Years ago when my first son was born our cat made it very clear what he thought of all the cozy baby gear making its way into our home. Great! He loved it. Soft. Warm. Comfy. As you can see from the photo below he especially liked the crib and all the stuffed animals. We are pretty sure he thought all the baby furniture were improvements we were making just for him! We knew there might be some jealousy issues when we brought our son home but we also figured our old kitty was pretty sensitive to our moods and that if we were happy he would be happy. We were wrong.
When we got home from the hospital, we put the car seat holding our darling baby boy down on the floor to meet our kitty. The cat came over to check things out, gave our son a sniff and let out the loudest hiss I’d ever heard. This cat, who was normally friendly and social with all visitors and guests, seemed to sense immediately that he had moved down a notch in the family pecking order. He then ran and hid in a closet and pretty much stayed there for the next several months except for meals and to use the litter. No cuddles while we slept or while we nursed. We’d try to coax him out but we didn’t have loads of extra time on our hands while we were learning to be parents to a new baby.
Now, years later, our family is expanding again and our new kitty, Max, is also 
demonstrating an affinity for all the baby gear. As far as he’s concerned the baby blankets, new stuffies, and gear are great. Uh Oh. However, we are determined to avoid some of the same mistakes from our first go around and have a plan of action to help our furry friend adjust to life when the new baby arrives. After loads of research, chats with friends, and even our vet this is our plan of action to make this transition smoother for kitty and the whole family.
Before Baby Prep: Helping your pet adjust to the changes that are already occurring in your home before the biggest change when your baby actually arrives at home can allow for a smoother transition.
- We’ve got our cat sitter on call ready to make visits while we are at the hospital.
- In addition to the baby gear we are getting, we upgraded some of the kitty gear. –We got some cozy, new cat beds and placed them in sunny spots as well as a new scratching post and other great toys to help distract kitty.
- We’ve started adding an all-natural calming supplement called Zylkene to Max’s diet to help him cope with the changes to our home and routine. –Zylkene is clinically proven to relax and calm your cat or dog without causing sedation or drowsiness.
- Before we come home from the hospital my husband will take home one of our new son’s swaddling blankets to let Max get used to his smell before we even arrive home.
When We Arrive Home with Baby: All that prep can go out the window if we don’t follow through once we get home.
- When we walk in the door from the hospital, we plan on getting Max’s attention right away to say hello and make him feel attended to.
- During the introduction, we’ll keep our voices calm and upbeat. Cats can sense our emotions particularly through our tone of voice.
- We’ve put our older son on duty for extra play sessions with Max after baby comes home and even hid some exciting new toys to add to the mix so Max continues to feel beloved.
- Rather than hoping the situation resolves itself I plan on getting Max to come sit next to me while I read books to the kids and nurse my new little guy so he knows it’s a good time to sit with me.
- We’ll also keep on using Zylkene and attempt to keep to the other routines we’ve established for Max.
- Since Max’s world will already be disrupted we have also committed to looking ahead out for other disturbing events where using Zylkene might help. Zylkene can help pets cope with a variety of long-term and short-term situations such as: traveling, thunderstorms, fireworks, vet visits, new home, kenneling, adoption, grooming, and meeting new people.
A new baby is a big change for everyone even your pets. Getting ahead of the situation can help make it easier for everyone. Do you have any additional tips we should try? Let me know in the comments section below.
Visit the Zylkene website for details or ask your veterinary clinic for it by name.To learn more you can also follow them on Instagram and like them on Facebook.
Zylkene is ideal for pets to help cope with various challenging situations, such as loud noises (fireworks, thunderstorms), traveling with pets, etc. Ask for Zylkene by name at your veterinary clinic, or purchase it online.
Click here to learn more about Zylkene non-drowsy calming supplements for your dog or cat.
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. I received Zylkene products for my own personal review. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.If your pet’s behavior changes suddenly in any way, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. He or she can rule out any underlying medical issues as well as make additional recommendations. Consult your veterinarian before giving your pet Zylkene. Follow the recommended administration on the package, unless otherwise instructed by your veterinarian. #ZylkeneDifference
