Cats and Babies
Many couples wonder if they can keep their pet cats once they have a new baby. Many studies show that pets and children go quite well together, as long as the proper preparations are made. Cats may be the ultimate creatures of habit, but with your help they can make it through even major life changes such as new additions to the family. Planning ahead is always best, and the more time you invest in preparing your cat before the baby arrives the better the transition will be.
The basic idea is to get your cat used to having a baby around before you actually bring one home. That statement may sound a bit contradictory, and the full adjustment can never be made until the baby has been home a while, but you can move the process along pretty well beforehand.
Cats and Baby Smells, Sights, and Sounds
For example, you can go ahead and expose the cats to new smells such as baby powders and soaps. Probably the most difficult thing for cats to accept from a new baby is the crying. To help your cat adjust to this sound get some audio clips to play for them. If you so desire, you can even schedule a live baby demonstration for your cats by inviting over friends or family members with babies. Remember, you want to introduce the cats to these things gradually, so start as early as you can and try not to overwhelm them.
Cats and Baby Nurseries
Also keep in mind that with all the activity and furniture changes your cats will be keenly interested in the new nursery. Set it up as early as possible, and as you do let the cats explore and adjust to it. Of course, you don't want the cats to think the crib is a new sleeping spot for them, so think about getting a battery-powered motion alarm to teach them not to go in the crib. Because cats are so fond of cuddling you won't want them to be in the nursery while the baby is sleeping. At least a month before the delivery date you should establish that they are not to go in the nursery. Any other habit changes should be made around this time as well.
Bringing Home the Baby
Once the big day finally arrives and the baby is born, try to bring a piece of his/her unwashed clothing for your cats to smell before the baby comes home. Smell is more important to cats than sight, and this will help them adjust. When the baby does come home, try to play with and pet your cats while the baby is in the room. This attention will help them associate the new family member with good feelings.
Granted, getting your cat prepared for the change will take some work, but it is well worth it in the end. As we said at the beginning, cats and children go quite nicely together. Growing up around animals decreases the risk of children having allergies or asthma. Pets are also excellent companions for children, as many of us will probably remember from the time when we were small.
