Cat owners (esp. ornery ones) come in!

LoveMoose85 · March 2014

Hey everyone,

So the closer it gets to LO getting here the more I'm starting to worry about my first little baby Moose. She is one hyper little cat who is the center of our world and basically runs the house. Yes, I never wanted it to happen, but DH and I have both turned into cat people. Anyway, she is so used to getting all kinds of attention and I'm really worried about what is going to happen once LO gets here. Last night five minutes after setting up our Pack and Play napper, she was in it declaring it "hers." I've heard all of the crazy stories of how cats can be around newborns, and I'm prepared for that. She is very lovable, and sweet but I would love to hear anyone who had a similar situation and how their cat reacted to the new addition.

Wriggley1123 · March 2014

I'm a FTM also with 2 cats who rule our house. They did the exact same thing with the pack n play, crib, and baby carrier! We keep her nursery door closed, but whenever I go in to organize get things (still waiting for her to be born), our one cat just sits outside of her door and meows!! I'm worried too how they are going to take our new addition!

jessicaccely · March 2014

Yay! I am also a cat person!

ours has gotten in the co sleeper already. I am hoping she doesn't try it when baby is in there!

ring_pop · March 2014

My cat is a very snuggly and attention-seeking type, and my experience with DS1 was that he steered clear in the early weeks and months mainly because he didn't like the noise of the baby crying. It was kind of funny; baby would cry and the cat would literally huff and walk away. Then when DS got a little older, they started being a little more interested in each other.

LaurenAsh23 · March 2014

Our cats did the same thing when the pack and play went up...but then after a day or two, they moved on. We have the swing and crib set up and they haven't gotten in either, they have gotten under the crib. I wouldn't worry too much until LO is here. You have no clue how the cat will react and there's not much you can do until that time.

pepperedmoth · March 2014

I have this super unrealistic fear that our EXTREMELY AFFECTIONATE (srsly, like a lap dog) 15 pound cat will try to snuggle LO and accidentally smother him .... sorry, no advice, but you're not alone!!

LoveMoose85 · March 2014

@pepperedmoth I have this same fear! My cat is seriously like a dog, she is not independent what so ever. Constantly at my feet or on my lap. LO coming is going to be rough on her I'm sure

nlane0723 · March 2014

I have 6 cats. We've been home since Wednesday and I'd say we are 50/50 at this point. Three of them have zero interest and three are all up in her face. We actually set up the PNP last night and one of them tried to claim it as his. I think the other three will come around eventually, but so far the reaction I've experienced is what I expected.

craftiemommie · March 2014

Our cat (currently asleep in the pack and play) is a terror, gets into everything. I had him long before dh came along and at 12 years old he has not calmed down since he was a kitten. I was totally worried about him getting in the nursery and co sleeper, so I got one if those motion activated air sprayers (called ssscat I think) and put it near the top of the stairs. It went off twice, scared the crap out of him and now he won't even go on the second floor! No clawing at the door or crying all night to get in or anything. He tried to sneak around it and watches it from the staircase, but it's like this mysterious air monster and IT WORKS! I don't want to put one anywhere else because I don't want him to become desensitized to it. So for now we keep a fitted sheet on the pack and play and our hope is that when there is a baby in it he will stay away. He was scared to death of our goddaughter when she was a baby so hopefully the same will be true for our son!

SassyFlats · March 2014

FTM with two spoiled kitties here! I'm convinced that our Siamese girl will stay faaaaar away from baby. She's usually very independent (except to demand petting). Our orange boy is the affectionate goofball and is more likely to get stressed.

I don't believe either of them will hurt LO... they'd both sooner run away than confront something they perceive as dangerous. But orange guy definitely thinks the PnP in our room is for him- I just found him snoozing all curled up in there this afternoon! I put a sheet on it to minimize cat hair, and we keep the door to the nursery closed unless we're in there (the same rule we'll have after LO arrives- no unsupervised kitties in the nursery!).

They both like to nose around under the crib and sniff the baby clothes, etc. I turned on the swing in the living room for a while and both cats watched for a bit and then lost interest. So I think it'll be fine.

One thing that actually reassures me is how both cats reacted to a friend's baby a couple years ago. Girl kitty wouldn't touch baby with a ten-foot pole. She just went the other direction. Orange boy sniffed the baby in the carseat... And when the kid cried he backed up. When my friend went to another room to BF, he followed and got all up in her business like "WTF are you doing?! Is that milk in there??"

I'm kind of looking forward to his reaction to me BFing. I think it will be hilarious, and eventually I think it will become baby/mommy/kitty cuddle time.

Mamajen08 · March 2014

My friend put tin foil (Reynolds wrap) down in her crip, PnP, etc. before baby got here and every time the cat jumped in it'd scare her out. This mighty teach your kitties where they can and cannot go ? Worked for hers. Thought I'd share.

novelblessings · March 2014

We put foil in LOs crib and our curious cat now stays out of it. Our other cat likes the swing so I just put the manual right on top of it and he won't get near it now.

I am not too worried about our cats as they both tend to hide from little kids and babies. I'm sure they will get comfortable with her eventually but again not super concerned.

SandiaLiz · March 2014

I was thinking about asking the same question! I am really worried about my kitties and the baby. :-(
Our big gray boy is a dope and I don't think he will be a problem, but my little girl is kind of terrible. She is very very affectionate but can bite. She gently love bites when she is happy and nips when she is bugged, which doesn't take much.
I am hoping they hate the baby and stay away. I fully plan to chase them around with a screaming baby until they learn not to come near her.
I also heard about the tin foil trick and will use that if they start getting into things, but for now we have the crib mattress on its side and the hospital bags filling it up.

tokash516 · March 2014

FTM with two fur babies. We are afraid if how they'll act as well. They get into everything, and think they rule the roost(they do). We don't let them in LO's nursery or our room anymore, since that's where our LO will be for the guest month or two. This has been a really hard transition since I'm so used to them cuddling me at night. Our tortie sits outside the door and meows around 3-4 in the am. Hoping this changes when our DD arrives. We shall see!!!

pepperedmoth · March 2014

tokash516 said:
FTM with two fur babies. We are afraid if how they'll act as well. They get into everything, and think they rule the roost(they do). We don't let them in LO's nursery or our room anymore, since that's where our LO will be for the guest month or two. This has been a really hard transition since I'm so used to them cuddling me at night. Our tortie sits outside the door and meows around 3-4 in the am. Hoping this changes when our DD arrives. We shall see!!!

Ours sleep on the bed with us too, and LO will also be in the room with us. I don't have the heart to shut them out now. I guess we'll just have to start shutting them out later?

FeinBride09 · March 2014

We have 2 cats, one of which is obsessed with me. Literally. Though I have every confidence they will both adapt as they've both gotten better over the years about guests and such.

One thing I HiGHLY recommend to all of you - tin foil. Lay tin foil in everything u want the cats not to sleep in. We have it lining LOs crib, mamaroo and pack n play. They'll jump in, land on it and run. Hate it. This way we can leave the nursery door open so they can investigate but not claim her stuff or set up shop. Has worked like a charm so far!

craftiemommie · March 2014

pepperedmoth said:

tokash516 said:
FTM with two fur babies. We are afraid if how they'll act as well. They get into everything, and think they rule the roost(they do). We don't let them in LO's nursery or our room anymore, since that's where our LO will be for the guest month or two. This has been a really hard transition since I'm so used to them cuddling me at night. Our tortie sits outside the door and meows around 3-4 in the am. Hoping this changes when our DD arrives. We shall see!!!
Ours sleep on the bed with us too, and LO will also be in the room with us. I don't have the heart to shut them out now. I guess we'll just have to start shutting them out later?

this was us exactly. When i started shutting him out there was a lot of scratching and crying. Try the ssscat stuff if that happens. Its not cheap but worth it!

SassyFlats · March 2014

@pepperedmoth of course it depends on your cats, but I have no plans for shutting our cats out of our room unless something ends up really not working. They've always slept in our bed... And I just really feel like it will be fine.

They can't be in the nursery unsupervised, but our room has always been their room, too. I won't be surprised if they opt to sleep in the living room once we have a fussing baby in our room, though.

I'm really hoping that we can adjust to life as a family without stressing our furkids too much. Of course they won't get as much one on one time, but I don't plan to discourage them from looking at or gently sniffing baby, cuddling us while we hold baby, etc. I'm way more worried about stressing them and ending up with one of them getting a UTI or acting out.

Npironi · March 2014

FTM so I have no idea how mine will react. I'm hopping she falls in love with the baby as I will make sure I don't treat her any differently than before baby. She does hang in the nursery once in a while but she has an awesome cat tree that she loves more than anything so she'll be fine. I won't let her in the nursery unsupervised when baby is in there but I want her to be comfortable around the baby so I'll definitely include her in as much baby time as I can. My only advice would be to try try try not to change her routine and give less attention to the cat because that'll stress her out I'm sure. I'm going to make sure I play with the cat just as much as now and give her lots of love and treats!

SassyFlats · March 2014

If anyone is concerned about stressed kitties acting out, I highly recommend the calming collars and spray that you can buy at PetSmart and other pet stores. We've used those for moving into our house, for hurricanes, for nights we expect fireworks, etc.

They have a very faint smell but it's not unpleasant and our cats react to stress much better. Without the collars/spray they've been known to fight with each other (which they never do unless they're very stressed), pee outside their litter boxes, and stress lick their fur until they have a bald spot. With the collars, they basically either hide or sleep through whatever is happening and we have a lot less of an issue.

Definitely something to look into!

FroeschleN · March 2014

FTM here but I'm wondering how our cat is going to react. We've been trying to get her use to the fact that she's not always allowed in our bedroom as well as LO's. We have a baby gate in place for the nursery and she's too scared to jump over it. Since we found out that I'm pregnant, we've been off and on leaving the bedroom door closed and now it's not a problem with her crying to be let in at night (she use to always sleep with us in bed). I'm paranoid she'll lay on LO's face like she's done to me before so she's definitely not allowed to have free reign when baby is here. I'm starting to play babies crying every so often too so she gets use to what things will be like when baby is here. Don't know if it works but thought I'd give it a try.

Npironi · March 2014

Also I'd like to add that if ur cat sleeps with u every night and u shut them out when baby comes they'll definitely act out (use bathroom outside of litter box, scratch and cry at the door and be spiteful) I would personally try to NOT change their routines and sleeping quarters unless they jump in crib/bassinet/playpen WITH baby in it or make u nervous around baby.

Sry I'm just a serious cat lady/animal activist so I hate to see an animal get treated differently just because a baby is in the picture!

SassyFlats · March 2014

I'm with you, @npironi - I volunteer with a local animal rescue and have seen many cats surrendered by their families when a baby is in the picture. It's really not the cat's fault if their world is turned upside down and they're confused, upset, and acting out.

There are lots of options from the calming collars I mentioned, to tin foil or the little scat air things... But I think the best thing we can all do is make changes gradually if possible and try to keep as much the same as possible.

I don't think most cats will jump in a bassinet with a baby, and there are ZERO actual cases of a cat smothering an infant (that's an old wives tale).

Christal161 · March 2014

I don't have any cats at home, but my sister (who lives in the apartment above mine) always let me bring her cats down for a day. Even at 1year old, they sense something coming! Her more "wild" cat likes to sleep on my belly and sleeps while the baby kicks basically at her face. Never thought she would like that lol Also they LOVE the nursery

I always keep the door close but when it's open enough for me to walk in, they sprint in the room and hide under the crib and play with the bed skirt and my toes. When the baby comes, it won't stop me from inviting them down stairs lol I love their company

and I want LO to be use to animals, for the future. Especially since LO will be around my mother's dog a lot, I'm going to let two cats be there too! We've never had problems with animals and babies. Also here's a pic of one of the little devils

hisbeautyalways · March 2014

I'm not worried, but my cats have BTDT.

I closed the nursery off most of the time (and still do close the door if DS is asleep, because these cats do not understand the word quiet), and other than that, would get them out of the pnp when DS was about to go in it, or already in it. I did have a cat want to sleep in it so badly that he would jump up into it as soon as I laid my sleeping son down. That made me furious, but I would remove the cat as quietly as possible (and hope all that movement didn't wake the baby), and the cat eventually learned.

Also, when baby is awake and cries/screams, cats do NOT want to be anywhere near that thing.

Christal161 · March 2014

To add on the "shutting cat out" convo, please don't! My friend's sister had her baby last year and they did shut their cat out for a while. To the point her cat was depress and wouldn't eat! They really had to give her to another family member just so she wouldn't die. I know baby is important but there's always time for your kitties as well.

Pinecone21 · March 2014

I have the same photo of one of my cats in the pack n play! I have two cats, and they've been very curious about all the baby stuff that we've brought into the house. I think they will try to claim the baby's toys as their own.

When friends have brought babies over, the cats have cautiously sniffed them, but run away as soon as the baby makes any noise. I expect our cats to hide under the bed a lot the first few days we have the baby home.

SurpriseAt39 · March 2014

My cat/kitten is 7 months old. He has not even tried to get in DS's crib or on the change table.
He will lay under the crib, or on the lower shelf of the change table.

He occasionally sleeps with DH and me. But not always.

He usually stays out of DS's room.

I don't know how he will react to baby

SassyFlats · March 2014

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ujuedEfMNwU

Not sure if that will work since I'm on mobile, but it's a super cute video!! :x

Stephout · March 2014

Our fur baby is very needy as well. She has shown no interest in the PnP, though has jumped in the bassinet a few times. She also jumped in the crib, but it was right after I put on the bed skirt before the mattress was in. So she would sink between the wires with every step and couldn't get out. She hasn't tried since. I am very concerned that she will act out. My step sister's cat actually jumped in their crib to pee on the baby.

craftiemommie · March 2014

Christal161 said:
To add on the "shutting cat out" convo, please don't! My friend's sister had her baby last year and they did shut their cat out for a while. To the point her cat was depress and wouldn't eat! They really had to give her to another family member just so she wouldn't die. I know baby is important but there's always time for your kitties as well.

I think this really depends on the cat. I live my cat but between cat and baby, baby wins! I will already be sleep deprived, I don't also want to be worried about the cat trying to get into the co sleeper. But again this cat has behavior that I know. he's been out of the room and perfectly happy on the couch instead. every cat is different!

LoveMoose85 · March 2014

Thanks for the input ladies!! We have always shut our door at night, locking the cat out so I'm glad that won't be change for her. But I do agree that it's better to not change what your cat is used to. My worse fear was her jumping in the PNP or crib when LO is in there, but after reading all these I'm pretty sure that is unlikely. Good luck to everyone, and hoping eventually all our kitties will be best friends with LO

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