Woke up and saw cat sleeping ON baby's lap in RNP!!!!!

Mrs.Johns

I am so upset. Our cat is an 8 month old kitten and he is soo snuggly at night. He normally only tries to poke at her when she is sleeping noisily and I shoo him away. He jumped up on the RNP a couple of times and I kicked him out of our room right afterward-- usually around 3 in the morning.

Well, now I am freaked out. He was sleeping just at the end of the RNP on her lap, nowhere near her face. I don't know what to do. I don't want to kick him out but that seems like the only option we might have.

Anyone have any ideas? I just feel bad since he is still a baby, he sleeps by my feet every night. I want to try and find a way to keep her safe and him in the room. I don't know if one of those mosquito net things would work with the RNP and not just be a toy for the cat.

 

MWoodside

Keep the cat out of the room.

kcl22

Aw little rascal! I think it might be time to either lock kitty out or put LO in her own room. The cat will be okay, safety is more important. Good to see you here!

nosoup4u

MWoodside:

Keep the cat out of the room.

This.

AnneEliz79

RNP in the bottom of a pack n play, with a canopy/netting on top?  Or work on training the cat, possibly in conjunction with a scat mat for training in the middle of the night.

We "solved" the dilemma of dog vs. baby by keeping DD in her crib (or PNP if her room is being used for guests) and the dog stays in our room, often on our bed.  DH and I decided early on that our dog (80lb lab) was here first, so co-bedding was not an option.  We also won't leave DD unattended in her bouncer or activity mat if they are on the floor.  The dog wouldn't intentionally do anything, but he does try to get really close to her.  A cat is trickier, as they can jump much higher.  Are you planning on using the netting when you put your LO in her crib, or keep her door closed at night? 

Mrs.Johns

AnneEliz79:

RNP in the bottom of a pack n play, with a canopy/netting on top?  Or work on training the cat, possibly in conjunction with a scat mat for training in the middle of the night.

We "solved" the dilemma of dog vs. baby by keeping DD in her crib (or PNP if her room is being used for guests) and the dog stays in our room, often on our bed.  DH and I decided early on that our dog (80lb lab) was here first, so co-bedding was not an option.  We also won't leave DD unattended in her bouncer or activity mat if they are on the floor.  The dog wouldn't intentionally do anything, but he does try to get really close to her.  A cat is trickier, as they can jump much higher.  Are you planning on using the netting when you put your LO in her crib, or keep her door closed at night? 

That is kind of how I feel, the cat was here first. He has already lost so much attention etc (we still play with him a ton it's just not the same, obviously). However, I really want to keep LO in our room until she is 6 months. She is still getting up to eat once or twice overnight and I rock her a lot if she is stirring. 

I am planning to use the netting when she is moved to her crib in May. I'm not ready for her to move yet. 

Hmmm.. thanks for the ideas. I'm going to check out the scat mat and other training methods. Although, it does appear a bit too little too late now that he has already been caught sleeping on her. I can't risk it happening again.

Mrs.Johns

kcl22:

Aw little rascal! I think it might be time to either lock kitty out or put LO in her own room. The cat will be okay, safety is more important. Good to see you here!

I think you are right it's just not what I want to do. Good to see you too! I don't get much time on-line anymore!

kcl22

Mrs.Johns:

kcl22:

Aw little rascal! I think it might be time to either lock kitty out or put LO in her own room. The cat will be okay, safety is more important. Good to see you here!

I think you are right it's just not what I want to do. Good to see you too! I don't get much time on-line anymore!

I totally understand; I have dog guilt all the time. Baby has to come first. You'll make it up to kitty! Maybe get it a really cozy bed, like one of those burrow/nest ones.

Mrs.Johns

Beanie_mrt:

Seriously? Lock the cat out of your room AND your daughters room when she goes in there before something tragic happens. I have two cats and a dog, so I can understand how you feel but you need to realize the severity of the situation.

I know, he's going to have to be kicked out. I don't think any of the "keep out" methods will work with this little guy. Oh well, he can come back when she is sleeping in her room. 

Mrs.Johns

kcl22:

Mrs.Johns:

kcl22:

Aw little rascal! I think it might be time to either lock kitty out or put LO in her own room. The cat will be okay, safety is more important. Good to see you here!

I think you are right it's just not what I want to do. Good to see you too! I don't get much time on-line anymore!

I totally understand; I have dog guilt all the time. Baby has to come first. You'll make it up to kitty! Maybe get it a really cozy bed, like one of those burrow/nest ones.

He has a kitty bed and he sleeps in it all the time-- right next to my side of the bed. He's going to be so confused.

kcl22

Mrs.Johns:

kcl22:

Mrs.Johns:

kcl22:

Aw little rascal! I think it might be time to either lock kitty out or put LO in her own room. The cat will be okay, safety is more important. Good to see you here!

I think you are right it's just not what I want to do. Good to see you too! I don't get much time on-line anymore!

I totally understand; I have dog guilt all the time. Baby has to come first. You'll make it up to kitty! Maybe get it a really cozy bed, like one of those burrow/nest ones.

He has a kitty bed and he sleeps in it all the time-- right next to my side of the bed. He's going to be so confused.

I know nothing about cats so I don't know if this would work or if it's really stupid.. What if you put his bed in a small crate? He'd still be in your room but safely contained. Again, that might be dumb for a cat but if you feel strongly about keeping him with you it could work for everyone

rlyttle

I worried about this when DS was very small and sleeping in our room, but we just shut the cat out at night. She didn't seem to mind. Now that DS is in his crib, we just shut his door at night. Problem solved!

ames71

Beanie_mrt:

Seriously? Lock the cat out of your room AND your daughters room when she goes in there before something tragic happens. I have two cats and a dog, so I can understand how you feel but you need to realize the severity of the situation.

Uh, this. It's kind of a no-brainer.

SimoneSays22

kcl22:

Mrs.Johns:

kcl22:

Mrs.Johns:

kcl22:

Aw little rascal! I think it might be time to either lock kitty out or put LO in her own room. The cat will be okay, safety is more important. Good to see you here!

I think you are right it's just not what I want to do. Good to see you too! I don't get much time on-line anymore!

I totally understand; I have dog guilt all the time. Baby has to come first. You'll make it up to kitty! Maybe get it a really cozy bed, like one of those burrow/nest ones.

He has a kitty bed and he sleeps in it all the time-- right next to my side of the bed. He's going to be so confused.

I know nothing about cats so I don't know if this would work or if it's really stupid.. What if you put his bed in a small crate? He'd still be in your room but safely contained. Again, that might be dumb for a cat but if you feel strongly about keeping him with you it could work for everyone

LOL, a cat would flip his sh*t in a crate. I know you said you don't know cats, and you are being very helpful with suggestions, but this made me laugh thinking of my cats being put in a crate. No snark, I'm just giggling at this.

kcl22

SimoneSays22:

kcl22:

Mrs.Johns:

kcl22:

Mrs.Johns:

kcl22:

Aw little rascal! I think it might be time to either lock kitty out or put LO in her own room. The cat will be okay, safety is more important. Good to see you here!

I think you are right it's just not what I want to do. Good to see you too! I don't get much time on-line anymore!

I totally understand; I have dog guilt all the time. Baby has to come first. You'll make it up to kitty! Maybe get it a really cozy bed, like one of those burrow/nest ones.

He has a kitty bed and he sleeps in it all the time-- right next to my side of the bed. He's going to be so confused.

I know nothing about cats so I don't know if this would work or if it's really stupid.. What if you put his bed in a small crate? He'd still be in your room but safely contained. Again, that might be dumb for a cat but if you feel strongly about keeping him with you it could work for everyone

LOL, a cat would flip his sh*t in a crate. I know you said you don't know cats, and you are being very helpful with suggestions, but this made me laugh thinking of my cats being put in a crate. No snark, I'm just giggling at this.

Lol I'm a dog person for a reason! ;0)

polkadotsock

We had to kick our kitten out of our room after we brought DD home. She shows no interest in DD's stuff except her play gym but DH refused to let her be in there while baby was in there.

The first week or so was really hard, the kitty (who is only three months older than LO!) would sit outside our door and cry and try to get in. I felt so bad! But now I just keep my door open during the day and the kitty naps in there with us sometimes. She'll get to come back in when DD is in her own room.

Good luck! 

QueenBee320

I worry about this too with our cat!  She's never done it, but she does sleep at our feet and LO is in the PnP in our room.  I think I might lock her out tonight after reading this, she's older, she'll deal.

ChibiMommy

We tried to lock our cat out and she shat all over the house and peed on our sofa.

How do you deal with that?

I've been tempted to crate her across the house.  She would poo in there but after a few nights of having to sleep with it I assume she would quit.

JDO

When I'm BFing or W is napping on my lap, our cat likes to get on my lap too and snuggle with W. I think it's adorable, and W loves to pet her. The cat is not allowed in his room when he's sleeping though, she's never gotten in the crib with him but I don't want to risk it. 

J+MS

Hey Mrs. J!! I agree with the crate idea. Put his bed in there and crate him so he can both be in the room, but contained, away from the babe. If that's not an option, then out he would go if he was my cat.