If you are expecting a baby and already live with one or more cats, you may be lucky enough to have received valuable lessons from your little felines about the meaning of care, responsibility, respect and love. The experience of pregnancy, as well as that of living alongside a cat, has the power to show us the overwhelming power of Life, nature and instinctuality, beyond any need to control and predict.
The opportunity for children and animals to discover and grow together is a unique and priceless source of mutual enrichment. In many cats we can observe a real attraction and an immediate attachment to the newborn, starting from pregnancy. For other cats, on the other hand, the arrival of a baby and all the changes associated with it (environmental, relational, habits…) may be the cause of stress, anxiety or even undesirable behaviour such as needs outside the litter box, marking, aggressive reactions.
These reactions and misinformation on the subject may lead many women or couples to think that they have no choice but to relocate their cat to other families or catteries. In reality, in many cases, a peaceful coexistence between cats and children is possible with the right precautions: as a feline relationship counsellor and animal therapist, I will be able to guide you to the correct introduction of the new arrival of a child and pave the way for a happy future together: for cats, children and parents.
Write a message to info@aliceguardaigatti.it or fill in the form.
I will get back to you as soon as possible!
HOW WILL THE CAT REACT TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE BABY?
Cats are said to see women, men, children, adults and the elderly as different species: a cat socialised with only female humans might react adversely towards males, just as cats accustomed to the presence of adults might be frightened by a newborn. This is because, in fact, a human kitten has completely different dimensions, sounds, smells and ways of moving than an adult.
Depending on your cat’s temperament, his or her previous experiences with children, and the quality of these interactions, he or she might react differently to an infant or small child. In some cats the prevailing emotion might be fear, in others, curiosity, in others irritation, and for some, indifference. Each cat is unique as will be its perception of the unborn child, but there are nevertheless certain modes of reaction that we can find more frequently in certain cat profiles:
- A cat that is very attached to a person, but fearful of strangers and tends to be insecure, may be the type of cat that will find the arrival of a baby more difficult: the cat may hide, remain alert, become less active or, on the contrary, very nervous, less affectionate and/or less playful. It may also start urinating on sofas, beds, blankets or objects of the baby. Although the use of the term ‘jealousy’ for a cat is controversial, sometimes its behaviour does seem to suggest this feeling. Of course it is not a question of premeditated revenge, but rather of a state of unease that the cat tries to express with the means at its disposal.
- Cats that are more extrovert, calm and confident may react with curiosity to the arrival of a baby and all the new things that come along with it, want to join him in his sleep, participate in his care and seek his closeness.
- More independent cats, who are not very fond of physical contact, may be annoyed by the noise and novelties surrounding the child and retreat to secluded spaces where they can rest quietly.
- Aggression is a rare reaction, but one that could affect both particularly frightened cats and cats with a strong territorial motivation. This type of reaction must be analysed and contextualised in feline counselling.
A cat could contradict everything I have just written and react in a totally unexpected way to the arrival of a child, both positively and negatively. That is the beauty of the feline world!
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF A CHILD WITH ONE OR MORE CATS IN THE HOUSE?
Although it is a mystery who the person inside you will be and how life will change after his arrival, a little prenatal planning is necessary, especially if your kitten is particularly attached to you, very sensitive, not very prone to change, easily irritable and/or territorial. Particular attention should also be paid to situations in which the house is small and/or its spaces and main elements have to be revolutionised.
Here, then, are some of the 3 main tips for preparing the best possible encounter between cats and children:
- Get information on diseases that can be transmitted from cats to children, first and foremost toxoplasmosis, without being influenced by ‘hearsay’ or useless scaremongering. Ask your doctor and your vet for advice and discuss with them any vaccinations or anti-parasite treatments that your cat should receive. In many cases, simply do not touch your cat’s needs with your hands and use common sense when it comes to hygiene.
- Do not exclude kitty from this new phase of your life. Becoming a parent is an all-encompassing, overwhelming experience and it is normal that the attention and energy that used to be devoted to kitty will now be poured into the child. However, it is important to stop and consider the feline point of view: you will continue to remain the main point of reference for him. You can stimulate your cat’s natural curiosity to invite him to discover new smells, sounds and all the great little things that revolve around your baby’s world. And, when you are tired, use your moments of relaxation to reconnect with him.
- Protect kitty’s sensibilities as much as possible by making the changes as gradual as possible, both in terms of routine and space. Kitty may need additional quiet areas, even elevated ones: along with the buggy, you may also need a new scratching post!
Clearly these are just some of the tricks that can be implemented to help the cat get used to the arrival of a baby in the house. But what if all this is not enough? What if the cat also has previous behavioural problems and these simple moves do not work? In that case, the problems could worsen once the baby arrives. And this is where the intervention of a cat behaviour and relationship counsellor is essential.
DISCOVER HOW TO INTRODUCE YOUR BABY TO YOUR CAT
Children who are lucky enough to grow up with cats are likely to be happier, more respectful, sensitive individuals with a stronger immune system! Many cats will find in the child a new play, cuddle or bedtime companion. But in order not to leave things to chance, or if your kitten should respond critically to the arrival of the new family member, with a personalised consultation we can assess risk factors, opportunities and the best precautions to put into practice to protect your cat’s well-being and prevent/correct undesirable behaviour. With the help of flower essences, which I will identify according to your kitty’s emotional set-up, this transition will be even smoother and easier. Because a coexistence between cats and children is possible, you just have to look at the world through their eyes.
1 - FIRST CONTACT
Write me an e-mail using the contact form or at info@aliceguardaigatti.it and tell me why you need my help: I will get back to you for a brief chat. If the case falls within my competence, we will make an appointment for a home visit.
Do you live outside Lombardy or is it not possible to meet? No problem, a video consultation can be arranged.
2 - HOME VISIT
The time has come to get to know each other! I will come to your home and here the case study will begin, which will last between 1 and 2 hours. The visit comprises 3 moments:
- Listening: you will tell me everything you know about your kitten or kittens, their history and your cohabitation.
- Observation: I will ask you to show me the house to collect clues and study it through the eyes of a cat…
- Discussion: I will give you my initial thoughts on the case and the first steps to be taken, weighing up the pros and cons and feasibility together.
3 - A TAILOR-MADE PLAN
Thanks to the impressions and information gathered through observation of the animal, the family and the environment, and after analysis of materials that you will send me (diaries, videos, photos and materials about your cat), I will share with you all the advice and recommendations to follow for a new life with kitty.
Here I will need maximum co-operation and commitment from the whole family to be able to achieve good results together!
4 - HOW IS IT GOING?
It has been a few weeks, how is the situation with your feline companion evolving? Some time after the visit, 14 to 30 days depending on the case, we will get in touch for a new discussion.
We will take stock of the situation, understand what is working and discuss any changes or adjustments to the initial plan.
If you are ready to improve your relationship with kitty or take on a new challenge together, write to me!