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How to prepare a cat for the arrival of a baby
For a cat, an unborn child is a new and incomprehensible creature, and it needs to be prepared for the arrival of a tenant in the house in advance. These animals love stability, and any change puts them in a state of stress.
Therefore, it is important that all changes do not fall on the cat at once. Therefore, the preparation process must be carried out in stages.
Usually, objects that smell like something unfamiliar make cats want to leave their mark on them (in other words, to urinate). To prevent this from happening to your things, familiarize the animal with the smells of baby lotion and powder in advance.
Some felinologists suggest this method: start using baby cosmetics yourself 2-3 weeks before the baby is born, so that the fragrance mixes with your scent, which is familiar to the animal.
Plus, your daily routine will likely change over time. And this will happen even before the baby is born. But even if you run out of time to play with your cat, try to at least talk to him in a gentle voice more often. A pleasant, soothing intonation will serve as a signal to the cat that the owner still loves her.
It is also worth considering that after some time the child will grow up and begin to move around the house. For this reason, the space where the cat performs its natural needs should be safe and fairly closed. If this is not the case, start moving the tray gradually in advance – moving it a few centimeters per day until it is in the right place.
How to introduce a cat to a baby
You can introduce a newborn baby and a cat right away, but it all depends on the specific circumstances and situation, as well as on the character of the animal. An example scenario might be this: you could let the cat into the room while you are holding the baby in your arms. Sit down on the sofa and let the animal come up and sniff the new family member.
It is very important that the cat associates the child with something pleasant. Therefore, to reinforce positive impressions, immediately give your pet a treat. If the acquaintance didnât work out right away (for example, the cat got scared by the babyâs sudden movements and ran away), donât worry – then youâll try again.
To strengthen the bond between baby and cat, do not shoo the animal away when feeding or changing your baby. On the contrary, let it study the little man and get used to his voice and movements.
But at the same time, never leave a cat alone with a baby, even if, for example, the animal is sleeping and the baby is playing peacefully nearby.
It is important to always supervise the baby who is near the cat. For the safety of both, especially as your child grows. The situation can become unpredictable very quickly.
Daniel Cummings
Cat Behavior Specialist
Older children who move freely on their own can also, without meaning to, harm the cat. For example, accidentally falling on a pet, inadvertently pinching it with a door, or dropping something on the animal. Therefore, it is better to start leaving children alone with a pet from the age of 7â8 years.
How to teach a child to communicate with a cat correctly
Children begin to communicate more or less meaningfully with animals at about three years of age. But it is necessary to cultivate empathy for living beings in a child as soon as the baby begins to show interest in the cat. Donât let us pet the cat against the grain, poke it in the face, or roughly grab the animal. Gently guide and control your child’s movements.
It is very important to explain that the cat is a younger member of the family, not a toy, and should not be pulled by the tail or pulled by the ears. He is not created for entertainment, he has feelings. Gently but persistently suppress any hints of cruelty to the animal. However, strong love for a cat must also be kept within limits: too hot hugs and squeals of joy will only harm the pet.
Babies do not yet have a very good sense of the position of their body in space and may easily not calculate the force when touching a cat. Start small – give your child a soft cloth, sponge or brush that can be used to brush over the catâs fur without fear of harming the animal.
Older children, from about three years old, can already explain the basics of animal body language. For example, if a cat twitches its tail, it communicates that it is irritated. When an animal presses its ears to its head or widens its eyes, it is scared.
Many children like to look intently into an animal’s eyes, once again provoking it into aggression. Therefore, it is very important to teach your child a technique called âcat hypnosis.â
This is a smooth closing and opening of the eyelids, which in the language of any animal means âI will not attack, I am a friend.â Observe: cats often show their friendliness towards people in this way.
Marina Zherebilova
Animal psychologist, felinologist
Tell your child about the basic safety rules when handling animals and explain why it is important to follow them. For example: a cat cannot be taken outside, because the animal can easily be lost there. Windows and unglazed balconies must be closed, as a fall from a height can end badly for the cat.
How to help a cat adapt where there is already a child
If you decide to take an animal into a home where there is a child, be sure to first give the cat all the necessary vaccinations. In addition, he should not be on his own: on the street you can easily catch a dangerous disease, including rabies.
An animal can infect a person. But if it is vaccinated and kept at home, the likelihood of contracting rabies is very low. Vaccinate your animals on time and reduce the risk of infection.
Sergey Savchenko
Veterinarian, author of the YouTube channel âChildren of Faunaâ
Make sure that the cat has some kind of secluded place. For example, this could be a shelf where no one can reach the pet and where it will feel safe. It is better if such a bed is higher – then the cat can calmly rest and be alone when it needs it.
The animal needs to have its nails trimmed often, either by yourself or by a veterinarian, so that it does not accidentally scratch the baby while playing.
And under no circumstances take a kitten into a house where there is a small child. Firstly, the immunity of a young animal is still too weak and stress from adaptation can hit the body hard. Secondly, a very small cat requires almost the same attentive care as a baby.
If the job is done and you already have a young cat, do not forget to devote time to the animal, pet it and feed it, and monitor its health. Teach your children how to and how not to pick up a kitten, do not let them cuddle the animal uncontrollably, and remind them more often that the cat is not a toy and needs personal space.
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