Paddy McPad Foot / Wakey McWake Face and real babies

[Bleats]

Hello ladies

I am looking for some advice on two kitten related matters:

1. as to weaning my kitten from padding me awake during the night. The obvious thing is to shut the door on her, but I would far rather not (as I am too soft). I have a four month timetable to train her out of this as I then give birth.
   
   
2. any advice on babies and cats. I don't want my cat smothering her or getting in the cot. Equally I would quite like my cat to still feel the love. I don't want a baby vs fury baby war to break out.
   
   Thanks in advance, yawn...

[MrsBertMacklin]

No advice about kittens, but fabulous thread title

[Vinorosso74]

When I was about 7 months pregnant we just had to start shutting the bedroom door to cat which I felt very mean about even though she had her own bed and a blanket on the sofa in the lounge. There were a few nights of crying and pawing at the door then she was fine. She was 7 at the time and we'd had her just over a year.
Once baby is here make sure you don't leave them alone as baby beds are snuggly to cats. I would let our cat snuggle up with me while I was on sofa feeding DD so nobody was missing out. Our cat became quite maternal such as going to baby when she cried which a couple of the midwifes commented on. The HV however was horrified when she saw we had a cat...
I have to say our cat is very gentle and only once she placed her paw on my DD to say "stop".
Cats and kids can be great friends!

[RubbishMantra]

I think it's an old wives' tale about cats smothering babies, who are warm and snuggly, and the cat likes the feel of the baby's breath.

I may be wrong though, so don't take my word for it.

[Nigglenaggle]

You can buy 'cat nets' to put over the cot or moses basket rather than shutting them out of the whole room. They do seem safe and effective but they are a pain in the arse getting baby out for night feeds. My maternal instincts/madness wouldn't allow cat in the room with an un-netted cot if I was sleeping. Not worth the risk.

I love my cat dearly, but any animal padding me awake at night when I need sleep (including DH) is unceremoniously dumped on the floor. They don't persist long if you are firm and consistent. . Cat and DH are allowed to sleep on the bed with me if they are quiet and still.

You will be busier so the cats will have some adjustment to do, just make sure you still get time for cuddles and also that the cat has somewhere nice and quiet to retreat to when necessary that is a child free zone and preferably unchanged from pre-baby days. Try not to alter your cats feeding and letting out routine if you can help it. Good luck :)

[Bleats]

vino I will probably have to resort to locking her out if I can't stop her, but I think that I will at least try nigglenaggle's floor dump technique first. I can't bear crying at a door, but ultimately there is going to be a lot of crying going on soon...

Great advice on the cat nets and allowing her time for cuddles and space from the baby. Thank you!

[slicedfinger]

We always used cat nets on the moses basket, and then the cot, till the DCs were old enough to move the cat.

Good luck with calming the padding. slicedcat now pads the door instead of our faces. I'm not sure it is better tbh.