Whether planned or not, you have a baby on the way! But how will your fur babies cope with the change? This was one of the main anxieties we had prior to Arias arrival. Would the cats like her? Would they sit on her whilst she slept? These are all valid worries that many cat owners face when expecting a baby. However, as someone who has studied animal behaviour, owned cats for years and successfully integrated a baby into a household of four cats, I am here to tell you that yes it is absolutely possible for your baby and cats to live in harmony! I must also point out that we are blessed with four cats with wonderful temperaments, that don't hit, scratch or bite, so please see this only as a guidance and it will be different for every cat!
During Pregnancy
Our feline companions have very keen senses, and it is more than likely that your cat knows there is a new addition on the way! You will act and smell different, and your cat may well know before you do! In our case, Nacho, our mainecoon X Persian, knew long before we did. He suddenly got very clingy, would constantly lay on my stomach purring and followed me about the house more than normal. At the time we just assumed he was going through a phase, however it turned out our not so little kitty was an early pregnancy test we didn't know we had! Certainly this time with our second pregnancy, he was a tell tale sign again that we were expecting! So keep a keen eye on your cat for these signs!
Once Your Baby Arrives
You have more than likely been in hospital for at least 24 hours, your cats may have had someone else caring for them whilst you were away, and now you bring back a small, naked, funny smelling kitten. Even our mellow tempered cats turned their noses up, and when she cried it was as if a bomb had been set off in the house. All cats ran for the nearest cover and didn't come out for the rest of the day. Its crucial that you allow them the space they need to adjust during this period. The worst thing you can do is force your baby onto your cats! It was a good few days before even Nacho braved the scary new being to have a quick sniff. Taking this approach and by letting the cats feel like they have space will reduce any risk of harm to both babies and cats. However always take care to observe your cats behaviour, watching out for any tension or fear based behaviour.
Another worry parents have is that the cats will sleep on the baby causing suffocation. Whilst some cats may be quite happy in the company of your little one, babies don't make the best cushions and cats rarely sit on them from what I have seen. However precautions should be taken not to encourage your cat into your babies sleeping place. This can be done by never placing your cat in the crib, lifting your cat out gently if you find them in there and perhaps placing some citrus scents nearby, cats hate the smell of citrus! Like I said, even when our cats got comfortable enough to sleep next to Aria, they never once slept on her in a way that worried us. The only thing we did have to watch out for was one of our cats, Bragi, walking over her. So just be vigilant and all will be fine.
Getting Older
Now as your baby gets older they start to become more curious in the world around them. This includes those rather tempting furry tails and coats. Whilst our cats had been more than happy to interact with Aria up until this point, it was once she started to notice them that we had to be more cautious. Babies will naturally reach out and grab things of interest close to them, however, they also have to learn how to release. Aria started off reaching out for the cats but it wasn't long before she was trying to grab their coats. Once your baby reaches this stage it is vital that you ensure they don't cause harm to your cat, I always try to teach aria to stroke 'gently' and make sure I move her hand away if I sense she is getting grabby. Cats will naturally defend themselves, and having their hair ripped out is more than likely to cause a defensive reaction, such as scratching and biting. Also you want your cat to associate your baby with positive things, not pain and fear. It isn't fair on the cat to be put in such a position where they will either be hurt or told off for acting in defence. If this means that your dreams of them being best friends have to be put on hold until your baby is old enough to understand that you don't grab at them then so be it. What is paramount is maintaining your cats welfare as well as protecting your baby from scratches.
It must also be noted that this period may be hard for cats to transition into, especially if they have been the sole object of your attention previously. Allow them time to adjust, spend time fussing or playing with them, letting them know they aren't forgotten. It's a transitional period for them too and they need just as much patience and love as you do right now! It may be a good time to invest in some new toys to give them something novel and exciting to entertain them whilst you know you will be busy during the day. These can then be collected back up and stored in tubs of catnip to be used at another busy point of the day. This ensures they are still receiving the attention they need, as well as having an outlet for any excess energy.
So there you have it. It is perfectly possible for cats and babies to get along and live in harmony. Providing ground rules are kept to protect not only the baby but also the cats, and understanding is given for all involved. Having a baby is a big change for your pets too! However with a little patience, space and knowledge there is every chance they will embrace each other and have a wonderful relationship in the long term.
Do you have any cats in your family? How did you find integrating the baby into the household? Comment below to let us know!