducing the new addition while keeping peace with kitty:

• Replace or install a screen door to the nursery so your cat can smell and see the baby, without you worrying about it getting into the crib.
• Place netting around the crib to keep kitty out of the crib if they are allowed in the nursery.
• Ensure your kitty is properly de-wormed and de-flead. Make sure to keep these products away from the baby. Consult your doctor and vet to find the safest treatments available.
• While mum and bub are still at hospital, have someone bring home either a toy or blanket with the baby’s scent on it to get kitty used to the new smell about to enter the household. Praise your cat when they smell it so they gets used to the idea that it is a positive scent. Place the item somewhere your cat frequents so they can become used to it.
• Cats do harbour some diseases, but they rarely are transmittable to humans. In the case of Toxoplasmosis, if you catch it while pregnant, it could have devastating effects on the unborn foetus. It’s best to have your partner clean the litter box, or if that’s not possible, take extra precaution. Use rubber gloves and try to avoid inhaling any dust from the litter trays. Daily cleaning of the litter tray will almost entirely eliminate the risk of infection.
• The biggest concern maybe even how bub will react to the kitty. By teaching the little one to respect the cat, and that it is not a toy, will ensure a happy environment for everyone.

Good luck with your growing family!

For more tips and research, check out these sites:
Cat’s & Babies-Can They Coexist?
Cats and Babies Can Coexist
New Baby and Your Cat
Cats and Babies