Cat shelters often
take in cats cast out when the owner is expecting
a first baby. Many couples have a cat for many
years before starting a family, but reject the cat
once a baby is due. You usually prepare for the
birth of a baby once the pregnancy is confirmed;
you should extend this preparation to your cat.
How will Puss react
to the new addition? A timid cat which is
over-dependent on you, but hides from other people
may become jealous and spray to cover up the scent
of the baby. It needs to become less dependent on
you well before the birth. A devoted cat that
joins in human activities will have hurt feelings,
but is likely to join in with caring for baby if
you let him. An independent cat who treats you
like a hotel will probably ignore the baby if
hotel services remain unchanged. Many cats become
protective of what they view as a 'people-kitten'.
Ignore scare stories about cats harming infants,
they are usually exaggerated and are only
newsworthy due to their EXTREME rarity (the
endnote about the Malaysian baby has caused
scares, but is not comparable to a domestic
situation). Tales
about cats suffocating babies abound, but actual
occurrences are very rare; in many cases the
presence of the cat was incidental. There was one
confirmed case where the baby inhaled the cat's
fur and its breathing was obstructed. Use a
crib-net to keep your cat out of the crib or pram
- this will reduce any accidental scratches and
the transmission of bacteria.
Get
information from your doctor and your vet about
cat-borne organisms that can harm unborn babies
and take appropriate precautions e.g. don't handle
soiled cat litter and scrub garden vegetables
before eating them.
Ensure Puss is healthy and vaccinated. De-flea and
de-worm him regularly.
Establish the cat's new routine gradually. Let him
sniff the crib, pram etc but teach him not to get
inside them. Let him investigate the nursery
before making it out-of-bounds; if he knows what's
in there, it is less of a tantalizing mystery. You
may need to fit a scratch-guard to protect the
shut door from an over-curious cat.
Get
crib and pram nets so that the cat cannot bed down
with baby. They must be taut when fitted or the
cat may use them as a hammock.
Gradually reduce the amount of time spent petting
your cat. After the baby arrives you will have
less time for petting. Establish a special
'cat-time' e.g. in the evening (after a baby's
bed-time) or get your partner to become more
active in caring for the cat and giving it
attention.
Ensure Puss's feeding area and litter tray are
well away from areas needed for preparing baby's
meals. If you use litter trays, persuade Puss to
use a covered litter-tray with a cat-flap
entrance. Establish a feeding area out of reach of
a toddler e.g. on a table in the utility room.
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