A Baby and a Cat: How to Prepare Your Cat for a New Baby?
The arrival of a new baby in a cat-friendly home is a big change for everyone—both for the new parents and for the pet, who until now has been “lord and master” of the cat’s domain.Fortunately, you can prepare your cat for this situation in advance.All you have to do is understand their needs and take action in advance.
How to prepare your cat for the arrival of a baby?
The arrival of a baby brings a lot of changes to a cat’s life.Our job is to get him used to them.Our pet should be involved in all the preparations leading up to the arrival of the new baby.It’s a good idea, therefore, to show your cat the stroller, crib, changing table, and all other items right after you buy them, following the rule: “What’s easily accessible isn’t particularly interesting.”.It’s also a good idea to consider whether the cat will be allowed into its owners’ bedroom after the birth, or whether that space will be reserved for the parents and the baby.If the second option is chosen, it’s a good idea to set up a new, more inviting place for him to sleep and relax.It’s important that he doesn’t associate the baby’s arrival with losing his place, because that could have a negative impact on him.
You can also get your cat used to the sound of a newborn crying—it’s a good idea to choose different recordings and play them on various devices at different volumes and in different parts of the house.
The First Meeting – A Baby and a Cat
Once the baby is born, you should immediately start introducing the cat to the baby’s scent—for example, by bringing home blankets, diapers, or other items that came into contact with the mother and baby at the hospital.Let’s remember that cats identify things primarily by smell, and in that case, the scent won’t be completely unfamiliar.
Finally, the moment arrives when we bring our baby home and introduce him to our four-legged friend.The cat should be given a chance to sniff the new family member, but you shouldn't force the child and the pet to interact.If the cat comes over, that's great, but if not, let's give it some time.
Cats that are particularly sensitive and have a close bond with their owners may need extra support to reduce tension and stress.For this reason, it’s worth considering synthetic cat pheromones, which increase safety and have a calming effect on cats.It’s a good idea to use pheromones in the cat’s home both before and after the expected due date, and to continue using them for several weeks afterward to help the cat adjust to its new surroundings more quickly.Sometimes the entire process can take up to several months and can help the pet adjust to the new family member.
A baby and a cat – a perfect pair
It turns out, therefore, that in most cases—despite the concerns of prospective parents—the relationship between an infant and a cat can be perfectly fine.It’s very important not to forget about your cat’s needs after a new baby arrives.One of these is the need many house cats have for one-on-one interaction with their beloved owner.It’s a good idea to establish a regular routine for this, such as playing together at the same time every day.Continuing these activities even after the baby is born will not only give your cat a time when it receives 100% of your attention, but will also help it establish a consistent daily routine.Let’s also remember that cats often like to watch what’s going on, but they don’t always feel like getting involved.That’s why, as your child grows, it’s very important to provide your pet with plenty of high spots from which it can watch the little one while also getting a little break from them.A cat and a child make one of the best duos I know.Spending time with a cat teaches empathy, helps calm emotions, and teaches responsibility.On the other hand, a cat can be incredibly gentle, affectionate, and attentive around a child.Of course, all of this must go hand in hand with proper care from adults; nevertheless, if that care is provided, childhood in a cat-filled home is a wonderful adventure!
CAT BEHAVIOR EXPERT
Małgorzata Biegańska-Hendryk