Your life days
are about to brighten up; your baby is on the door. Overwhelming changes are
inevitable! Your cat, too, would sniff it out. Your maggot is smarter than might
think. Most important: some ‘rules’ that has to do with the cat’s behavior are
about to change shape and content! You got better prepare the little companion for
this change as soon as possible! These few tips should help you.
1-A visit to the vet
A visit to the
veterinarian before the birth of the baby is quite essential. This check-up
will allow you to make sure your cat is healthy, that his vaccines are up to
date, and that he has no parasites.
Such a visit would
be more of more value if you make it an opportunity to reap advice on how to prepare
your companion on 4 legs for welcoming his little human brother or sister!
2-Troublesome behaviors to manage
Do not wait until
the baby at home!
Scratches,
bites, jumps on furniture, raids on the door... Find a way to end up these troubles
before your little kid arrives.
Never hesitate
to call upon a behaviorist’s help if you feel the slightest inadequacy of tips
and information provided by friends, relatives or online forums.
3-Learn how to trim your cat's claws
If your cat is not
yet accustomed to having his claws handled at an early age, it's time to fix it
up. That is of vital importance and should not be left to chance! Otherwise,
you may endanger your baby's tender skin !
To trim a cat's
claws, use a nail clipper, and try to keep your little feline under your arm as
you grab the end of his paw between your fingers.
Then press down
on the base of the claw and on the paw so that the claw comes out. You’ll more
likely need someone else's help if kitty is too recalcitrant.
4-Acclimate your cat to the smell and noise of your newborn baby
If you have
relatives or friends who have babies, take the opportunity and invite them to
your home, so that your kitty becomes familiar with the smell, noise and
behavior of the little human beings.
You can also
record baby sounds, and have your cat regularly listen to them, for about ten minutes
each day.
To avoid
frightening you kitty, play the tape at a very low volume while he is eating or
playing. Each time, you can raise the volume a little until you feel your cat becomes
comfortable with babies’ crying and screaming.
Why not also
coat your hands with baby powder and cream, and invite your cat to sniff them? That’ll help get the little feline at ease
with baby’s smell.
Remember: try
your best not to neglect your companion as you get busy with your baby. Make sure
to keep your pet’s schedule intact. The two partners can sometimes exchange
roles; while one tends to the baby, the other plays with the cat.
5-Prepare baby's room well in advance
It is time to
decide if you will need to change where your cat currently rests and sleeps.
For instance, the spare room where your cat usually has free access may become
the nursery for the baby. Gradually encourage your cat to sleep in other areas
and then keep the nursery door closed. Make this and other changes well in
advance so your cat does not associate the change with the coming of the baby.
You will then
have to leave the magic to operate, and witness the beautiful spectacle that
can be the birth of a great friendship between an animal and a kid.