For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

How did you introduce your newborns to the Cat when you first brought the baby home. We are not going to let our Cat jump all over the baby but I was wondering on how we can gently introduce the cat to our new baby boy when he comes home.

Ralphie (that's the cat) is young himself. So far he's been good with kids around. If he comes near them it's only cuz he's curious but has not raised a paw. If he does it is not intentional. He likes to play a lot. When DH wants to pet him Ralphie takes it as playtime and wants to play rough (this cat thinks he's a dog...it's really weird) After DH yells at him he'll settle down and let DH just pet him.

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

We have 3 Bengal cats, but they are in our basement cause I dont want them running around the house with the baby here. We actually waited like a week before we introduced Julia to them, when we did I sat on the floor with her and they came over and just sniffed her and that was it, my DH would take her down to them everyday for a couple of minutes just so they get use to her smell and sounds. Now she loves going down to see them and they just love her too.

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

Our cat is very playful as well, and we weren't sure what was going to happen when DD was born. But we've been happily suprised! When we brought her home, we sat on the floor with her in our arms & 'introduced' them -- he kind of just looked at her and that was it! He may come up to her and rub on her feet, which she loves, but that's really it. She tries to pet him when he walks by, and he sits & lets her -- thank goodness, no bad reactions.

We were expecting some weird backlash since he was always the 'baby' but were happily surprised.

Hope it works out the same for you! :)

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

We live in a small apartment so unfortunately we don' t have a basement to keep him in. We were thinking of letting him maybe sniff around the baby carrier when our son comes home just to introduce him to this new person in the house.

The crying situation is going to be interesting. Ralphie cries sometimes cuz we keep the bedroom door shut. So when the baby cries he'll be crying too... and boy can this cat whine! I call him a sissy sometimes...LOL

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

Message edited 2/8/2007 11:51:02 AM.

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

Yeah I think i've seen it...

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

One suggestion we got that we are going to try is to have DH bring a baby blanket to the hospital and use it so it gets the baby's scent on it and then bring it home so they get familiar with the smell even before the baby comes home. But, we were cautioned by the nurse that taught our childbirth class to just be sure that if you try this the blanket doesn't have any bodily fluids on it.

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

We have a cat who acts like a dog too. He is very affectionate and I was afraid he would be too affectionate with the baby. I was afraid he would smother her b/c he likes to sleep on us. When we brought my daughter home I let him sniff her, but I yelled at him if he went near her room or her pack-n-play. He's still afraid of these things 18 months later and thats OK with me.

Now he pretty much keeps his distance from her because she chases him and shrieks really loud!

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

That's what we'll do. We'll let the cat sniff and see what his reaction is. Of course he would be closely monitored...

Maybe Ralphie will keep his distance when our son is older and chases him around the house.

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

I don't mean to hijack your thread but it made me think about my in laws cats. how do you introduce teh baby to them. My in laws live four hours away so we won't be there all the time. My inlaws cats live in the basement since they have a new puppy and thats where my Dh's basement is and we stay there when we visit. I don't like cats as it is and i hate staying at there house becasue the basement smells like cat liter. Am i just being silly worrying about this?

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

Scott brought a blanket home from the hospital the night before I came home. He laid it near Beemer's (cat) pillow. And I let Beemer smell her car seat and her when we got home. She has always been fine with Molly and now they are actually friends

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

Posted by michele31

Scott brought a blanket home from the hospital the night before I came home. He laid it near Beemer's (cat) pillow. And I let Beemer smell her car seat and her when we got home. She has always been fine with Molly and now they are actually friends

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

did anyone get one of those nylon tent looking things for the crib?

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

She said bodily fluids from the baby like spit up, blood, drool etc. b/c she said all animals get funny about stuff like that.

We did not get the crib tent b/c we don't let the cats into the bedrooms as it is so we won't be letting them into the baby's room. DH and I both have allergies so my Dr. begged me long ago if I insisted on having them to at least keep them out of the bedroom. We probably would've considered the tent if we were going to let them have free reign though.

Message edited 5/12/2006 9:52:17 AM.

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

Re: For those of you that have kids and pets...specifically Cats

we never needed the crib tent. Beemer really wanted as little to do with Molly as possible. Beemer went into her crib when we first put it up but never bothered much with it.

I will say that Beemer went thru a very difficult transition when Molly came home. She had a lot of anxiety. Our home was quiet and pretty routined and then all of a sudden there was crying etc...I took her to a great vet who only treats cats. He put her on anti-anxiety meds and it really helped. He also helped me with a few other tips.