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You are deep asleep, but there is this funny noise that wakes you up. The sound is like someone is choking.
Well, you have a head cinema in your head, and you get up to look at where the noise comes from.
As you just about to reach the stairs, you feel something warm and slimy on your foot. Yes, you stepped into something wet, warm and slimy. Oh no, you know you stepped into cat puke in the middle of the night.
If you are having a baby and a cat, there is nothing to worry. Both are great together when you follow a few rules.
Many times, I see friends who had a cat before they get married and they loved their four-legged friend dearly. Then the boyfriend comes along, and they get married.
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I have been asked many times by friends how did I do it with my cats and my kids?
The most common question is if cats and newborn babies get along or do cats smoother the baby.
To answer the question of how I do it.
We always had cats and dogs, and when the kids arrived, we made sure we introduced them properly into the family that included all our four-legged friends.
This old wife’s tale is still around that cats, and newborn babies do not get along. Or cats suck the breath out of babies.
I have never seen that cats are a danger for babies. I have never understood why people say things like that. “Nothing is more ridiculous than that saying cats take the breath of the baby.
I know a lot of Pregnant women who worry a lot when they have a cat and a new baby arrives.
When you have a newborn baby and a cat that was there before then you must introduce the cat and baby like you would introduce a new cat to your old cat.
If you are having a baby, grandchild, nephew or nice congratulations and if you also have a cat again compliments both will be so good together if you follow a few rules and don’t neglect your cat.
Paying attention to your resident cats and preparing the proper introduction is half of the battle in preparing you, your cat and the child for a joyful and peaceful time together.
Kitties love to sleep on your lap, your feet, tummy, your head or any other body part. They are drawn to people.
Sometimes cats are drawn to infants due to the milk breath of your baby, as cats are curious from nature and they might sniff your infant out or just to see where the smell of milk comes from.
Seldom will cats sleep in the Crib of the baby as when it cries the noise is not pleasant to the ears of your cat and it might scare your cat?
There are exceptions, and those usually are cats who sleep in the bed of the baby or on top of the baby.
Yes, that is dangerous, and you should never leave the cat and baby unsupervised.
If your cat has the habit of sleeping in the crib of your infant, and you are not comfortable with it then keep the cat out of that area.
Some people suggest using aluminium foil as the cats do not like to walk on it because of the sounds. Well, all I can say my cats don’t mind aluminium foil and will scratch it when they can get it.
It might work for some cats, I guess it depends on your cat.
You must understand that your cat was there first. As you properly got her when you are single or already in a relationship your cat has never been exposed to an infant, toddler or young children.
Your Kitty has always been around adults.
For your cat, those small humans with that funny noise are like aliens to your cat.
Alone the smell, sound, and look are different, compare to the adults your kitty is used too.
Children, babies, infants are a similar size to a cat’s level and move differently and more erratically.
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Your Cat might switch to stranger-danger mode, and there are only two options then either your cat becomes freighted, and hides or it becomes defensive and tries to chase away the scary creature.
None of those options is good.
During pregnancy start already to prepare your cat beforehand.
There are nine months for the pregnancy, and that is a great time to prepare your four-legged friend for the newborn baby.
Cat lovers know that cats love the status quo.
When you decorate the nursery be sensitive to your cat especially when she used or had access to that room before, for sleeping or just for taking a break.
Make those changes in steps. Don’t change all in one time.
Essential for your cat is let your cat investigate the new things, at least it will not feel left out.
One thing you need to be aware off is that your cat will properly love to sleep in the bassinet or starts playing and smashing around the babies mobile.
Install a baby gate to keep your cat out when you are not able to supervise your cat.
Start using or wearing baby powder and baby lotion around 6 weeks in advance. Your cat will associate these smells with something it already knows and loves.
Another thing is you need to change your routine once the baby arrives, try to replace some of the basic routines in advance so your cat is used already to some of the routines and your kitty will not get upset when you pay attention to a stranger that has a weird smell and sounds scary.
Do not exclude your cat from this happy and enjoyable time, it will only make your cat confused and sad.
A stressed cat will potentially act out in unacceptable ways like avoiding the litterbox, scratching and biting.
The Time when the Baby Arrives.Soon as the baby is born to bring something home from the hospital a t-shirt, a blanket any worn clothing from the baby.
Cats communicate through scent, and your cat will identify the scent than as a friend smelling similar to them. This is one of the reasons why they cheek rub against you or your legs. It makes the smell familiar to your cat before your kitty gets to know your baby.
This is an advanced introduction. It is necessary, and you should not skip that.
I used the baby socks and petted my cats with the socks. The cats started to play with the socks and Minka used to grab the sock and sleep on it.
I always had to get them as I used to put the socks then inside out on my kids to wear them when I brought them home.
It is an old trick as the baby smells than like the cat and your kitty identifies your baby as part of the family.
In general, cats are really good with babies. Bringing home, the baby, do it reasonably and don’t make a big fuzz about it. I know it is a big thing don’t make a big deal about the introduction.
The idea is that you want to let your kitty know this is normal, and an expected part of its life.
It is crucial that you do not force the introduction. If your cat is interested and wants to sniff allow it but be there to supervise it. Let the cat smell the baby’s foot with the scented socks on it.
It is an important part to allow your cat to look, smell, sniff, touch that little alien that is so very different from the adult alien to see there is nothing to fear.
Do not forget to praise your cat when it behaves confidently and calmly. After a while, the cat will treat the baby as one of the family members.
There should be no problem. I used to make a special cat bay time when I was feeding my kids.
I was tossing treats and used a laser beam toy at the same time.
This way your cat will associate with the baby presents a great time.
As time goes on and the baby grows you must teach your child to respect the cat, too.
It is essential for your kitty to have a private retreat or an escape area where it can withdraw when it becomes too hectic.
It is important that cats and newborn babies treat each other under your supervision with mutual respect.
Only in this way you can be sure that your baby is growing up alongside your special cat.
This relationship will last a lifetime for both.
I know the opinions are different, but cats and kids have special relationships. When a kid grows up with pets, it is a blessing for both.
Cats and newborn babies are a great combination, and the old wife’s tale is just an old wive’stale.
Having a cat and a baby, is an adjustment no doubt but it is a blessing for the whole family. A cat is part of the family; it should not change because a baby arrives.
I agree that it is an adjustment, but it is nothing impossible. There is no need to give your furry friend away because you are having a baby.
I have raised 3 kids with 4 cats and 3 dogs and my kids have learned to interact and respect animals.
It is the greatest gift you can give your children together on their way to grow up. It teaches them responsibility, love, respect, and compassion.
Are you a mom with a cat and a baby? If so how did you introduce your cat to the baby if you have more tips please let us know and comment below? Share this blog with your friends and family. I will be happy and grateful if you share it on social media. Thank you.
All Yours
Melissa
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When Woman get pregnant and they own a cat, a lot to think to give the poor little kitty away because of the worry of contracting feline toxoplasmosis. This is not only illogical but also bad for the animal and pity for the offspring. Science today knows a great deal about the transmissible diseases from animals to humans. There are not many, and you can easily avoid these few.
It is also unlikely that a cute cat will hurt the baby or toddler. With a few changes in daily routines and habits and some empathy with the animal psyche, there is no jealousy at all.
Who distributes his favour evenly and gives each “his” special attention, creates by itself domestic harmony?
Hygiene problems you can get under control quickly, everyone in the family has to take a bit of effort. Taking away a cat because you are pregnant is not necessary as you will see in this article.
Yes, I agree that Feline Toxoplasmosis can be a threat to your unborn child, but with common sense and care, you can have it all. Being a mother of 3 kids, 2 dogs, 4 cats and 3 Horses, I know what I am talking about.
Been there and been through it.
I was inspired to write this article about the misinterpretation of feline Toxoplasmosis and to inform worried pregnant woman about the truth.
This is a real story and happens 8 months ago. I realised a lot of people just repeat things they have no idea about, but because too many friends repeat the same, we start to believe it.
We are looking after some stray cats in our condo. Recently I found we had a newcomer a tabby cat and this cat was not a stray cat. She was a house cat, and it looks like abandoned by the owner. How sad I thought, and I wanted to find out who was this cat belongs too, as I wanted to talk to the cat owner for the reason to abandon a cat and maybe convince them take her back.
