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Cats and Babies

post #1 of 14
1/27/10 at 5:20pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, my cats will always have a home with me. I can't imagine a situation where they wouldn't. I don't see animals as disposable, so that isn't a risk. I just want to know some things I can do that will make us having a baby as easy as possible for them. Anybody have experience with this?

One thing I'm worried about is Abbey, she zooms across the house as fast as she can and has clawed Jon and me by accident more then once. I guess there isn't much I can do to prevent that from happening to the baby sometimes, is there?

The baby won't be here until September, so Abbey will be a little older and there will be time to ease them into this.
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post #2 of 14
1/27/10 at 5:24pm
So.................... Does that mean you are pregnant? Did I miss something missy?
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post #3 of 14
1/27/10 at 5:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
So.................... Does that mean you are pregnant? Did I miss something missy?
Oh yes, I posted it here and on facebook! lol, I guess you missed it! 7 weeks today!
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post #4 of 14
1/27/10 at 6:05pm
Good clipping habits on the nails, or even softpaws would probably help with Abbey. When our kids were little, the cats mostly avoided the little ones until they were toddlers and able to understand how to pat the kitties nicely.
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post #5 of 14
1/27/10 at 6:25pm
Oh wow, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #6 of 14
1/27/10 at 8:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kluchetta View Post
Good clipping habits on the nails, or even softpaws would probably help with Abbey. When our kids were little, the cats mostly avoided the little ones until they were toddlers and able to understand how to pat the kitties nicely.
Soft claws are a good idea. She's a little stinker, but I may be able to get those on her better then I did on Cammy.

Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
Oh wow, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you! We're SO excited! We were gonna to wait until we were past the first trimester to tell people, but then we ended up telling almost every person we knew the day after we found out!
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post #7 of 14
1/27/10 at 9:00pm
My friend has an 8 month old and she hasn't had problems. She keeps kitty's nails trimmed. The cat is really good with the baby. It almost seems like the cat knows it's a baby. Things might get a little more "interesting" when the baby grows up to a toddler, but she's learning from mommy to be nice and gentle to kitty.
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post #8 of 14
1/27/10 at 9:03pm
After 3 weeks I don't have much experience. But so far all my girls have done is sniff Tressa. Other than that they've pretty much kept their distance.
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post #9 of 14
1/27/10 at 9:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles View Post
After 3 weeks I don't have much experience. But so far all my girls have done is sniff Tressa. Other than that they've pretty much kept their distance.
So your kitties haven't seemed to stressed or anything? I want to get all the moving stuff around done soon so they have time to adjust to different things in different rooms and new stuff.
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post #10 of 14
1/28/10 at 6:39am
This may seem crazy (or not to us crazy cat folk), but talk to the cats and explain what is going on as you prepare for the baby.

When Mom brought me home the first thing she did was to introduce me to the resident kitten and puppy, They sniffed me as Mom talked calmly to them. Afterwards, they were my guardians and would sit under my crib whenever we had visitors. We always wondered what they would have done if someone had tried to hurt me.

Several TCSers have been raised with and raised kids with cats so you should have lots of expertise on the board.
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post #11 of 14
1/28/10 at 7:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kscatlady View Post
So your kitties haven't seemed to stressed or anything? I want to get all the moving stuff around done soon so they have time to adjust to different things in different rooms and new stuff.
Nope not really. Other than seeking some attention they have been fine. The first night we were home Mooch beat at the nursery door. I think mostly because we went to the hospital Tuesday night and didn't come home with her till Saturday late. Literally we didn't get home till after 9:30. The first thing I did was come in and feed them, then we let them see the baby some. So I think Mooch was mostly trying to get some attention from me. I didn't do much to prepare them. But then they've never been allowed to sleep in our room; so keeping them out of there hasn't been as big an issue. When she is in her bed with the monitor on they can hear her noises too; so I think that helps.
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post #12 of 14
1/28/10 at 8:01pm
I have NO experience with this, but spend a lot of time in this forum, so here's advice I've seen.

Play YouTube videos of babies crying to get your kitties used to the sound. Play with them and give them pets and treats and stuff so they understand a baby crying isn't a bad thing.

Other than that and the other advice you've gotten, the only thing that springs to mind is...

If you and baby don't come home from the hospital right away, have DH bring home a blanket baby was wrapped in so they can smell baby before he/she comes home.

...and again, congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #13 of 14
1/29/10 at 6:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kscatlady View Post
Ok, my cats will always have a home with me. I can't imagine a situation where they wouldn't. I don't see animals as disposable, so that isn't a risk. I just want to know some things I can do that will make us having a baby as easy as possible for them. Anybody have experience with this?

One thing I'm worried about is Abbey, she zooms across the house as fast as she can and has clawed Jon and me by accident more then once. I guess there isn't much I can do to prevent that from happening to the baby sometimes, is there?

The baby won't be here until September, so Abbey will be a little older and there will be time to ease them into this.
Congrats!

We had 2 cats when both of our kids were babies.
Really didn't do a whole lot to prepare them. Mistoflees was more interested in sleeping in the crib and bassinette (and he was a BIG cat) After the kids were born, he really didn't want to be in the crib (I don't want to sleep with that noisy thing)

Mistoflees was so funny when the kids started walking. I had gates up, and he quickly figured out that "hey, if I jump over the gate, the short human can't get me!", and he'd sit on the other side of the gate and look

He loved rice cereal and and formula. He'd wait until I was done feeding the kids- then jump up and finish the bowl.

My kids were always taught to pet the cats gently. I never had any problem with them being mean to the cat.

It was sad. We lost Mistoflees to kidney failure in August, and all Kristen said was "But mom- I'm so sad. I grew up with him "

Cheryl
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post #14 of 14
1/29/10 at 9:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by killerapple View Post
It almost seems like the cat knows it's a baby.
My cats are extra gentle with babies and kids. I don't have kids but have nephews from 3 months-6 years.

The cats love to snuggle in the bouncer with the young baby especially if he cries, and let the older kids pat, pull and pick them up.

Mine don't mind being pinched, tails pulled or getting picked up as the little ones learn "gentle"
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