Worried how my cat will be?

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Hi all,

I am 3 months pregnant and I am really worried how my cat(Dusty) will be when I have the baby.

I have always treated dusty as the baby and he still is, but I am scared I will not have time for dusty any more, as he is very sensative cat.

Any Advise

[kick3m0n]

You can't really predict how your cat will be to be honest.   Ours were 6 and 7 when our baby was born, and the youngest cat especially was my wee pal.  He came up onto my lap for cuddles even when my bump was sooo big, there was barely any lap left.   Both he and the older cat were absolutely fine when baby was born.  A bit interested, but early doors they cleared out when he cried (tho they got used to this when he got colic, there was no escaping the sound!).  The older cat (who is a sensitive soul, perhaps a bit like yours), is still wary of the wee guy, especially now he is on the move, but she has never even shown anger towards him.  My wee cat is very good with the baby, he is happy to be stoked and cuddled, and baby has learnt to be gentle.  The cat also knows that baby is a good source of food, adn sits below the high chair waiting for scraps, especially if  there's fish or cheese on the menu.... 

Just keep an eye on dusty, and try to give her a couple of minutes of your time a day (easy said, I know).  I'm sure she'll adapt, and it's lovely for little ones to grow up knowing how to respect animals. When baby and I came home from hospital, I went in first and left my beloved to bring baby in.  this meant I could make a big fuss of the cats for a couple of minutes, and they could have a good sniff of me to check out the newness.  The I showed them the wee guy, and they both had a quick sniff, then off to sleep.

Oh, and do not for a second worry about the cat smothering the baby or any similer old wives scare story.  I know 3 senior midwives who have never heard of this happening, and between them they have 80 years midwifery experience. 

Sorry for rambling on a bit.  Congrats on the beby, and good luck with the cat. xx

[Bottom]

Thanks very much, you have put my mind at ease,

[drgnrdr]

Cats and babies can be great together if the proper precautions are taken. A new baby means major life changes for everyone in the family. Help your favorite feline prepare for this blessed event by following these guidelines:Set up the nursery as soon as possible. Let Kitty explore the room during this process. Consider placing a deterent of some kind in the crib to discourage him from claiming this cozy bed for his special napping spot.
Introduce Kitty to the new scents that he will be living with once the baby is home by using some of the powders, soaps, and lotions you will be using on the baby.
At least one month before the baby's arrival, establish any necessary changes in the cat's routine. For example, since cats like to cuddle, it is not advisable to allow the cat in the newborn's room when the baby is sleeping, so now is the time to close the door and to teach Kitty that it is off-limits.
To get your cat used to the sights and sounds of babies, invite friends with babies to visit. If that isn't possible, try to obtain an audio tape of a baby crying. Baby sounds may be the most frightening aspect of having a baby around from the cat's point of view. Try to desensitize him gradually to this aspect of baby's presence in the home.
There's lots more but I can only post short answers so I will split these if it will let me.

[drgnrdr]

 Here we go for the 2nd part: Before bringing the newborn home, bring home an unwashed piece of his or her clothing for your cat to smell. Our feline companions identify us primarily through the sense of smell, not sight.
Once the baby is home, try to keep your pet's routine as close to normal as possible. This means regular meal times and play sessions. Don't wait until baby is asleep to play with Kitty. If he gets praise and attention when baby is in the room, he will associate the new member of the family with good times, not competition for attention.
Be patient. Pets need time to adapt. If your cat's behavior is a little erratic at first, remember that in spite of all your careful preparations, this still a big change for all members of the family. Eventually everyone will settle in and your baby will grow up with the advantage of having the unconditional love and devotion of a feline friend, confidant, and playmate.

Hope this helps...