Prepare Your Cat for Your New Baby: Tips and Tricks
Preparing for the arrival of a new baby is an exciting time for expectant parents. But it can also be a difficult time of worrying about how your beloved furbaby will accept your new human child. You start hearing “it’s just a cat” from friends and family. Some people tell you to get rid of your cat to avoid any problems with the baby. Don’t listen. Your kitty doesn’t have to go just because you’re having a baby. One of my favorite pictures of the day I brought my oldest child home was sitting in a rocker with a human baby on one shoulder and my 18 pound black and white cat on the other. With the right preparation and training, you can prepare your cat for your new baby.
It is important to start preparing your cat for your new baby well in advance. This will give Kitty time to adjust to any changes in the house and to get used to the new routines that come with having a baby. You can help her make positive associations with the sights, smells, and sounds related to his new human sibling.
It is important to remember that cats are creatures of habit, and any changes to their routine can cause stress and anxiety. Introducing new smells, sounds, and objects gradually can help cats become familiar with the baby’s presence and reduce their anxiety.
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Contents
Creating a Safe Environment
Preparing your cat for your new baby involves creating a safe environment for both the cat and the baby. Familiarize your cat with everything new that will come along with the baby’s arrival. Everything that may seem incidental to us is a change that your cat needs time to adjust to.
Setting Up the Nursery
When you’re setting up the nursery, let your kitty “supervise” while you set it up and explore it all when it’s completed. This includes all of the new objects that you have to care for your baby: crib, bassinet, swings, diaper bags, toys, etc. You can cover the crib with a tarp, or a specific tent made for covering cribs.
Pheromone preparations, like Feliway, may be helpful. Try the diffuser in the baby’s room. You can also spray baby things such as strollers, changing tables, cribs, and high chairs. Spraying a closed nursery door with Feliway may help keep a stressed cat from spraying the door.
Give your cat praise and some treats to associate the nursery as a positive presence.
Establishing Boundaries
Establishing boundaries is important to ensure that the cat and baby have separate spaces. Train the cat to stay off of furniture or areas where the baby will be, and provide the cat with its own designated space that will be baby-free. Keep Baby’s room Kitty free. If you don’t want to keep the door closed, hang a screen door.
Creating Safe Spaces For Kitty Out of Baby’s Room
Ideally, the baby’s space is an area of your home where your cat does not spend much time. But if there are spaces in the nursery that Kitty is used to making his own, it’s important to create an alternative to meet the same need. If he’s used to looking out the window of the baby’s room, provide the cat with a window perch in another window.
Provide vertical space where Kitty can observe the baby from a safe distance. Strategic use of baby gates can keep Kitty safe from Baby’s grabbing hands once she starts to crawl. Keep Kitty’s litter box, food, and water behind gates.
Litter Box Locations
If your kitty’s litter box is located in the room that is going to be the baby’s room, move it to its new location slowly well in advance of the baby’s arrival. Put a new box in the location where you want it to end up. Move Kitty’s current box a few inches a day until it ends up next to the new box. When Kitty starts using the new box you can remove the old one. You can try and speed the process by putting a large plant pot or a piece of furniture in the original location.
Related Post: Why Cats Pee Outside the Box
Preparing Your Cat for New Smells and Sounds
Introducing Baby Smells
Cats have a keen sense of smell, and they may be curious or even alarmed by new smells associated with a new baby. To help your cat adjust, it’s a good idea to introduce baby smells gradually before the baby arrives.
One way to do this is to use baby powder or lotions on yourself before interacting with your cat. This will help your cat get used to the new smells associated with the baby.
Bring home a blanket or piece of clothing that smells like the baby and let your cat sniff it. Don’t force it. Some cats may not react well to new smells and get anxious or stressed. If your cat seems uncomfortable, it’s best to give them space and time to adjust. Leave Baby’s item in Kitty’s space and let Kitty explore on his own terms.
Familiarizing with Baby Sounds
Babies make a variety of noises, from crying to cooing to babbling. These new sounds can be confusing or frightening for your cat, especially if they are not used to being around infants.
To help your cat adjust, it’s a good idea to play recordings of baby sounds at a low volume before the baby arrives and increase the volume over time. This will help your cat become familiar with the sounds and reduce their anxiety.
By gradually introducing your cat to new smells and sounds associated with the baby, you can help them adjust and feel more comfortable in their new environment. Remember to supervise Kitty at all times. Give them space and time to adjust if they seem uncomfortable.
Training Your Cat for New Routines
One of the essential things to consider is training your cat for new routines. Again, start well in advance of Baby’s actual arrival.
Adjusting Feeding Times
Cats are creatures of habit, and they thrive on routine. Therefore, it’s essential to adjust your cat’s feeding times gradually to avoid any sudden changes that may cause stress. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Start by moving your cat’s feeding time closer to the new time little by little.
- If someone different is going to be feeding Kitty, start as soon as you are aware.
Maintaining Playtime
It’s essential to maintain your cat’s playtime routine, as it provides them with exercise and mental stimulation. Here are some tips to help you keep up with your cat’s playtime routine:
- Schedule playtime sessions at the same time each day that you’ll be able to maintain after Baby comes home..
- Keep playtime sessions short but frequent.
- Use interactive toys that allow your cat to play independently.
By adjusting your cat’s feeding times and maintaining their playtime routine, you can help them adapt to the new schedule and reduce stress during the homecoming of your new baby. Remember to be patient and consistent with your training.
Related Post: Benefits of Play for Your Cat
Using Treats and Attention
One way to help your cat prepare for your new baby is by using treats and attention. This will help Kitty associate positive experiences with the presence of the baby. Offer treats and praise when your cat is calm and relaxed around the baby stuff. This will help your cat form a positive association with the baby paraphernalia.
Don’t give into your natural desire to spoil your furbaby while you wait for Baby to arrive. Kitty likes routine and will get used to all the attention and feel the loss of it even more when Baby arrives. It would be better to gradually reduce the amount of devoted time to what you think you will be able to maintain after the baby arrives and stick to that schedule beforehand.
Introducing Your Cat to Your Baby
The first introduction between your cat and your newborn should be done in a calm and controlled environment. Here are some tips to make the first introduction go smoothly:
- Allow your cat to smell the baby’s scent before the introduction. You can do this by bringing home a blanket or clothing item that has the baby’s scent on it.
- Let Kitty set the pace. If she wants to hide away at first, let her. The more control she has, the less stressed Kitty will be.
- Keep original meetings short and positive.
- Offer your cat treats and praise for calm behavior around the baby.
- If your cat seems nervous or aggressive, remove them from the room and try again later.
It’s important to remember that the first introduction is just the beginning of the process. It may take several introductions before your cat becomes comfortable around your baby. Be patient and supervise all interactions between your cat and baby to ensure everyone’s safety.
As your baby grows into a toddler and child, it’s important to continue to teach them how to interact with your cat in a safe and respectful manner. Encourage gentle petting and play, and discourage rough behavior. With time and patience, your cat and baby can form a loving bond that will last a lifetime.
Don’t force Kitty to interact with the baby. Instead, let your cat approach the baby on their own terms. If he seems uncomfortable or anxious, give them space and try again later.
Summary
People think cats develop behavior problems because she is “jealous” of the baby. In reality, if behavior problems develop it’s likely because of the drastic changes in Kitty’s home environment associated with the arrival and time-consuming demands of the baby that she wasn’t prepared to deal with.
Properly preparing your cat for the arrival of your new baby seems like a big task, but it is essential to ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved. By following the steps outlined in this article, cat guardians can help their feline friends adjust to the new addition to the family. By taking the time to prepare your cat for the arrival of a new baby, you can help ensure a happy and harmonious home for everyone involved
