Cat and new born

[Teachertired92]

I’m 13+4 and have owned my cat for 8 years, since he was a kitten. He is a very timid cat and is an indoor only cat. He currently sleeps in our room at night with the door closed, and is very well behaved and sleeps through the night. When the baby is first born, he/she will be sleeping in our room for the first 6 months. I’ve heard lots of things about cats suffocating new borns and it makes me very anxious! I have had my nephews stay occasionally, since they were 6months. I’ve also recently had a new born round. Whenever children are round, my cat will run upstairs and hide there, refusing to even come down for food. I love my cat so much and want to make this transition as simple as possible for him. Does anyone have any advice or personal experience? Thank you in advance

I really don't think cats do suffocate newborns tbh. Babies are too noisy and unpredictable for most cats

When ds was born we had 2 dcats. They refused to be in the same room as him until he was of crawling age! Way too loud and probably smelly for them!

I asked the vet about this and he said to help the cat with the transition put the baby things out for a few weeks before the baby comes home so they can sniff them and get used to it all. Also when you put things in places think about where your cat likes to sit and even how they like to move across the room and avoid putting things in their way.
We never let our cats in our bedroom anyway and I’d be worried about the cat getting in the cot with the baby. It’s probably fairly unlikely but not a risk I’d like to take

I would be changing where the cat sleeps in advance of baby arriving.

@Snowymcsnowsony

When ds was born we had 2 dcats. They refused to be in the same room as him until he was of crawling age! Way too loud and probably smelly for them!

Exactly the same here with our 2 indoor moggies. They absolutely wanted nothing to do with him. They are a little more tolerant now but still very wary as he moves quickly. We had a feliway plug in but they didn't seem too stressed, just a little pissed at him monopolising the bedroom so they had to sleep on the sofa at nigjt instead poor buggers.

@extentioncord

I would be changing where the cat sleeps in advance of baby arriving.

Yes this is what I’m going to do to settle my mind. Does anyone have any ways I can do this without causing my cat stress? Thank you

I'd offer other options and also leave the bedroom door open at night so it can leave. My cat has a few places it likes to sleep other than the bed. Current favourites are cardboard beds and a small flokati rug on the sofa. You'll know your cat and what they like best though.