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 It’s exciting to anticipate the birth of
your child. But for kitty, it can be an
uncertain time. Here are some tips to create
a smooth transition.
·
Prepare early. Don’t do nursery
decorating at the last moment, if possible.
Start early enough so you can do a little at
a time. This will help your cat adjust to
new things such as carpeting, furniture,
etc., because it all won’t be happening at
once.
·
Balance your time with kitty.
Don’t make the mistake of showing the cat
too much attention now, to make up for the
fact that you’ll be too busy once the baby
comes. The cat gets used to the increased
attention and won’t understand why it
suddenly stops.
·
Take the scare out of noisy toys.
Your cat isn’t used to exersaucers, swings,
and other movement/sound-generating
equipment. Set those objects up early, and
periodically touch them or turn them on to
create movement. That way she can safely
inspect them – well before baby arrives.
·
Have a baby visit. Invite a friend
with a baby for several visits so your cat
can get acquainted with the sights, sounds,
and smells associated with infants.
·
Let kitty investigate.
Your cat will want to check out the new
furniture in the nursery. Let her walk
around in there to get comfortable with the
unfamiliar objects. You can even spray
Feliway on the corners of the furniture
to help her feel more comfortable with the
changes taking place. If you’re worried that
she’ll try to jump in the crib once the baby
arrives, invest in a crib tent.
·
Help your cat become familiar with
scents.
Start using a little baby powder and baby
lotion on yourself.
·
Stay calm. Your cat will pick up
on your energy. Interact in a calm and
casual way, to let her know her relationship
with you won’t change.
Step-by-step instructions can be found in
the book
Starting from Scratch.
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