Happy National Cat Day! Our cat, Apollo, has recently had a big life change. We got a puppy! When introducing our cat and puppy to each other, we followed a lot of the suggested guidelines, always making sure Apollo had a safe space to go, taking care that they both had time away from each other, and that he continued to have his litter box away from the puppy (*it is far, far away, but our puppy thinks kitty suggest are 100% the best snack ever.)
One nice thing about introducing your cat to your baby, versus a puppy, is that generally speaking newborns aren’t jumping up and chasing Mr. Fluffy around. 😉 The cat has some time to get used to the idea of a little person hanging out around the house.
Even though they aren’t being chased, bringing a newborn into the house is still an adjustment for kitties. However, according to WebMD and ASPCA there are some things you can do BEFORE birth to help ease the transition.
You can do a few of these things:
Introduce new baby smells before baby is born. One idea is to use the lotion you plan to use on your baby before baby comes, getting the kitty used to the smells a new baby brings.
Set up baby’s space, whether that is in your room or a nursery, as soon as possible. This gives the cat a change to get acquainted with the new furniture/change in furniture before baby comes. If there are places in the baby’s space that are off limits, both sources say to let “the cat investigate” before making them unappealing to Whiskers.
If there are tasks that will become your partner’s after birth, start those before baby as well. (Things like brushing, nail trims, feeding, playing, etc. This is a great time to switch litter box duties as well, if you haven’t already.)
If your feline friend’s litter box is in space you need baby to be, move it slowly to it’s new location. You may also want to consider placing something in the litter box’s old location to discourage kitty from still going in his “corner”. (Think bookshelf, trash can, etc.)
Once baby is here:
When you first arrive home from giving birth, find a quiet spot to greet your furry friend. Spend a few minutes petting, head scratching, whatever kitty enjoys.
Let the cat smell an item from baby. Let him smell your baby’s blanket or onsie, something to get Mrs. Whiskerson used to your newborn’s smell.
Watch your baby and your furry feline become wonderful companions for years to come. <3
**(If your cat likes to go into baby’s sleeping area, consider shutting the door while baby is sleeping to prevent your cat from seeking warm snuggles in the crib.)
