Hi all,
I am due to have a baby in about 5 weeks. I'm starting to stress over how my cats are going to handle it. I have two indoor cats (both neutered) that I adopted at different times. I got my first one, Stashi, about 4 years ago and he's now 7. I got Rosco about 3 years ago and he is now 9. The are not best friends and sometimes fight. They chase each other around the house and sometimes it leads to nothing but sometimes the fur flies. Stashi is scared of his own shadow and wasn't too happy when I got Rosco, but he's adjusted ok. He will sit on my lap but at any loud noise it's to the closet he goes. when Rosco is very friendly. He likes to be with people all of the time and is very affectionate. He is a jumper, he's all over furniture and is very curious when there are boxes or bags in the house. He investigates everything.
Does anyone have any advice on how I can make the transition of having a new baby in the house easier on the kitties? I want to make this as stress free on the cats as I can. I know a lot of stress can cause the cats to have health problems and that is something I don't want with a new baby in the house.
Thanks in advance for your help.
p.s.
For those of you that read my posting about my cats lip it is all better now. I forget the techinal term for what it was, but basically it was an allergic reaction to something I used to clean the kitty litter (I was bad and used chemicals, never again, I learned my lesson). He is just finishing prednizone (sp?) and is doing fine, thank you for your postings.
Advice for someone with a new baby?
You should probably first start addressing the behavior between the cats NOW. If one of the cats is often intimidated by the other, you have to correct the behavior before someone gets hurt or before one of them starts withdrawing and developing health issues. With a baby on the way, you need to adress this before the stress exacerbates.
Whomever is instigating the intimidation, chasing, or agressiveness....use a squirt bottle with a stern vocal "NO" at the moment you catch him in the act. If the squirt bottle doesn't work, immediately place him in another room with the door closed for a temporary time-out, for about 10 minutes. You should only do either of these things at the exact moment you witness the agressiveness. You may need to give several time-outs for each unacceptable behavior event, but the cat should soon learn that the time-out is not going to reward him. Do however, reward him for good behavior with either a treat or special toys or playtime activity.
Start spending time getting the cats involved with a playtime activity, where they can focus on playtime and their toys rather than directly on each other. When they can begin to share the same space together without fear or apprehension of one another, they'll learn to accept and tolerate each other better, and they will learn to associate the playtime session with a good experience. Be consistent, devote your time and attention to at least two playtime sessions a day, where you're actually engaged with them.
As for reducing the stress for when the baby arrives, don't change anything about the environment, particularly the cat's favorite areas in the home. Stick to their normal routines for feeding, playtimes, litterbox cleaning, bonding times, etc. Their feeding areas and litterboxes should be kept far enough away from the baby's room so that they don't avoid these areas if the baby's crying scares them, etc.
You could introduce them now to the baby's room, and even a few of the baby's items, so they can familiarize with the items. Don't let them in or around the baby's crib, however, as you don't want them making a habit of jumping in the crib, you have to teach them the crib is off-limits. I would also start closing the room to the baby's room NOW, at least a couple times a day, so the cats get familiar with the door being closed, and so that their interest in what's behind the door isn't so immediate, once the baby arrives.
When the baby arrives, you'll have 24/7 responsibilities, but you must make every effort to ensure the cat's routines are not changed and that you spend quality time with them. (when the baby is napping, spend time with the cats). When the baby is awake, slowly introduce the cats to the baby, let them smell him/her and get familiar with him/her's scent, etc. Don't just allow the cats to see the baby, but slowly introduce them and allow them to get familiar. If these times are consistent, the cats should adjust fine (iin time), as long as your devote time for them as well.
Babies cry and make sudden movements, etc that may frighten the cats, so make sure they have a room away from the baby's room they can retreat to for a safe haven. The room should be in a more quiet area of the home.
Ask your hubby for help and equal responsibilities with the cats, and keep their routines unchanged as much as possible. They key is to ensure the cats feel safe and secure in their environment and that they are not neglected, they need to receive the same loving attention you've always given them.
BTW, how did the vet determine a reaction to the cleaning product during cleaning of the litterbox? What was the cleaning product? What testing did he do to determine this?
Whomever is instigating the intimidation, chasing, or agressiveness....use a squirt bottle with a stern vocal "NO" at the moment you catch him in the act. If the squirt bottle doesn't work, immediately place him in another room with the door closed for a temporary time-out, for about 10 minutes. You should only do either of these things at the exact moment you witness the agressiveness. You may need to give several time-outs for each unacceptable behavior event, but the cat should soon learn that the time-out is not going to reward him. Do however, reward him for good behavior with either a treat or special toys or playtime activity.
Start spending time getting the cats involved with a playtime activity, where they can focus on playtime and their toys rather than directly on each other. When they can begin to share the same space together without fear or apprehension of one another, they'll learn to accept and tolerate each other better, and they will learn to associate the playtime session with a good experience. Be consistent, devote your time and attention to at least two playtime sessions a day, where you're actually engaged with them.
As for reducing the stress for when the baby arrives, don't change anything about the environment, particularly the cat's favorite areas in the home. Stick to their normal routines for feeding, playtimes, litterbox cleaning, bonding times, etc. Their feeding areas and litterboxes should be kept far enough away from the baby's room so that they don't avoid these areas if the baby's crying scares them, etc.
You could introduce them now to the baby's room, and even a few of the baby's items, so they can familiarize with the items. Don't let them in or around the baby's crib, however, as you don't want them making a habit of jumping in the crib, you have to teach them the crib is off-limits. I would also start closing the room to the baby's room NOW, at least a couple times a day, so the cats get familiar with the door being closed, and so that their interest in what's behind the door isn't so immediate, once the baby arrives.
When the baby arrives, you'll have 24/7 responsibilities, but you must make every effort to ensure the cat's routines are not changed and that you spend quality time with them. (when the baby is napping, spend time with the cats). When the baby is awake, slowly introduce the cats to the baby, let them smell him/her and get familiar with him/her's scent, etc. Don't just allow the cats to see the baby, but slowly introduce them and allow them to get familiar. If these times are consistent, the cats should adjust fine (iin time), as long as your devote time for them as well.
Babies cry and make sudden movements, etc that may frighten the cats, so make sure they have a room away from the baby's room they can retreat to for a safe haven. The room should be in a more quiet area of the home.
Ask your hubby for help and equal responsibilities with the cats, and keep their routines unchanged as much as possible. They key is to ensure the cats feel safe and secure in their environment and that they are not neglected, they need to receive the same loving attention you've always given them.
BTW, how did the vet determine a reaction to the cleaning product during cleaning of the litterbox? What was the cleaning product? What testing did he do to determine this?
..........Traci
Re: Advice for someone with a new baby?
I lost my site for babys and pets so Traci is it OK if I file this for future reference.its good information...giving credits or not????
