Last updated January 19, 2018
Every year, a big number of cats are surrendered to shelters since a new infant has shown up as well as parents believe well-meaning relatives or old-school obstetricians who have persuaded them that keeping a feline dangers the health and wellness as well as well-being of their child.
There is absolutely no reason to provide up a feline when a infant arrives. Simple, typical sense precautions can prepare your feline for your baby’s arrival, as well as keep both safe.
Prepare your feline for the new baby
Acclimate your feline to baby-related smells as well as sounds. apply infant powder or infant oil to your skin so your feline will partner the scent with you. Play a recording of infant noises. Make it a pleasant experience for your feline by rewarding her with treats as well as play while you do this.
If you have good friends with babies, ask them to bring their kids over for short visits. Supervise these sees carefully, as well as offer praise as well as treat to your feline for great habits so she will type a pleasant association with babies.
Start your feline utilized to probing as well as poking infant fingers. carefully provide your feline a bit poke, prod or pinch. Reward great habits with treats.
The baby’s room
Decide whether the baby’s space will be off limits to your cat, or whether she will be enabled in the room. If the baby’s space will be off limits, eliminate any type of furniture your feline likes to lie on or sleep on from the space so she will still be able to utilize those preferred pieces somewhere else in the house.
If your feline will be enabled in the baby’s room, she will most likely be fascinated by the crib. discourage her from sleeping in it by putting feline deterrent gadgets like the SSSCat near the crib. provide alternating sleeping locations for your feline in the baby’s room. add a feline bed or feline tree, as well as reward your feline for utilizing them.
When infant comes home
Before you bring the infant house from the hospital, send a blanket or sock or product of garments with the baby’s scent on it house so your feline can get utilized to the scent.
When you return house with the baby, have somebody else hold the infant in one more space while you greet your feline as well as play with her. keep things lowkey.
Help your feline enjoy being near the baby. offer praise, toys as well as treats when she approaches the baby, however don’t force her to be near the baby. She’ll investigate when she’s ready.
It’s a myth that cats try to smother babies. If you see your feline sniffing your baby’s face, praise him for her nice, calm behavior.
Always supervise interactions between feline as well as baby
It’s finest to keep a watchful eye on both feline as well as baby. Don’t hover or worry, however be conscious as well as prepared to step in if you have to. always be gentle about any type of needed intervention.
Minimize modifications in routine as well as attention
Your routine will be stressful when the infant arrives. If you requirement to modification your cat’s feeding routine as well as the times when you’ll be able to provide her interest as well as play with her, make the modifications before the infant arrives.
Resist the temptation to provide your feline additional interest before the infant arrives. This will only makes things more difficult for her when you discover yourself having less time to pay interest to her. try to simplicity your feline into a routine that is realistic for you, however doesn’t short modification your cat.
The connection between cats as well as kids can be extremely special if you nurture it from an early age. Studies have shown that kids who grow up with pets have higher self-esteem as well as improved social skills. They discover to care for others at an early age. There is likewise evidence that growing up with pets may assist establish non-verbal communication.
This article was previously published on Answers.com as well as is republished with permission.
Ingrid King
Table of Contents
Prepare your feline for the new baby
The baby’s room
When infant comes home
Always supervise interactions between feline as well as baby
Minimize modifications in routine as well as attention
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11 comments on Cats as well as Babies: good friends for Life
Sepo says:
January 27, 2014 at 6:40 pm
I reember a tale that expecting women should never be around cats or feline hair as they might cause a issue with the formation of the infant or even caunullnull