onious home It is easy to all get along
“Until our first child was due I had never been told the urban myths about cats and babies. I was stunned. Cats are maligned as creatures that are wont to smother your child just for a nice place to sleep. It would seem to me that they are as likely to do this as they are to be perched on the end of broomstick opposite a woman with a green face and pointy hat on the last day in October! We have kept up Roxy’s ‘special time’ when Lexi goes to bed. Even just 10 minutes if that’s all there is time for. We regularly point Roxy out to Lexi and vice versa. This only has to be done once or twice a week and always in a controlled environment i.e one of us supervising at all times. Lexi is now thrilled when Roxy comes into the room, she has tried a few tail grabs but we don’t allow it, we just encourage her to pat and stroke gently then clean her hands straight afterwards. Roxy will now happily sit nearby when we are playing with Lexi purring quietly as she observes her family.” – Kay Ryder
top tips No matter how much you plan ahead, the addition of a new family member will be difficult for your pet. They are used to being the centre of attention, you can minimise this feeling by gradually accustoming your dog or cat to spending less time with you. Drastically decreasing attention, ignoring, or isolating your dog after the baby comes home will make your pet feel stressed. If your cat or dog is particularly attached to the mother-to-be, another family member should develop a closer relationship. That way, they can still feel loved and provided for while mum is busy with the baby. Get your pet used to not entering certain rooms in advance of brining the baby home, so it doesn’t feel like a lot of dramatic changes all at once. Hormone diffusers like DAP or Feliway can often help in reducing anxiety in your pet when changes are taking place. Train your dog to remain calmly on the floor beside you and only to jump up on furniture when invited. Consider enrolling either yourself or your partner in a training class with your dog, and practice training techniques. Training allows you to safely and humanely control your dog’s behaviour and enhances the bond between you and your pet. Accustom your dog to baby-related noises months before the baby is expected. For example, play recordings of a baby crying, turn on the mechanical infant swing, get up in the middle of the night and pour yourself a drink. Make these positive experiences for your dog / cat by offering a treat or playtime. Use a baby doll to help your dog get used to the real thing. Carry around a swaddled baby doll and use the doll to get your pet used to routine baby activities, such as bathing and diaper changing. Sprinkle baby powder or baby oil on your skin so your pet becomes familiar with the new smells.
The Mayhew
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