BABIES AND CATS

Are you eagerly anticipating the pitter-patter of little feet, both human and feline? Welcoming a baby into your home is a joyous occasion, but it can also bring some concerns, especially when you already have a beloved furball ruling the roost. Fear not, because today we're diving into the delightful world of cats and babies, offering tips and tricks to make the transition smoother for everyone involved. 

When introducing your newborn to cats, you may be curious about how the transition will unfold. Beforehand, it's crucial to become acquainted with your cats' behavior in order to comprehend their actions.

When you're expecting, it's important to prepare your furry friend for the new arrival, too. Schedule a check-up at the vet, consider getting them neutered if they're not already, let them sniff around baby gear (just make sure they know it's off-limits for climbing!), introduce them to baby smells with new blankets or clothes, and ease them into the sounds of a baby crying. And don't hesitate to chat with your doctor or health visitor for more helpful tips!

Next, using a baby proofing aid like Door Buddy will help keep this space safe. As our tots learn to crawl and explore around the home, keeping your baby out of the kitty litter is a must! Removing your cat’s litter box and food from easy-to-reach spaces is highly recommended, as these can be a severe danger to your little love’s health. You also want to avoid any toxoplasmosis issues.

Baby proofing isn’t the only way we can help prepare our furry friends for their new sibling. With a newborn, new sounds of frequent crying can only be expected. Some cats may startle easily, and we have to keep in mind our “purrrfect” pets’ emotions. You can try playing tapes of babies crying to help ease them into the new environment they’re about to live in. 

Change is a hard thing to grapple with, even for us "hoomans". Now try and imagine being your cat whose whole world is about to change! Think about it, they were once the apple of your eye, and now a tiny baby has come into the picture to steal the spotlight. That’s a tough pill to swallow, right?

Our furry friends will always hold a spot in our hearts, but it’s only natural that doting over our pets can fall to the side when a newborn enters the picture. We’re parents, we get it, and we’ve been there! The problem with this is that not only are our pets feeling neglected, but they can also quickly act out in negative ways. 

Cat behavior after a new baby can be a little removed. Babies are noisy, they pull tails, and let’s face it, they can be pretty tricky to be around when they’re grumpy. Understandably, your cat will want their space during this time. Your cat may even become slightly stressed and agitated as a result. 

Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to help settle their emotions. Adding a scratching post or cat tree in your home can be an excellent way to assist your cat in reducing stress. Alternatively, a pheromone diffuser may also aid in stress relief for your feline friend. 

You can try using baby lotion on your hands and lightly stroking your cat to get them familiar with your baby’s smells before they arrive. In more dire situations, catnip can prove useful when your cat gets itself into a state. However, we recommend seeing a vet or a behavior specialist for the use of catnip.

Accidents happen, and there may be more than one occasion when your baby and cat won’t see eye to eye. This is why we recommend setting up a safe space for your cat to retreat to. If they feel threatened or stressed out, they can bolt off into safety.

The best thing about being parents to both cats and babies is seeing their love flourish for one another. Although the process may be slow to start at first, you are helping build a lifelong friendship that won’t soon be forgotten.

With this being said, should you run into any significant problems, consulting a behavior specialist may be extremely helpful. They will help guide you in the right direction, and craft strategies to “purrrfectly” suit your home and your kitty. 

Until then, Door Buddy is here to help. Our Door Buddy Baby Proof Door Strap will give you and your kitty the peace of mind and security needed before bringing your little one home. Before purchasing expensive baby gates and baby-proofing aids or drilling damaging holes into your home, try Door Buddy. No tools are needed and no damaging cat door installations.  Trust us, your cat will thank you!