trying for baby while having 2 cats

[ashleyp]

first of all has anybody had a cat theyve had since they were a kitten and have never really been around a baby? If so are you concerned on how they will be? Another thing too has your cat or cats gone from not wanting anything to do with you but the minute you decide its time for a baby have they been more cuddly?

 

[KozmikKitten]

I have two cats and I am extremely worried about how one will react. She is very attention-seeking and always has been. She is selfish and jealous of the other cat. She lays on my stomach every evening and tries to sleep there at night. Hubby and I joke that when I am 9 mo pregnant she will still lay on my (huge) stomach...but yes, I am VERY worried about her reaction when she wont be the center of my world anymore.

 

[rachel1906]

Hi, I have a staff cross dalmnation which we are worrying about as he is so big and but I also have a cat that we have has since a kitten, my kitten (Lucky) never wanted anything to do with me, we have been ttc for a few months and the last few weeks he won't leave me alone! he follows me everywhere and is always sat on my lap and cries if i leave the room and shut the door behind me so he can't follow he only wants to curl up on my lap but he makes such a fuss about it.

xx

 

[ashleyp]

yea one of my cats is an attention hog when the other one is very skid dish and doesnt want much to do with me until we started trying for a baby. I am a little concerned about the attention hungry cat because he likes to climb on people to pick him up im worried he might do it with the baby too

 

[ashleyp]

Mine has been like that too he never wanted me and now the minute i come home hes always near by and he will follow me when i get up to leave too and we just started trying for a baby last weekend it hasnt even been that long i swear he can sense it

 

[Jazavac]

The only thing I worry about is toxoplasmosis. I tested for the antibodies and none were found, unfortunately.

 

[punk_pig]

I have two cats and an 8mnth old. You do need to be vigilant about not letting the cats in to the room where LO is sleeping but during the day it only takes a screaming session for them to learn they don't want to be around the baby!!! Sometimes one of our cats curls up on my lap next to LO when she has fallen asleep on me, but when she wakes up and starts grabbing fistfuls of fur the cat soon leaves. Oddly if I did that she would probably scratch me but both cats have been strangely patient with the baby.

For a few months I think our cats felt a bit left out but they preferred being left out to being round the strange pink wailing thing! Now LO has a bedtime they get the evenings with us but with the weather being good we've hardly seen them....typical.

 

[MrsAttard]

I worry too, but not too much. I've told my DH he'll have to take care of the litter box while I'm pg, but that prob won't happen. I'll be wearing a mask, gloves and washing my hands after!

My cat is like a child too. Sometimes I feel like I have to take as much care of him as I would I child (though I realize this is unrealistic). But I worry about how lively they are, running all through the apt and whatnot. I know when my siblings and I were babies my mother used to worry about the cats getting in the crib and possibly suffocating us.

 

[Jen.Uh.Fur]

The odds of your cat having toxoplasmosis is slim, they only shed the eggs once in their lifetime for a short period of time. But the risk is still there. Have hubby be on litter duty, and if he refuses, then I would wear a mask, gloves and wash afterwards.

 

[wifey1988]

first of all has anybody had a cat theyve had since they were a kitten and have never really been around a baby? If so are you concerned on how they will be? Another thing too has your cat or cats gone from not wanting anything to do with you but the minute you decide its time for a baby have they been more cuddly?

curious about this as well, but more toward dogs. maybe ask in the preggers/mommy forums

 

[jessa_cole]

You can also get your cat tested for toxoplasmosis at the vet's office. If you get them tested and they don't have it and they're an indoor cat, they chances they'll get it while you're pregnant are slim to none and you'll be OK to change their litter without being afraid. Just take the same precautions you do normally. Wash your hands, try not to breath in the dust and vacuum the floor around the litter box.

As far as how they'll act around a baby, invite a friend over that has a baby. My cat had NEVER been around a baby until my mom brought my baby sister over. All he did was sniff her feet, sniff around her stuff and walk away. He even let her pet him and he didn't get mad. He did hiss when she started rubbing him the wrong way but that was only because my hubby was holding him down and forcing him to let her pet him. He was more hissing at DH than at the baby.

 

[ashleyp]

yea I was thinking i should of posted it there after I posted it

 

[Bug222]

I have the same question about my dog.. i have to admit he is pretty spoiled.. i wonder how he will react when we do have a LO in the house. When friends of mine bring their LO's over and I am paying attention to them he tries to get my attention by sitting on my lap or pawing at me.

 

[c1403]

My cat loves attention and cuddles so I do worry. I do think most cats adapt well enough to change (we are now in the process of re-homing next doors kitten too so could end up with 2!). I will try and make sure I continue to give my cat lots of cuddles when baby comes.

As long as your around when they are near baby then im sure it will be fine. I would never trust the cat 100% and ensure they are never left alone with the baby xx

 

[Torsornin]

this might be a little granola for you

but I truly believe that animals understand far more than we think

I have heard of many dogs becoming the babies protector - even saving their lives from SIDS. Even cats watching over babies.

I think ( and in my experience this does work) if you talk to your animals, tell them what is going to happen, and even give them a job - they understand.
I think often when animals dont acclimate well to a baby in the house - their human parents didnt do a good a good job of preparing them - and then trying to give the animal a little fur time

I mean there are the cases where an animal just cant adjust - but more often I feel its the human-parents.

I have 4 cats, 2 dogs, 3 birds, a tankful of fish and a hedgehog (all in the house) 4 horses, 5 chickens and 1 goat (at the barn) and I have no plans of getting rid of any of them unless they *REALLY* dont adjust - even with me trying to help them

the only cat I worry about its Pumpkin - who often sleeps on my face! - I will make sure (he esp) cant get in with the LO while they are sleeping

 

[jessa_cole]

^You are so right! My mom had a baby 7 months ago and as soon as she brought the baby home, he was right there being her protector. If she started crying in the middle of the night, he was at the foot of my mom's bed, barking to get her up. He slept at the foot of her bassinet and watched over her. He's even one of those "excitable" dogs with a tail that feels like a baseball bat but when he's around her, he's so careful and so protective of her.

 

[wifey1988]

^You are so right! My mom had a baby 7 months ago and as soon as she brought the baby home, he was right there being her protector. If she started crying in the middle of the night, he was at the foot of my mom's bed, barking to get her up. He slept at the foot of her bassinet and watched over her. He's even one of those "excitable" dogs with a tail that feels like a baseball bat but when he's around her, he's so careful and so protective of her.

aw this was very reassuring to me thankyou for sharing i think my furbaby will do great

 

[lookingfwd]

My mom loves to share the story of our family dog who stayed by my bassinet constantly, standing guard. I hope my critters are as welcoming when the time comes.

A friend of mine got a babydoll when she was pregnant and held it when she was at home with her dogs so they would get used to seeing her cuddling someone other than them. They were her whole world up until she got pregnant, and she was worried about their adjustment...and as far as I can tell, everyone is doing just fine.

 

[xxSaffyxx]

Also when you are pregnant get your OH to clean out the litter - its meant to be very bad for pregnant ladies but I cant remember why (other than the obvious germs)

 

[Vickie]

We have two kits, both of which we've had since they were kittens. It took some adjustment for them to get used to having our daughter around but really it hasn't been that hard of a transition at all. One of them does try to get between Hannah & me for attention but she was pretty pushy with attention before. The other pretty much ignores everyone until Hannah goes to bed and than he wants his attention