Attacking feet and new baby due

[Tootsiepops]

Our three year old British blue has suddenly started attacking my feet when I'm getting in and out of bed. She never really scratches or bites them, but she will make a run at my legs which is most disconcerting.

I am up through the night every 2 hours or so as I'm 8 and a half months pregnant, so there are plenty of opportunities for her to rush at me! Does she think I'm a new night time playmate?

She doesn't do this to my husband - just me! I should probably add that she has decided that my husband is the favourite at the moment too, so she goes to him first for cuddles, although she's not unaffectionate towards me I am used to being the favourite

As my due date gets closer, im also starting to worry about introducing her to the new baby too. We will take a blanket to the hospital to wrap the baby in, and then my husband will bring the blanket home first for the cat so that the baby's smell is at least a little familiar. We've also bought her a new, very tall cat tree so that she can view proceedings from above if it's all a bit much for her, but is there anything else we should be doing?

I do want this to go well for her. She's quite a nervous kitty and she's been the centre of our world since we got her when she was 12 weeks old.

Does any one have any advice about her running at my legs, or about introducing her to the new baby? Might the two things be linked in some way?

[Thefitfatty]

She may well be reacting to the smell of your hormones as your due date approaches. One of my kitties (my oldest and the one most dependent on me) was just like this in the days before my contractions started. She went bonkers.

As for introducing the new baby, I never had a problem with any of my cats. They all just generally avoided my kids when they were babies like the plague. Only one ever seemed interested in the kids and that wasn't until they were about 6 months and he would lay down next to them and let them pull at his fur (he's an odd cat, I think he liked it).

The biggest issue was keeping them out of the cot when the baby wasn't in it.

[Tootsiepops]

Funny you should say that - she has spent quite a lot of time just wanting to sniff my skin the last couple of days. I thought she was just being a bit weird . And she did come and sleep beside me in bed this afternoon which she never, ever does. I wonder if my labour is imminent

Hoping that my fur baby stays away from my human baby when she arrives, but bought some cat covers for the crib today just in case.

Gosh - I really hope this all goes well!

[cozietoesie]

Hmm. Hope you've got that bag packed and aren't getting too comfortable?

[Sparrowlegs248]

Our year old cat went through this phase and still does it sometimes. Mostly to Dh though. She and our giant boy cat sleep on our bed so i was worried about the arrival of baby. Giant cat ignored him for WEEKS! And now will lay under babies feet (being kicked which he seems to like......) Kitten walked straight upto the car seat when we brought baby home and sniffed at him. Ran away whenever he made a noise.

DS is 14 weeks now and both cats are used to him. Neither of them have ever got in his cot, Moses basket, car seat, pram, play mat.....kitten got on the playmate once actually. The worst they do is lay on his towel if i leave it on the bed. :-) Oh kitten also got in the shopping basket bit under the pram once.

[Thefitfatty]

Seriously tootsie, my Facebook status the day I went into labor with my DS (6 weeks early) was "why has Kimchi (her name) gone crazy?" I watched like a hawk with DD and sure enough the 2 times I went into premature labor with DD she acted the same. Cats know when something is up. Also she knew both times I was pregnant before I did. DS was a surprise and and about a week before I got a BFP she started sleeping on my stomach at night. Same when pregnant with DD

[Tootsiepops]

She's sleeping beside me again in bed this morning - v odd behaviour for her especially as my husband is home and up and about already. She's usually following him about like a lost puppy. I'd best get my hospital bag packed

Eek!

[cozietoesie]

All the best. (With her behaviour also.)