Bubs and Cats ...help!

[Mumma]

Hi....in desparate need of some advice. I am new mum to a beautiful three month old son. The problem is I am constantly worried about the whereabouts of my cat..particularly at night. I am terrified that my cat will wind up in the cot. I am being totally paranoid but I can't help. I need some advice..because it is inteferring with my sleep...and as new mum thats the last thing I need!

Any ideas would be grateful accepted.

[Jaileth]

Hey mumma,

I don't have a bub yet, but at night we have always put our cat in a room by herself - like the laundry, bathroom or garage - with some food, water and a tray. Is your cat and indoor one? You could try this and see if it works. You have the security of knowing that the cat is safe, and that bub is safe and both are in seperate parts of the house.

Hope this helps. And congrats on bub!

[Rainbowbrite]

We have a cat also, but we make him sleep in the laundry at night, otherwise he sleeps on our heads We've done this since I was pregnant.

Of a day he roams but MJ sleeps in a portable cot in the loungeroom so i can see her.

RB

[Chickadee]

Instead of locking the cat up you could simply shut the door to your bub's room and use a baby monitor to be able to hear him. You'd just have to watch the cat when you go in and out to feed and make sure he/she is out when you go out.

[Tubbychook]

Another idea is rather then shut bubs door is to get a screen door like the ones you have at the front or back door and have it fitted to bubs door that way you can still hear bub crying and know that the cat can't get to him then after bubs is older then you can remove it.

Hope this helps.

Shannon and Bubba Squirt

[Mum2Tyla]

Hi,
I am a vet nurse and soon to be mum, some great ideas, we put our cat in the laundry at night and that works great, you may have problems at first with her complaining if she is used to having free run of the house if this is the case then the flyscreen door sounds like an excellent idea. Good luck and I hope you get some sleep
Kelly

[Shazbutt]

I had cats before i had kids and when the DD1 came along i DID have a problem with one cat sleeping in the cot...i just shut the door, and at first had a monitor to listen to her, but i found i didn't need it after a while. She still has the door shut at 2 1/2 years as the cats would go and sleep on her bed and around her head and wake her up. As a bonus, she's not scared of the dark! My cats were terrible whingers, and didn't give up as most cats would do, so it was simpler to shut the door rather than shut them in one room and have them howl all night!

[Rockett]

I third the screen door idea.I got my dad to knock up a simple screen door,cost about $30 for materials,much cheaper than buying a proper door.
This way there is still airflow into the room,especially now in summer,and you can just peek through to see if bub is ok,while keeping kitty out.

[JnA]

Hi

We have two cats and one loves to get into all the warm and cosy spots (like the pram, the baby seat (beofre it was put in the car) and other spaces made just for the little one. I solved the cot dilemma by making a netting that fits over the cot and down the sides. I used a very light netting material I got from Spotlight and it doesn't interfere with vision, but it does deter the cat from jumping in. It's simple to make, even *I* could make it!

Best of luck.

[Issey]

Hi Mumma,

I too am worried about my cats. I haven't had bubs yet (another few weeks) but the two cats are in and out and often wake us up to be let out. I've never been able to fix this!! Both cats have found interest in the newly set up baby room, one cat keeps jumping into the pram and I promptly kick her out.

I am concerned about when I bring bubs home what to do with the cats - make them stay out all night (even though non-cat lovers wouldn't like this ) or shut the baby's door just in case.

I am interested to hear what you do and what works.