any advice on how to introduce our 2 cats to our 11 wk old baby??

Question

We've 2 indoor cats aged 4 yrs... so far they've had no interaction with baby or been in the same room .... all advice would be appreciated ! thanks .

Answer 1

Please excuse some of the remarks left here. People really don't TRY to be so rude, they just can't help it. You're concerned that you'll have to part with your cats. Been there, done that.
On Feb 10th 2006 I owned five, count them FIVE (*ahem*) INDOOR cats, aged 5 yrs down to 12 wks. We were asked, unexpectedly, to take and adopt a child from a relative who was unable to care for him. The baby was three weeks old. The request came out of a clear blue sky and hit us like a brick.
I freaked for the same reason you have concerns. I heard all those horror stories about the cat suffocating the baby trying to get his milk..it was endless the horror stories I heard. It's just like anything else. Half say go on and do it..half say DON'T! You are an experienced cat owner AND you are obviously a very capable parent for this to be weighing so heavily on you. Do what your instincts tell you. You're going to do JUST fine, I promise!
We do not, nor have we ever allowed access to our son's bedroom by any of the cats...or the dog. When he was little, we'd bring the baby to the living room or kitchen and allow the cats to sniff him so they became accustomed to his smell and recognized that he belonged here. We never left him unattended in the same room with them when he was tiny but after about three weeks they showed no interest in him at all.
Now, he's 21 months. I have one cat who screams incessantly when the baby cries. Tail pulling is the biggest obstacle you'll have to overcome. Our son got popped once for that but Ms.Pod didn't claw him, she just "beat him up" a lil bit. He doesn't do THAT anymore. Cats seem to instinctively know that's a baby and to be cautious and gentle. I have honestly never heard anyone say that their cat attacked or injured their baby.
Best of luck to you.... don't worry so much. Before long, you're little guy will love watching your cats and they will get along fine. Children are fascinated by animals from the time they can focus on and follow objects with their eyes. Now, when our son goes outside the cats insist on going with him and they walk with him wherever he goes and steer him back towards us when they feel he's gone too far. Ms. Pod will beat on his leg until he chases her and then she will dart back toward me with him trotting along behind her. It's like having five little security guards on patrol.

Answer 2

Have a mixer in your home. Invite people whom both the baby and the cats already know. Make sure you've got tasty goodies, and just let everyone mingle.

Very likely, over the course of the evening, either the cats or the baby will find a way to wander into a convo where the other is already engaged. They'll either get introduced or introduce themselves, and I'm willing to bet that either the baby or the cats says something likem, "Yeah, I think I've seen you around the house before. 'Sup?! Great to finally meet you!"

After that, thinks should be cool at your crib.

Answer 3

My friends had a baby and their tortoiseshell female cat (who had, presumably, up till then, been the focus of all their fuss) went into a state of limp misery / abject jealousy.

When we went in to admire the baby, the proud parents kept asking 'what do you think's wrong with (pusscat)?' The reason for the cat's palpable unhappiness was clear to onlookers as it was not to the doting new parents.

Don't put the cat in with the baby but, at the same time, if you love the cats and don't plan to give them away, make sure you give them their own fuss time because, obviously, cats don't know what is clear to us (that our own species must come first in our affections) and may work out that the baby in the house is their rival, whereas you want the baby and the cats to, eventually, be friends.

Answer 4

6 weeks is a little young but many good breeder let the new owner take the puppy at that age. I would suggest asking a friend (one snooki doesn't know but the puppy does) to help and have them take a seprate car and take the puppy to a park, away from other dogs, and start playing with it there. Do not have any food or treats and do not let them have any. No toys either that way there is nothing snooki can try to protect. Now you go home and get snooki and bring her to the park. Walk by your friend and the puppy a couple times with out letting snooki and the puppy meet. After you walk by a couple times have the friend pick up the puppy and you pick up snooki and go over to your friend, say hi, and pet the puppy while your friend pets snooki. When the dogs are comfortable with this put them down and let them smell noses. Eventualy let them smell bottoms and be on a loose leash. When the are good on a loose leash together take them home and follow the smae steps from the begining there. Then gently take the leashes off and keep a close eye on them for a few days. Congats on the new puppy.

Answer 5

How your two will react will depend upon their personalities. A timid cat that is over-dependent on you, but hides from other people may become jealous and spray to cover up the scent of the baby. A devoted cat that joins in human activities will probably have hurt feelings, but is likely to join in with caring for baby if you let him. Many cats become protective of what they view as a 'people-kitten' and there are accounts of cats raising the alarm when a baby shows signs of sudden illness. Far from being vicious creatures willing to suck a baby's breath, some have even saved abandoned babies' lives by snuggling up to infants that were at risk of hypothermia. Cats' emotions are different to human emotions and. contrary to common belief, cats do not plot or plan to do future things through jealousy or vengefulness.

The web articles below about cats and babies offer lots of practial advice about information which may be helpful to you.

http://www.messybeast.com/cat_baby.htm
http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/FILES/literature/Your_cat_and_your_baby_leaflet.pdf

Answer 6

New things are often stressful on pets. Don't force the baby on your cats; let the cats come to the baby. Normally, you should begin to prepare the cats for the baby before baby is even brought home. In this case however, just remember to give your cats plenty of attention and love so they don't feel left out. Include them whenever possible.

Answer 7

start by putting some clothes that the baby has worn in the same room that the cats are in plus once in a while a soiled diaper so the cats can get use to the smell of the new addition. then when you do let the cats see and smell the baby it will not be so strange to them. just don't let them get to close as if the baby startles them they may lash out instinctively and unintentionally hurt the child.

Answer 8

They will be fine. I had 3 cats and a puppy when I had my 2nd baby and all I did was put my son in his car seat and let them in the room 1 at a time. They sniffed him and them wanted their dinner.

You may want to keep the bedroom door shut at night where your baby is as 1 of mine used to sleep in the cot of all my babies. They do it coz its a nice warm place to sleep but you dont want them sleeping on baby.

If you are worried about the cats dont be, so many people think cats and dogs will hurt their new baby (health visits dont help matters!!) If you treat you cats as you did before then they will be fine, if they come up for a cuddle and you have baby then all 3 of you can sit together baby will learn to be gentle to them and they will be the best of friends.

I only have 1 of my cats now (the 1 who slept in the cots) she is great with my youngest who is 2. they are the best of friends and only she can brush her - not even I can these days!

Answer 9

I've had cat's all my life I have three children and a grandson
and my cat's have never laid a paw on them. right now your baby is to young. keep your cats, but do not allow them in the baby's room you can introduce the cats by letting them see you with the baby or let the cats smell the baby while the baby is in your arms . good luck

Answer 10

As a Registered Nurse I would keep the cats as far away from the baby until he/she is at least 2 yrs old. Although toxoplasmosis (among other nasty feline diseases) is usually contracted during pregnancy there have been cases of newborns contracting the illness.
Some Rules to follow:
1- You must avoid your children play outside on or with dirt.
2- If your children have a sand box, after they play, cover the sandbox.
3- Eat the meat, always well done.
4- After handling raw meat, wash your hands carefully with soap and water.
5- Wash your vegetables and fruits, with vegetable soap.
6- Wash your kitchen's utensils in hot soapy water.
7- Feed your cat with dry food, not meat.
8- Wear gloves to clean your cat's litter box
9- Do not allow that your children touch the cat's litter's box
10- Change the cat's litter box every day, and wash it with scalded water
11- Wash your hands with soap and water, after you touch or change the litter's cat box
12- Do not allow your cat to get to your kitchen's counter
13-Do not place the litter's cat box, on the kitchen counter