We have two cats - moggies, brothers, 2.5yo. We’ve had them since they were 1yo and we adopted them from Cats Protection, at the time our DCs were 4yo and 2yo, and CP had ‘marketed’ them (if that’s the word!) as being suitable for a young family based on experience with their volunteers.
At the time I didn’t think we would have more children, I’m now pregnant with DC3. I’m not at all worried about the cats and the baby. However some of you may have seen an AIBU thread about young Bengals and a new baby - very different to my slightly older moggies! - but I was surprised by seeing several responses about rehoming, even with moggies. To be clear we adopted the cats expecting to have them for life, if they live a long life we expect to have them until around the time our older two DCs are old enough to leave home. We love them!
Any tips or things I should be aware to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible with our new baby and the cats? I’ve been fairly relaxed about it all, so now I just want to make sure I’m not taking anything for granted and make sure my cats are still happy later this year when DC3 arrives!
A bit more info on our house in case it’s helpful. DCs are 4yo and 6yo. I’ll call DCats Treacle and Syrup, for ease. Treacle spends most time napping indoors, some time outside but tends to keep around our garden. Syrup spends most time outside roaming the immediate area, friends with neighbours’ cats, comes in for a bit during the day. We live in a townhouse so various floors to hang out on, nooks and crannies, as well as cat beds, cat tree etc.
They’ve never once been scared or aggressive with a person since we’ve had them, we have visitors to the house (including children) and they either want to be with them, or if DCs/visiting children are very active and noisy then they just hang out elsewhere. They don’t go into our bedrooms, those doors are kept closed, but otherwise roam around the house freely, and they sleep in the kitchen diner at night and are happy with that. They’re very sweet, sometimes they want a lap and other times not. Syrup is fine around the DCs but doesn’t hang around them as such, whereas Treacle spends time with the DCs especially DC1. The house has always been generally busy, full of children’s toys, buggies, scooters etc. DH is a busy SAHP so at home a lot but occupied with other things, I WOH FT but work from home one day a week and will of course be here during mat leave. DCs are out for school but home after school, on weekends and during school holidays (don’t do many activities, but we do of course have day trips etc). DH will have DC3 at home with him when I return to work.
Lots of info but trying to think of what might matter!