Bringing home a new baby.
Up until now, your cat has simultaneously been your baby and ruler of the house. Now it is time to for the real baby to arrive. As the joyous occasion nears, you find yourself feeling nervous about how your cat will react and what its behavior towards the new arrival will be. There is bound to be one person eager and willing to share the old wive´s tale that cats must be kept away from babies because they will suck the breath right out of them. Don´t let this worry you, it is just that, a tale.
Cats are curious animals and like everyone else, your cats are going to be interested in the new addition to your home. Help your cat adjust to the new arrival by taking the following steps:
- Prior to the arrival of your baby, introduce your cat to where the baby where be sleeping. Let your cat roam around the room familiarizing herself with the new sights, sounds, and smells.
- After the baby is born, bring something that has the baby´s scent on it home -- a small towel or blanket for example. Let your cat sniff the blanket and get used to the smell. After the initial introduction to the item, place it somewhere that the cat frequently spends time, i.e. windowsill, your cat´s bed, or favorite chair. This will give your cat the opportunity to get acquainted with the baby before he/she even arrives home.
- When you bring your baby home, take time repeatedly to introduce the baby to your cat. Your cat will most likely want to inspect your bundle of joy -- sniffing, curiously looking, and maybe even wanting to lick the baby. Your cat means no harm, she just wants to see what all the fuss is about.
Bringing home a baby is the beginning of one of the most precious times of your life and you will rightfully want to spend every moment you can enjoying this new addition. Try and remember that your beloved cat still needs attention too. Take some time each day to spend playing and petting your cat. Let him know that even though things are different, he is still loved and an important part of the family.
Remember that an infant should never be left unsupervised with any pet or child.
