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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Pets

27 replies

MinesALatte · 31/05/2020 19:35

Bit of a strange one but how have your pets reacted to your baby?

I have a cat, he’s six years old and without sounding like a crazy cat lady - he has been by my side through a lot of bad times, he is beyond special to me. Now, whenever friends and family have come round with their children, he hides, he does not like children so I am worried how he’ll react when a baby comes along. I’m hoping he’ll know it’s ours and react differently, but it does concern me. He is crazily intelligent so I do hope the latter, but curious to hear stories ☺️

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Jojo19834 · 31/05/2020 19:37

Following, I have two, neither are massive kid people as never had to deal with them and one is exactly as you describe. I really really really hope they adapt as I love them to pieces

Jojo19834 · 31/05/2020 19:38

Oh and I’m 31 weeks pregnant (forgot to add!)

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 31/05/2020 19:42

My cat was my 'baby'.
Now I have two children she treats them as her babies.

Original poster

MinesALatte · 31/05/2020 19:47

@Jojo19834 I’m so with you, I really hope he adapts too, he’s my world. I got him before I met my OH and my OH adores him too, they have a gorgeous bond. He’s an indoor cat so he won’t be able to escape which is a concern.

@JohnLapsleyParlabane that’s adorable!!

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Jojo19834 · 31/05/2020 19:54

@MinesALatte mine were meant to be but love to go out so I’m more worried that they can go out and ‘leave’ so there’s pros to both! I think I’ll try and keep them in those first few weeks so they can get used to baby before disappearing out. Glad you mentioned that!

mobear · 31/05/2020 19:56

I’ve had my cat around 8 years (also longer than OH) and I feel exactly the same way - he’s a rescue and can be a little moody, but we got him a ‘sister’ (a kitten) three years ago and he is so good with her, so I hope he’ll be the same with the baby.

I will keenly watch this thread!

Original poster

MinesALatte · 31/05/2020 19:58

@Jojo19834 please keep me posted, I’m only 3w+4 so a long way to go 😂
he jumped on the bed with me while I was reading posts on here and the thought occurred to me what he’d be like and what others’ experience was!

OP posts:

Dreamingofaholidayyy · 31/05/2020 20:07

I have 3 cats and 14 weeks pregnant been wondering about this too! They’re my babies and I hope they accept their new human sibling when they arrive! Although my cats have plenty of hiding spaces to go in the house if they’re not in a socialising mood haha.

LillyLeaf · 31/05/2020 20:19

I'm worried about my cat too. She is everything to me and rules our house. She's already declared the cot as her own. When we've had toddlers or small children around she runs away from them, I think because they move too fast. I'm hoping a newborn will be different as they mostly sleep and won't run after her, then she'll get used to them by the time they are more mobile (can you tell I've thought about this a lot). I'm 32 weeks.

Delbelleber · 31/05/2020 20:34

I have 2 cats, both spend a lot of time outdoors. One hasn't even acknowledged the baby who is almost 3 weeks old and the other has snuggled in to his legs when he's been sleeping and tried to climb on us both when I've been feeding and the cats been trying to get attention. My puppy less than a year old has been brilliant with the baby. He sniffs him but doesn't touch him and if he hears the baby crying he comes through to check what I'm doing. Protective in a way. I also have 2 older children so the pets know about kids but never a baby.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 31/05/2020 20:49

I have a cat and a 9 week old. Since the day I bought my son home from the hospital my cat could not have been less interested. I think shes sniffed him once.

Jg93x · 31/05/2020 20:50

I’ve been wondering and worrying about the same thing.

Our cat is still only a baby herself, she’s just turned a year old but she is so loving and clingy, she is our absolute world and follows us wherever we go in the house. She’s never not in the room with us.

I’m really worried when the baby is here she’s going to feel left out or wonder what is happening, of course she’ll be getting just as much attention from us but I don’t want her to feel like she’s been replaced.

She’s quite curious with my brothers step daughter but was very unsure at first as his step daughter is a boisterous 2 year old so I think she didn’t know what to make of her at first 😂! I’m hoping she’s less concerned about a baby who isn’t going to run after her screaming cat (not for a few years anyway!) 😂

attillathenun · 31/05/2020 21:00

My cat has been fine with my baby but we were worried about him before she was born because he was our little baby too. He could not have been more disinterested (Probably because she can’t give him cuddles or food)!! He’s wary of her now she’s a lot more alert and sitting up, but every night we have a cuddle with him on the sofa once DD has gone to bed to make sure he’s still getting adequate attention (during the day he’s still off doing his own thing like he was before!). Weirdly the crying and screaming doesn’t bother him like we thought it might.

We found that trying to keep things relatively normal for him have been the key. He still sleeps in our room but we did use a cat net to ensure he couldn’t get in with DD and he won’t be allowed in her room at all when she’s sleeping in there.

fonxey · 31/05/2020 21:06

I have 3 housecats. At first test ignored her. But then the boy realised if he hangs Arbor he gets lots of attention too, so her will now just cuddle up to my baby. But problematic now with her being grabby.

It took the girls 4-5 months to bother with the baby and now they will lay nearby.

Vinorosso74 · 31/05/2020 21:16

Our (now departed) girl used to keep out the way from most visitors until she was very old. She was quite good at working out cat people though!
When we brought DD home, we put the car seat down she took one sniff and hid under the bed for 2 hours. When DD cried Dcat was always there letting me know the small human was upset. The midwives even commented how maternal she was.
We did have less time for DCat when DD was a baby but once DD was in bed we'd make a fuss of her and when I was BFing, DCat would often snuggle next to me but never get in the way.
Don't worry too much, try to make a bot of time for your cat and give him high up places-shelves or hiding places away from a crawling baby.
It's a strange time of readjustment for everyone.

Vinorosso74 · 31/05/2020 21:17

*bit not bot!

islandislandisland · 31/05/2020 21:21

I'm worried about this too! My cat sleeps on my chest most nights, follows me everywhere and is generally used to having all the attention, I can't bear the thought of her feeling pushed out

Jenjenn · 31/05/2020 21:36

My cat also hides if anyone, especially with children, calls. He might come out after a bit if it is one of the few people who cat sit for us. He is 12 now. When dd was born he just stayed well away from dd and me. He kept his distance from dd until she was around 4 I think. Now he tolerates her petting him a bit and sits nearby while we play or read.

EveningReflection · 31/05/2020 21:38

We have a cat who will be 6 years old tomorrow.

Shes so timid and hides from everyone except us. I suspect when the small human comes home she will take a while to adjust. I personally think she might get a bit jealous, as shes really the centre of attention at the moment (though she plays it cool of course).

I often wonder if she can sense that I'm pregnant, am I crazy?

I know quite a few people who have given away a cat or a dog when they had a baby. That makes me a little sad, our cat is part of the family, we could never abandon her like that.

Original poster

MinesALatte · 31/05/2020 21:44

Thank you for all the stories! @Jg93x mine is exactly the same, he’s so affectionate and loves our company. He’s obviously used to being the only one that gets our affection so I don’t want him to feel pushed out! I will also have to start not letting him in the bedroom overnight (he’s only allowed in at weekends as wakes us up regularly through the night) because he likes to jump from the windowsill to me - generally my tummy! And he’s a Siberian so he’s 8kg!!

@Vinorosso74 thank you for sharing your experience! Some good advice in there ☺️

OP posts:

Original poster

MinesALatte · 31/05/2020 21:45

@EveningReflection yeah that will never happen for us, he’s too precious to us, but concerned if he’d be unhappy 😟 only time will tell!

OP posts:

CREH · 31/05/2020 21:45

I have a six month old. Two rescue cats who are opposites, one very confident and one scared of her own shadow. Neither have shown any interest in baby, both were more interested in cuddles with me though after I had DD. I do try and give them fusses as often as possible though so they know I still love them too especially as I started locking them out of the bedroom whilst baby was very small. I don't any more now as we didn't have any incidents - don't stress people have had babies and pets for years!! That's what I used to tell myself

Jaagk · 31/05/2020 21:55

We are currently having to rehome our 2 cats as my DS 15 months is allergic, my oldest cat who is 4 has been extremely aggressive towards him and in the last 3 weeks has attacked his face 3 times, I'm absolutely devastated to have to let them go.

EveningReflection · 31/05/2020 22:09

@Jaagk aw thats so sad to hear, sounds like everyones worst fear when it comes to pets and babies. Are you able to rehome with a friend or family member?

sohypnotic · 31/05/2020 22:11

We have 2 cats, both 8yrs old, adopted at 6 months, and DD who is 2.5yrs. When she first came home they stayed well clear of her, occasionally doing a meerkat impression to take a peek. After a few days they were happy enough to be in the same room, just not too close. By 2 weeks they were happy to share a lap with baby.

Once she became mobile they were a bit more wary again, but would be in same room/approach her for a dreamie/discarded dinner. Our girl cat is an absolute lap addict, so would put up with a lot of abuse in search of a tickle. Once DD learned not to grab at them they were happy to be stroked and generally near her. This was probably between 12-18 months.

Now they will sit on her lap (on a cushion) or lie near her in bed, and be stroked. The boy cat is fond of a head bump with DD. Unfortunately she can now pick them up, which they're not too pleased about, but are very tolerant with her.

They had no previous experience with babies or children, and are generally very wary of strangers, or anyone unknown who comes to door/into house. They do go outside, but less so since moving before DD born. Both always been very affectionate to known people.

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