[Reesesjiejie]

Hi,
My family is bringing home a little girl who will be 2 y/o by the time we get her. Thing is, we have a 2.3 month old cat who isn't used to kids. She's really attached to me and takes just about anything I do to her. But I'm older and don't go past her limits, a toddler probably will. Also, she's attached to me at the hip (I went away for 4 days. She hid under the bed for 3 and I couldn't get her away from me for 2 after I got home. She didn't stop purring for 6 hours after I walked in the door.) and I'm worried that she won't respond well to this little girl who will be getting a good deal of my attention (we expect she'll attach to me first) because she's taking away my attention. More or less, I'm afraid she act out, retaliate, once it hits her that this "thing" (cat's POV) isn't leaving. She tends to hide from strangers and is really shy, so for a few days she'll be battling whether to be with me, since I've been gone for 2 weeks, and deal with Reese, or ignore me all together as well as Reese.
What I'm asking for help with is ways to help prepare my cat, comfort my cat when we get home, and how to keep Reese safe. After all, we can't watch both of them 24/7/365. Also, not to be rude, but before anyone suggests it, I will NOT declaw my cat. Some cats that makes more violent, but it almost always causes arthritis. I love my cat too much for that. If I lost her or she was in pain, it would be like my own child was in pain...

Any ideas?

[twoinblue]

Let your kitty hide under the bed and get used to your daughter's sounds. When dd is asleep, pull her out and spend some time. I would keep a room closed off so that kitty has someplace to retreat to beyond dd's reach.
I've read in a magazine that having a friend record their noisy toddler then playing it back gets the cat used to the sounds.

[Reesesjiejie]

Thanks. Actually, Chen Le doesn't mind our friend's 4 year old much. She just isn't used to having a little kid around and, thus, can only take so much of it. I'll see what I can do about recording...that's a good idea. And if I'm gonna let her hide, I should probably repair that hole in my box springs...

[mdaisyq]

One thing to consider is that your new child may never have seen a cat before. My two youngest screamed bloody murder when we came home with them and they saw these big (at least to them) furry moving things. They were terrified and when I sat back and thought about how a cat must seem to them, had I never seen one before, I can't blame them.

[jarman510]

Sorry I can't offer much advice - we have two cats ourselves (not declawed, either.) Like you, I'm concerned how they'll react with toddlers in the home. We do clip their nails frequently, which keeps scratching damage to a minimum. I've heard something about caps that can be put on their nails temporarily, but I have no idea if that actually works.

Just wanted to let you know that I totally understand where you're coming from - these cats are my babies and I couldn't declaw them. They've been a comfort to have around during this whole process.

-Angie

[happynifer]

we are going to have an interesting adjustment period with our 3 dogs and 6 cats (and soon to be first child).
i think they will all adjust fine. what i would suggest is to start spending less time with your pets well in advance of traveling, since that is likely to biggest adjustment for them. for example, the nursery door is already closed in our house and i now spend my computer time behind a closed door away from the critters.
declawing is not cruel and does not lead to arthritis (i'm a vet), but it is usually unnecessary. the caps someone refered to are called Soft paws and can be of help for a short period of time. they are too much of a pain to put on (and keep on) for a long term scratching solution. 2 of my cats are declawed, 4 are not and they are all just fine.

most cats are smart enough to hide from a running child and would rather flee than attack them. teach your kids quickly not to corner them and they will be fine. never leave kids and pets together unsupervised, for the safety of both.

[themerrymouse]

I found a book that has a lot of great information on cats in general. It is called "Think Like A Cat: How to raise a well-adjusted cat, not a sour puss" by Pam Johnson-Bennett. I got it when we got our kitten last summer and it has a lot of helpful tips on how to help your cat adjust to different situations.
I also think it is a good idea to introduce the cat and the child to each other slowly. Your new daughter may very well be afraid of your kitty, too. Let the cat get used to the unusual smells and noises. Maybe leave a piece of clothing that she has worn or a blanket she has used in the floor for kitty to sniff. Kitty may see her as an invader to her territory, so just go slowly, the slower the better. Make sure kitty gets plenty of attention, too. You could even try gradually cutting back on the amount of attention that you give your kitty before your new daughter comes home. That way it isn't as big of a shock to the poor kitty when all of a sudden you can't pay as much attention to her. Your kitten is pretty young yet. You will find that as kitty gets older, she will be a little less attatched to you and more independent. Mine was about the age yours is now, last summer and there is a BIG difference in how she is now to how she was then. Your cat is the maturity equivalent of about a 4 year old child right now, at one year your kitty will be much more like an older teenage child.
Good luck! I hope all goes well for you!

[Reesesjiejie]

Thanks for the info. I know my cat's only about 4 mentally...she's such a momma's girl. It's hilarious...