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A newborn baby brings excitement and joy to the life of expectant parents, but the same cannot always be said for pets in the home. Cats, in particular, are creatures of habit, and any change in their routine or environment, no matter how small, can be very distressing.
The best thing you can do as a pregnant cat owner is to start preparing your cat for the big change as soon as you know you’re pregnant. Keep reading to find our tips for making the transition to parenthood as easy and seamless as possible on your cat.
First, we’ll show you how to prepare while you’re pregnant. Next, we’ll give you some tips for introducing your newborn to your cat safely. Finally, we’ll cover important health and safety issues to be aware of. Let’s start!
How to Prepare Your Cat While You’re Pregnant
One of the best things you can do to prepare your kitten for the baby’s arrival is to start your prep work long before you walk through the door with your baby in tow. Your goal is to familiarize your cat with the upcoming changes as soon as possible so that when your newborn comes home, the only difference in your cat’s environment is the baby’s presence.
Use baby powder and lotions
Cats are very odorous and use smells to communicate. They have scent glands all over their bodies that rub on objects in your home to claim their territory. Have you ever seen your cat scratch your couch or feel it rub against your leg? He uses his scent glands to mark your furniture – and you – as his property.
When you bring home a newborn, there are bound to be lots of new scents in what were once your cat’s familiar spaces. You’ll be using baby lotions and powders daily, not to mention the dirty diapers you’ll soon be drowsing in.
Although you can’t familiarize your cat with the smell of the diaper, you can get her used to lotions and powders.
Don’t keep the nursery off limits
Try to set up your nursery as early as possible in the pregnancy. You don’t want to spend the days leading up to delivery setting up furniture or painting the room. The hustle and bustle that comes with getting the baby’s room ready can also be stressful for your cat. Your goal should be to gradually change your pet’s space, not renovate a room and bring home a loud and scary newborn in a week.
Let your cat explore the new items you put in the baby’s room. He may want to rub against the crib or cradle to mark his scent. Don’t be surprised if you find him cuddled up in the crib for a cat nap or batting on the baby’s mobile. Supervise your cat when it’s in the crib and keep the door closed when you can’t.
Introduce your cat to other babies
If you have friends or family members with newborn babies, invite them over for a few hours. This will give your cat time to become familiar with the sounds and movements of a baby. You should offer your cat tasty treats during and after these visits so that she can form positive associations (baby=treat).
If you don’t know anyone with babies, listen to recordings of baby noises (crying, screaming, laughing) at low volume during your cat’s playtime. Increase the volume slightly with each session until your cat no longer seems bothered by the noise.
Leave your cat’s spaces alone
In a perfect world, the baby’s room would be in an area of your home that your cat doesn’t frequent. You’ll probably want to keep the crib out of your cat’s reach for the first few months of your baby’s life. If your cat’s favorite hangout is in the room your baby will occupy, you may be dealing with a stressed cat. You might consider moving the baby’s stuff to a different location in your home, at least initially.
How to prepare your cat after the baby is born
It’s not just your life that will change drastically after delivering a baby. Your cat’s life will also be turned upside down for the first few months (or even years). Here are some tips to prepare your kitty for the arrival of the baby at home after birth.
Familiarize yourself with the baby’s scent
The new mom may need to spend a night or two in the hospital after the birth of her baby. You can use this time to your advantage to further help your cat adjust when the baby comes home.
When Dad comes home for the day, bring home something from the hospital that smells like your baby. A receiving blanket works great for this. Give the blanket to your cat and let her sniff it to familiarize herself with the smell of the newborn.
Another trick is to pet your cat with a pair of unworn newborn socks. Put the socks on your baby the day you bring him home from the hospital so that when your pet first sniffs the baby, he will smell like your cat.
Give him a place to hide
You need to have areas in your home where your cat can retreat when the baby stresses it out.
You may already have spaces set up, but make sure they’re in a room where you won’t be with the baby. A cat tree set up in the living room where you rock the crying baby to sleep won’t offer much refuge. Move your cat’s favorite tree to the basement or guest room for now.
You can also install new hiding places like an open carrier or, the personal favorite of most cats, an irresistible box.
Continue with routines
Establish routines such as mealtimes and playtime well before baby arrives and continue with those routines when you get home with the little one in tow. Try to keep mealtimes at the same time and remember to set aside time each day to pet and play with your cat.
All of your time and attention can be focused on your human child, but don’t forget to attend to the needs of your fur baby as well.
Use soothing diffusers or vaporizers
Several companies make pheromone-based sprays and diffusers to help calm and de-stress anxious kittens. These drug-free solutions are safe and can help your cat adapt to their changing environment.
Feliway is one of the most popular options and is often recommended by veterinarians. Their 30-day starter kit comes with a diffuser and refill to help reduce any signs of stress your cat may be exhibiting.
How to Introduce Cats to Babies
Now that your baby is home and your cat is getting used to the sights, sounds, and smells of newborns, you may be wondering how to introduce the two.
Let your cat set the pace for the introduction. Never hold your cat against her will, as this will not create positive associations with the baby. Even if he still wants to distance himself from your child after six months, let him. The more in control your cat feels, the better the introduction will be.
When he’s ready to be around your child, keep interactions short and positive. Hold your baby in your arms and let your cat approach and sniff it. Make sure the space you are in during the introductory phase is free of interruptions, loud noises, or distractions.
Provide treats or playtime whenever baby is around and your pet isn’t showing signs of stress.
Pay close attention to your cat’s body language to determine how comfortable they are during these first interactions. If there are signs of stress, like hissing or withdrawing, it’s time to go slower with the introductory phase.
Are there any health or safety issues?
Cats can be dangerous to newborns in several ways.
First, cats can carry infectious diseases that can infect your child. These diseases, such as toxoplasmosis, cat scratch fever and toxocariasis, can be transmitted through cat scratches or feces.
Then the cat may become aggressive to the point of biting or scratching your child. Cats carry a lot of germs in their mouths and claws, so you should always be vigilant when around your baby.
Finally, cats love to sleep in warm places and may find that they love snuggling up to your baby while he sleeps. Although it makes for adorable images, it is not safe as it may interfere with your baby’s breathing.
You can maximize your baby’s safety by:
- Always watch them when the cat is around
- Wash your hands after touching the cat or its litter box
- Consult a doctor if your baby has been bitten or scratched
- Keep the nursery door closed during naps and at bedtime
- Keep the baby away from the cat’s safe spaces
Can cats get jealous of a new baby?
Cats can absolutely get jealous of babies because they are no longer the center of your attention. Cats are creatures of habit, and even small changes in their daily routine can lead to stress, anxiety, and jealous behavior. It is completely normal for animals to get jealous when you bring the baby home, as they may be afraid of losing their territory and their favorite humans.
Symptoms of cat jealousy include:
- Assault
- Dirt on the outside of the litter box
- Howl
- Meow
- Excessive grooming
- Urine marking territory
You can prevent jealous behavior by making gradual changes to your cat’s environment once you know you’re pregnant and not introducing them and the newborn too soon after birth.
Final Thoughts
Bringing home a newborn can be a scary event for your cat, but with a little time and foresight, you can make it a more comfortable experience. The sooner you start making progress in keeping your cat’s space as zen and stress-free as possible, the sooner your cat will be interested in meeting your new family member.
Featured Image Credit: aprilante, Shutterstock
Ivy’s mom cat – a feisty little rescue kitten who is her one and only child. For the moment! Throughout her life, she was introduced to the special love that can be found in bonding with a cat. Having owned several felines, she is more than certain that their love is unmatched, unconditional and unlike any other. With a passion for educating the public on all there is to know about felines, their behavior and their unique personalities, Crystal is dedicated to ensuring that all cats and their owners know the importance of living mindfully – and to love!
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