Introducing Your Cat To Your Newborn Baby

I recently wrote an article about some of the myths that people have when it comes to babies and cats. If you haven't had a chance to read it, you can check it out here. 

Since these are just myths, you can bring a new baby home to your furbabies. You just have to be prepared and be careful as you expand your family to include tiny human ones. 

So, what should you do before you bring your new baby home? 

Before you bring home your new baby, you have to get your cat (or cats) ready. Here are some things that you should consider doing as your pregnancy advances. 

Start using pheromone therapy. This is a natural way to create happiness in your home for your cats. Cats give off pheromones throughout their home when it is a safe and happy environment. There is a synthetic version, which can be started a few weeks before you bring your baby home. You may want to use a plug-in diffuser or spray to reduce stress in your cats. 

Amazon offers both the plug-in diffuser and spray in the Feliway brand, which I have seen help cats that are stressed.

You may even want to look into stress-relieving toys for your cat. There are many toys that are made to keep your cats happy and stress-free. These also help with boredom. This might include scratching posts or anything else that entertain your cat.

It might be a good idea to change caregivers in the months prior to pregnancy and the new baby coming home. If mom is always the one taking care of the cats, it is going to be a huge adjustment when she isn't able to do so. So, your cat (or cats) need to see dad step up. He can feed, change the litter, and spend some extra time with your cat as everyone gets ready for the changes coming.

Don't make the baby's room off-limits to your cat. Cats are curious creatures, so by keeping him or her out of the room, you are just making it that more fascinating. Allow your cat in the room as you put together the baby furniture. If you are in the nursery putting things away, let your cat in with you. This gets him or her used to the new things that are going to be a part of his or her life. 

Introduce your cat to certain smells that they are going to have to get used to. You may want to use baby lotion and powder in the months prior to the baby coming home so that your cat learns that there is nothing wrong with the smell. 

You may even want to get him or her used to baby sounds. If you can find a way to play a recording of different sounds that your cat is going to have to get used to, this will really help your cat adjust. Make sure that your cat is used to crying and screaming, as well as giggling before you bring your new baby home. 

You may even want to play the toys that you get for the baby. You want your cat to be used to the sound of the mobile and any toys that your baby may love to listen to!

If you have a cat that likes to jump on things, you may want to use sticky tape to discourage him or her from jumping on the baby's furniture. If you think that your cat is going to get in your baby's crib or on the changing table, you may want to use sticky tape on it. Since cats hate sticky surfaces, he or she will quickly learn to stay off of these pieces of furniture.

Once you have the baby, you are going to want to bring home something that smells like him or her. If you use a blanket or towel, you are going to want to let your cat smell it so that, when you do bring your baby home, your cat is already familiar with the smell.

When you do come home from the hospital, make sure that you spend some quiet time with your cat. You are going to want to give your cat some undivided attention so that he or she knows that you are home and you haven't forgotten about them. 

Then, make sure that you spend some time with your cat every day. Though your focus is going to be on your new baby, you can't forget about your cat. Make sure that you find time every day to spend time with your cat.

When you find out that you are going to expand your family, your entire focus is going to be on your pregnancy and the new baby. Everyone's life is going to change, including your cat's! If you do it right, you can make this a seamless change. 

You may want to consider using pheromone therapy in order to keep your cat calm and happy. Then, make sure that he or she gets to see everything that you are doing in the nursery. You should not make it off limits, or you are just asking for trouble. Make sure that you get your cat used to the sounds and smells that your new baby is going to be bringing home with him or her. 

When you do have the baby, you are going to want to bring something home from the hospital so that your cat can learn the smell of his or her new sister or brother. When you come home, make sure that you spend some quiet time with your cat and find time every day to make sure that your cat still feels special!

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.