Feeling towards pets when have baby

[anotheronettc]

I feel slightly horrible writing this post and want to stress first, I love animals and would never do anything to hurt one. I wanted to know if anybody has been feeling the same though .
Before I had my son my cats were literally my babies and I adored them. Now, it's a completely different story, they wake me up in the night meowing and they wake my son up just when I've settled him. Whenever I lay anything out for my son to play with or any kind of activity mat the cats always get on it and sharpen their claws on things. I just feel so frustrated at them that sometimes I wish I could give them away but I know I love them too much to do that. Has anyone else found their relationship with their pets has changed since having a baby / children. X

No my feelings didn't change towards them.
Love them just as much.
And the best thing I ever did was bring my child up around animals.
The love my child gives to the pets and the love she gets from them is absolutely priceless.
And the empathy I believe she's gained from having these pets.
I could go on.
The joy they bring me is like nothing else

And the best thing I ever did was bring my child up around animals
Couldn't agree more.

Exact same

☺️

It may be because pre-children we always understood that we had pets, and never thought of our cats as our 'babies', so when our first child arrived we didn't see him as a replacement for the cats.

I think this is an interesting point. Are the people who go on and on about their adored fur babies more likely to tire of them when an actual baby appears.

Have 2 kids
Worship my cats
Never ever caused me the slightest problem
LOL

Ah this is so sad. Maybe they would be better off in nee homes. Animals need affection.

Gosh no. I always had cats with the babies, it never even entered my mind to get rid of them. Always outside cats though, and always in the kitchen overnight with a cat flap, so very independent.

I used to the love when the babies were on their play mats and the cats went to sit by them. When the babies were older, they put up with their tails being pulled and the babies using them as a stabiliser by gripping their fur to keep upright. When they had enough, they just walked off. I am sure DD's talked to the cats in cat speech, before they talked to me! Essentially, they were excellent baby-sitters.

I've had cats (1 surviving) baby, 2 kittens and a new baby on the way.

yes I do find the cats a lot more annoying than before I had baby... and mornings are a feeding frenzy and they drive me mad when trying to get the baby to bed.

I've found the way forward is to not let the cats have the run of the house.. especially at night. They are animals which are perfectly happy to be outside... and where we live are perfectly safe to be outside and when they behave they can stay indoors downstairs.

seeing my son learn to play nicely with them really does warm my heart and knowing he will grow up respecting animals is a big plus

Yes I felt the same, but whilst they're never going to be the same priory etc as the kids, the love for them did return.

People who do re home pets after having children shouldn't have pets in the first place. I say this as a mum with a special needs child so I know it's not easy.

I generally agree and I have no time for people who treat animals as disposable objects and refuse to be friends with them but when people's attitudes are this shitty, Example A I wish they would run away. One did but unfortunately came back. then I think it may occasionally be wiser to rehome them and never, ever get another pet again because the animals deserve better.

People wonder why so many rescues won't rehome animals to homes with young children. Well, this is why.

Never felt like this I'm afraid. Everyone told me I would but I don't - I adore my cats.

I was feeling complete hatred towards my dog up until recently.
DS2 is six months old now and it's starting to get a little better.

Funnily enough I didn't feel this way about my previous dog when my first two babies were born, Or maybe I just can't remember that far back

Hopefully it starts to lift for you soon OP

interesting discussion. I stressed more about our cat just before DS1 was born and then when he was very little. it did improve but she was pts when he was 5m old with cancer. I've read that it is a thing and that it usually passes.

also interesting point on is it those who think their animals are furbabies etc that tend to feel it more. my SIL is due her first baby soon and they've always insisted that their dog is equal to our child/ren and that they are cousins etc, very vehemently, not as a kind of cute joke type of thing. so time will tell I guess!

I remember feeling this! Can you create another area for the cats to sleep in? Exclude them from the play area?

I got so fed up of being disturbed by our cat when we had our first baby that we made her sleep shut out in the conservatory. We would also shut her out there if annoying!!! The phase soon passed, once the baby started moving she was always trying to chase the cat and the cat would make itself scarce!

I had cats and they definitely got less attention once I had kids. But I'm not sentimental about pets and they were never 'adored', I just liked having them around. I liked that they were independent and not needy like some dogs can be. And also, as I now have dogs too, maybe it's the way I am that none of my animals has ever had separation anxiety. They are wherever I am, but they stay in their lane, so to speak.
But I also never resented them - they are members of the family (they are the only ones who get stockings and Xmas), but they are not people, they were never 'my babies' so I don't think there's much difference going on.

Not really, though I remember when DS was about 4 days old he sneezed twice when our cat was in the same room as him. I remember having a little cry about how unfair it would be if stupid tiny DS was stupid allergic to poor old DCat who had never asked for a nasty loud smelly baby to brought into her house in the first place. Possibly I was somewhat hormonal at the time.

(DS and DCat now co-exist very amicably. DCat warmed to him once he was old enough to open the Dreamies box for her.)

No I didn't feel like this with mine. I got my two cats (as kittens) when I was pregnant with DS and it didn't change when DS arrived.

The best bit was seeing DS interact with them and how much they loved him and how nicely he card for them.

We now have 4 as DS wanted to have kittens of his own (although his kittens are now 8).

I get it if you're doing all the work though - can you ask your partner to step up?

Exactly the same for me! My 2 girls were my everything before my DC came along now they irritate the living poop out of me 24/7. My solution was to move they're litter trays by the front door, they have access to the kitchen for food and water, but the door is closed to rest of the house.
Then they learned how to open the door (ruined my door frame and expensive new carpet in the process) so I bought a cheap packet of those wedge door stoppers to fit under the door when closed, and it's worked so far! They cry for a while when I shut them in for the night (I can usually incise them in with treats or a slice of ham) but then they settle in and I let them straight out in the morning.

I know how frustrating it is but you will find something that works eventually.

Get a robot vacuum! Literally brings me joy every day and it helps so much with the dog hair. One less thing!

I initially felt very annoyed with my cats after having my first baby. But then my baby grew and made her own relationship with the cats and became a toddler then child so more irritating (but not more messy) than the cats. One cat died so only having one was easier. My relationship with the remaining cat didn't suffer when I had my second baby and I'm now very close and protective of him as he's elderly.

I agree. It’s not a toy to be discarded, it’s an animal.

I do kind of get this, my needy Labrador who follows me around the house under my feet did start to drive me mad..but when my 3 month old little girl did her first giggle this weekend at the dog barking with a ball in his mouth I remember this is just temporary and soon they’ll be partners in crime. ( still driving me mad mind) don’t forget they are adjusting aswell to this weird tiny human you’ve brought home that just makes weird noises and cries!

Amen to this!!

can’t imagine feeling this way towards my pets!!