Maybe a new baby

Hi guys! I haven't been around in months, it's nice to see familiar names still here :) My husband and I are starting IVF within the next month or so, and I am excited about having a baby, but concerned about my poor kitties. We have three boys(cats) who just turned one year old in April, and they do NOT like small children. No negative experiences with them but they have never liked small kids/babies. Do you think the cats will adjust or am I being unfair to them? Any advice or input is greatly appreciated.

:)
Jen

My cats were fairly young when I had my son - only a few years old, I can't remember exactly how old. They had never had any experience with children except once, when I am convinced that the boy we had as a supper guest secretly abused one of our cats - because she had been outgoing up until that point, but afterward became fearful. When my son was born, the cats immediately understood, I believe, that he was my "kitten," and that it would *not* be a good idea to do anything except respect him and be gentle with him. They were both females, so that may have helped. They grew to love him as he grew, despite his growing through the natural stages of crawling over top of them and so forth. We taught him from the outset the proper behavior toward cats, and he has always had a special touch with cats. Even cats who would not come to anyone else have come to him, even when he was as young as five. I think that cats can sense your love and protectiveness for the new one, and they understand what it means. If you continue to try to give them love and affection (it will be challenging, because new babies take so much attention), I think that will help, too. I hope you have the baby you so desire.

Although I have never had a baby, when I nannied and when my siblings children were little and came to stay with me, my cats...several of whom were NOT fond of kids or people, were always gentle and loving to ?my? babies. Hollyberry (who would scratch adults who touched her without introduction) always slept with my babies, never scratched them even when they pulled eyebrows, ansd would come running to find me if a baby cried. Most cats think of their owner as a parent. They will likely view your child as the kitten of the dominant female, and love and respect it accordingly.

Congratulations, by the way.

Oh, yes - that reminds me - our cats, too, would come to us when our infant son cried when he woke up from a nap or in the night. I guess they knew he needed attention, and they knew we were the ones to give it to him.

Thank you, Beauty and Barncat for your response. I hope that my cats will continue to be as loving and close to us as they are now when our baby finally arrives. :) Thank you again for your advice and kind words.

Jen

Oh, our cats were definitely as loving toward us as before. No question about that. And they grew to love our son as part of the family.

As in most things in life, first impressions can be so important. My seven cats adapted to Jonah without issue. Two can't get enough of him, two are pretty okay with him, and three avoid him- not like the plaque, but, just to keep out of his reach. I expect as he matures, they, too, will come around.

Read up on the introductions, and best wishes!