how did your cat act after you brought your newborn home?

Answer 1

I have 3 cats and a 3 and a half week old baby boy.

The oldest who is 12 yrs old and male is jealous because I can't give him the attention he wants, won't let him sleep in the bassinets or be in the babies room. He's not mean towards the baby but whenever I am holding him he tries to get on my lap. With him I try to give him attention when the baby is sleeping and when I am laying down with the baby on my chest I let him either snuggle up beside us where I can pet him or lay across my legs (which gets really warm with a baby on me and a cat next to me LOL). At night I make sure he gets his evening snuggles with me when I go to bed. Other than that he could care less about the baby.

The 2 yr old male will often come and sniff at the baby, rub against his toes and the like. This is my special cat in that he seems to be psychic about when something is wrong. My nephew who is 4 and autistic, when he comes to visit the cat never leaves his side. He loves kids and visits with all the neighbourhood kids. He never uses his claws or his teeth and if the kids get rough he just moves away. I have no worries about him with the baby. He waits until I have a free moment and then will come and get petted if he is so inclined.

My 2 yr old female (littermate to the 2 yr old male) could care less. As long as there is food in her bowl she will wait until the baby is sleeping and then come get her lovins if she is in the mood. She isn't happy about not being allowed in the bassinets but seems to have gotten over it.

I've only ever known one cat that had to be given away because it tried to claw at a baby. This cat however was psycho from day one and my girlfriend knew she probably wasn't going to be able to keep her. Even if she hadn't had a baby she probably would have given this cat away if she could have found a quiet home with a senior who just wanted a cat to look at since this cat hated loud noises and being touched. The baby crying did not go over well and the cat was sent to the pound, whether it was ever adopted out who knows.

If you have good, calm cats now, it will probably be fine. There may be an adjustment period as the cat learns about the baby but cats are amazing animals. My oldest has moved with me over a dozen times in his lifetime, been placed in homes with other animals, lived in his own apartment for 3 months with just daily visits from me, lived in a car for a few days, was strictly an indoor cat for his first 10 years and now loves going outside and he has always adjusted well to change. Once he learns when he can seek attention and when he can't he'll be just fine as well. (ya I had a crazy life a few years ago, stability rocks!)

Answer 2

Our one cat is a fraidy cat, but would sit outside her room to protect her & even though she's still afraid of her, she's not hiding or fighting. The OTHER cat, is not a people animal anyway, but all she does is sniff, hiss a little & walk away. NO swiping, biting or anything...we'll see when baby can pull a tail!
We brought something of Katherine's home from the hospital to help w/ the transition...let the cats sniff it 1st.

Answer 3

When we brought our older daughter home, one cat just sniffed at her and walked away while the other pawed at her head a bit. I wasn't really worried about them because they pretty much left her alone after that.

Answer 4

my baby cried all the way home from the hospital and by the time we got inside the house he was screaming at the top of his little tiny lungs, my cats ran into our bedroom and hardly came out for 2 days. But they got over it, they're fine with him now.

Answer 5

most of the time you have nothing to worry about, on the other hand when I brought my son my cat was VERY jealous, I has had him since he was a kitten and he was 5 years old, he ended up peeing in my sons crip at night,
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Answer 6

was curious about what was making all the noises, after she checked him out she was indifferent