Cat, dog and new baby

Bluemeanie_2

Hello,

I have a cat, Hubby has a dog (Border Collie). When we first started trying to introduce them together, so we could move in together, there was a few fireworks, but it settled down and they generally get on ok together. There is a bit of jealousy, particularly from the dog when the cat gets some fuss. However the dog is generally very sweet natured and a docile fuss pot. The cat rules the roost if I'm honest. Both have the run of the whole house.

I'm due to have a baby on September 7th. I'm not worried about the dog getting nasty or aggressive with the baby or me. But I'm worried about both of the pets feeling pushed out/left out. I was going to shut them out of the baby's room but trying not to change anything else.

I will try my hardest to still give them both a lot of attention, but usually they get instant attention. If I'm breastfeeding or attending the baby, I won't be able to instantly fuss them or feed them when they demand.

Hubby says they're spoiled anyway, but I've always doted on my pets (I'm very much "an animal person").

Any advice for a smooth transition?

TIA
xxx

building_with_lego

I don't have much to say except that the baby will be in with you for the first few months, so you could get the pets used to that. I wonder whether you'll have stairgates once baby is mobile- you could get those in place now to get the animals used to the new way of life before baby actually arrives.

Wellyboots6

Sounds odd but try getting a doll!
Start showing them now that when you are holding the doll they don't get an immediate fuss/attention. They wait for you to put the doll down.
Once you get your pram or pushchair you could also start practicing walking the dog whilst you push the pram along.
If they won't be allowed in a certain room then stop allowing them in there now.
I suppose just start gradually bringing things in now that will change when baby comes along so it won't be a huge shock to them.

Mayflower10cat

My younger sister had three cats at the time she gave birth to her first child - she breastfed on the sofa with snoozing cats alongside. The cats were very respectful of the baby and would sniff gently but never, ever intruded. They were shut out of the baby's room for the first year, but after that they were allowed in if they wished.

I've had friends with a dog (or two) and they've all accepted the new arrival, with a gentle introduction and plenty of quiet time for each. Infact, one friends collie dubbed herself 'guardian of the small new arrival' and would watch over her as she slept. Very sweet.

spookylukey

How refreshing to see an owner being concerned about how their pets will cope with the impending arrival instead of wanting rid! :T

When I opened the thread I was expecting it to read: Cat, dog and new baby... need to rehome

Has the dog or cat had any experience with babies? If not and you want to try and get them used to the strange sounds you can get a CD of baby noises crying etc which might help them adjust.

If your intention is to shut them out of the babies room (which is totally understandable) then it might be an idea to do that NOW rather than wait til the baby arrives so they don't associate the baby arriving with being shut out of 'their' room. Also if they're anything like mine they will do their best to get in the room they have been shut out of so shutting them out early gives them time to get over it and stop harssing the door!

I think it's lovely to see kids being raised with pets so that they learn how to respect and love other creatures. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly when the time comes and you all live happily ever after!

Person_one

When you start buying baby things like car seats, changing mats, prams, cots etc. put them on the floor and leave them there for a bit so that the animals can have a good sniff of these new strange things and get used to them being around before they have a squirmy noisy pink thing in them and are ever weirder!

Take the time to train a really solid 'leave' and 'stay' command with your dog, these are the ones that will be the most useful when the baby starts throwing toys, food and dummies around and when you need to change a nappy without it being eaten (I'm afraid dogs love dirty nappies!).

As for the animals being jealous, I wouldn't worry too much. Maybe start ignoring their demands for fuss every now and then, but most likely they will accept the new baby as a new family member and be protective rather than jealous. My dad's dog used to stand guard at my niece's pram even when she wasn't in it! Well meaning, not too bright.

catswhiskers4

No dog advice, but I have a 6 month old baby and 2 cats. I've had 1 cat for 8 years and another for 4. I filled the nursery with all the baby's stuff and left the door open so they could explore and smell. The baby was in our room until 5 months so didn't shut them out of the nursery when I was pregnant. I breastfeed on the couch, quite often with a cat on my knee and at night the door to our room was shut when baby was in there and now nursery is shut. They were not allowed in when we were sleeping anyway. My cats are respectful of the new person as if they understand she's little and helpless. They get very concerned when she cries. I've had no issues at all. Now she's 6 months and grabbing everything, they don't sit too near her, but have never once tried to scratch her.

catswhiskers4

Also, I have Burmese and they are very attention seeking and I constantly have 1 on my knee and the other is on my fianc!. They just sat nearby when the newborn was with either of us. Absolutely no jealousy.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

They'll be fine. I wouldn't go with the doll thing, as a doll is a toy, not a human and they could give you nightmares as a result of treating a bit of plastic and cloth as exactly that.

Don't get angry with them, if the cat tries to climb on when you hav the baby, a gentle 'beside me' is far better than a furious get away. Although I did make it very clear that climbing into the Moses basket/got was unacceptable on the first instance - the cat never tried again after the baby was here. Feeding times were lovely, cat sitting beside purring, dog resting on feet, all like a big fuzzy cuddly bundle.

I'd be more planning how to reduce opportunities for child, cat and dog to be all sharing the same yoghurt by age 2. One spoonful for cat, one down for dog, one for child every time I turned my back for an instant.

Person_one

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I'd be more planning how to reduce opportunities for child, cat and dog to be all sharing the same yoghurt by age 2. One spoonful for cat, one down for dog, one for child every time I turned my back for an instant.

:rotfl:

Yep, animals learn very quickly that children in high chairs are an easy source of dropped food. Children also learn from a very young age that its funny to sneak food to the dog under the table!

Bluemeanie_2

spookylukey wrote: »

How refreshing to see an owner being concerned about how their pets will cope with the impending arrival instead of wanting rid! :T

When I opened the thread I was expecting it to read: Cat, dog and new baby... need to rehome

I would never re-home the cat or dog. And especially just because I was having a baby. I knew how long cats lived for when I chose to get my cat and new at some point a child would come into my life, so I factored that in when weighed up what pet to get etc! I really hate seeing people getting rid of their pets. Surely they must have some inkling that in the next 14-17 years they may have a baby?!

Rant over lol!

I'll take all the tips and feedback onboard everyone thank you.

xxx