My cat is jelous of my baby!!!! HELP.?
I think that my cat is jelous of my daughter who is 4 months old....
To start with she has taken to sleeping in her cot, which I do not like as I've heard that cats carry a disease that can be harmful to babies and there is the risk of suffocation but most of all I just don't like her leaving her fur etc in my babies bed. I have told her off and removed her from the cot what seems like 100 times and she knows she isn't allowed in there. If i come to the door and she's in the cot she will jump out and run away real quick. Anyways I've been shutting the cat in the kitchen dinning and lounge room at night (she has access outside through her cat door) and she has now started weeing on things inside including items of my babies, her soft toys etc... and kitchen bench
I really do , well did, like my cat but now i don't want her in my house. I am considering giving her away but thought i try here for advice on how i could change her behaviour first becuase i really do like her
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Tagged with: 4 months • babies • cat door • cats • cot • fur • kitchen bench • risk • soft toys • suffocation • weeing
Filed under: Baby Soft Toys
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Well, it’s simple: You need to get rid of the baby.
AH HA, I’m just kidding.
But no, that’s actually what your cat’s thinking. You’re probably giving more attention to the baby than you are the cat; and that’s not your fault, really. Babies demand attention, they need it. However, pets can fall by the wayside during this period of adjustment for the household and you should know that there are many people who dump their pets because of their new babies for reasons even less than the reasons your cat’s giving you. That’s where things go wrong: A family should never give up an animal member of the family just because of the new human family member.
I think you need to reassess how the cat’s treated and, when you lock the cat in the kitchen/dining and lounge room you really ought to consider putting a catbox in there, despite her access to outdoors. There’s also a spray called Feliway that you can use on places where you don’t want her to pee on anymore. She’s under a lot of stress right now because this "new thing" is an intrusion in her life, and it’s going to take a period of adjustment. Right now she’s resentful that your time is taken away from her and given to this creature whom she isn’t confident with yet.
To keep her out of the baby’s crib (babies are nice and warm to sleep next to, and the whole "cats will intentionally suffocate babies!" is an Old Wive’s Tale), you can always get a crib net. Make sure the crib net is taut, otherwise the cat may use the net as a hammock. I have a good crib net linked.
Outside of the crib, try giving the cat more attention; playing with her, giving her treats, perhaps even trying to teach her some new tricks (some cats are pretty responsive at learning things; two of my cats do tricks). Let her know that she’s not just a burden or that the child isn’t taking her place…that all family members are treated and loved equally. How about feeding/breastfeeding your child on the couch while the cat sits next to you and gets petted? Try other means of involving the cat in activities that you do with your baby as well (and it will get easier to do this once the baby gets older and cat interact with the cat).
Good luck!
I don’t think she is jealous. Most probably she just feels comfortable in it.
What you can do is make a similar cot for the cat and on your babies’ cot, have some orange and lemon peels in it. Cats hate citrus odors as they have sensitive olfactory senses and your baby might like the perfume. ^_^
Definitely don’t let the cat into the same room as the baby’s cot because there are high danger risks (suffocation, etc).
I think the thing to do is to give the cat more attention. If you don’t have at least one spare hour a day to play with and care for your cat then you should give it away.
If you are going to put the cat in a room for the night (keep the access to outside) then you should cat- proof the room. Remove all the baby’s toys and other items which the cat can pee on. Keep her food and litter tray in the room, a cat bed and some of the cat’s own toys to keep her occupied.
As for the kitchen bench, covering the surface with foil is really effective because cats hate jumping on the stuff. Also cover other valuable items in the room.
You wont have to do this forever. At day time, when you can keep an eye on them, let the cat in the same room with the baby every day. Spray the cat with water every time she goes near the cot, though. Soon the cat will get used to the baby and when you’re sure you can let her in at night, do so.
If it doesn’t work out then, yes, perhaps you should give your cat away because it would be better for the baby and the cat. Who knows? Maybe a neighbor would like the cat and then you can see it every day!
Whatever happens, good luck:D
I wouldn’t be surprised if a cat was jealous of a new baby but with her trying to sleep next to your baby? Cats are very prickly creatures, they don’t hide their feelings. If she didn’t like your baby she would certainly stay away. Cats like sleeping with baby’s because of how warm they are. You’re right to be concerned though, not only of diseases but of suffocation (cats like to lay on the chest or neck/face). The cat peeing on ur babies toys may have something to do with marking her territory, I think its the opposite of her being jealous of the baby, I think she loves her and is simply marking her "territory" with urine (Im assuming the cats a female since theres no sparying going on). Are you positive its not just a coincidence? Your cat could be urinating because of a UTI (urinary tract infection), or if the litter box is too dirty. Since its most likely not medical, maybe you could try cat attracting cat litters, or give her lots of love after going in the litter box, but continue to lock her away from baby at night. When my cat kept getting on my couch, I layed down tinfoil, he hated the sound it made when he jumped on it, and he stopped. Theres all kinds of products that can help you, scat mats which emit a sound when the cat jumps on it, sprays (I used to use a little squirt gun, it works!) If all else fails make the cat an outside pet or find it a new home, baby comes first.
Anything done with love will become a habit to the puppies.
Try taking the cat in your lap for a long time till it weans from your baby’s cot.
Jealousy is not a trait of pets. or any animals.
Only men have jealousies and prejuedices.
Dont shut the cat from the activity centre and it may react badly
I don’t really believe that your cat is jealous of the baby. Rather, quite the opposite–she loves the baby and wants to be close to her, mainly in the crib because babies are really warm (which kitties love) when they are sleeping. Have you even entertained the idea of simply picking up a baby monitor? Place the transmission part in the baby’s room & the receiver part in your room, then close the door to baby’s room so that your kitty cannot get in, but you can still hear everything (if you’ve never used one of these they are VERY sensitive and you can hear every breath your baby takes). As far as the cat peeing on the baby toys, she is marking them as HERS also. It’s best to just get rid of any/all fabric covered soft toys and buy a few new ones. If she’s peed on any that are a hard plastic, you can spray or soak these in a diluted bleach solution and rise them off very well. Only allow kitty to be around the baby when she is awake, maybe out on a blanket-covered floor, where you can watch everything. If your cat was really jealous of the baby, she would have attacked–scratched, bit (or both) the baby by now. This is especially true if she has ever had a litter of her own. Cats are very smart & very sensitive, and she knows that this is a baby. In her mind, she’s helping you by protecting "her" baby. I would NOT consider getting rid of this cat. She is only trying to be a "good mommy" to the human baby that she’s adopted. The ONLY reason I would consider re-homing the cat would be if my child were showing signs of being allergic to the cat. Best of luck on this, but–other than the hair all over, I do NOT think you have anything to worry about. And, if by chance, you’ve ever heard the old tale that cats kill babies by suffocating them–this is an "old wives tale", and just not true.
Animals establish a pecking order and she has been over-thrown. It actually sounds like she might be interested in the baby by getting in her cot. Maybe you could offer kitty a blanket that the baby has used to lay on and some special toys just for the times she is shut in the other room. She does sound like she’s showing some bad behavior but she isn’t your baby anymore. Having a 4 month old keeps you jumpin’…I know, but if you could find some cuddle time with the kitty, treats, special attention, the transition may go more smoothly. Don’t give up on her yet!!
its very possible!
pay atention to the cat ( I love cats!- I have 7, but no kids!)
even if he dont attack the baby dont let him so close, they like to sniff and will not be a good thing he sniffs the mouth of your baby!
dont mistreat the cat, will be worse!
relate to your cat like you do towards the baby, he will acept the baby !