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You are expecting — congratulations! You and your family are so excited, but furry one? How will your pet take to your new addition? You have so many things to think about now, but don’t forget to prepare your beloved pet that has likely been an only child up until this point. First, let’s debunk some common myths believe that because you’re pregnant, the cat must go because of potential toxoplasmosis. While toxoplasmosis is a parasite that can be carried by cats, it can also be found in soil while gardening and on raw meat. Your cat can still be a part of your family.
Simply have someone else clean the litterbox to decrease any risks. ing attracted to the smell of milk around the baby’s mouth and sucking the breath from infants. In truth, cats are attracted to snuggly, warm spaces — and what’s more warm and snuggly than an adorable infant? While you do not have to worry about cats sucking the breath from babies, you do need to be concerned about potential unintentional suf focation from snuggling. It is safest to avoid letting your kitty sleep with the baby. Keep the door to the sleeping area closed. Our pets love us, so surely they will know that this baby is part of the family and take to the child without any problem, right? Not necessarily. It’s best to take the time prior to your baby’s arrival to prepare your pet. In the months awaiting your new bundle of joy, begin to teach your pet the skills needed to interact safely with your baby. If you have a dog, begin as soon as possible to work on basic dog obedience, including down-stay, leave it, drop it, go to your
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spot, quiet, no jumping and move away. Perfect ing these commands will help prevent your pet from jumping up and scratching your baby, picking up (and potentially ingesting) allow removing your dog from an unsafe situation. While it is our nature to want to lavish attention on our pets prior to the baby’s arrival, it’s better to gradually decrease the attention your pet receives to lessen the impact on your pet later on. Babies require lots of supplies. Take the
fear out of all the new equipment and sup etc., early on so your pet becomes familiar with these strange new things. You can use a baby doll to set up different scenarios to see how your pet will react and to train pre ferred behaviors (keep in mind that your pet it is still a good tool with which to work). Babies also make a lot of strange noises that can be disturbing to pets. Purchase a CD or download sound clips of baby noises, and play them softly while giving your pet treats. If your pet remains calm, you can increase the volume gradually, while still pairing it with positive reinforcement. Begin going for walks with your dog and
the stroller (with the doll if needed) to get your dog accustomed to the new arrange ment. This way your pet can still be an active part of the family after your baby comes and as it may be, never hook your dog’s leash to the stroller, as even a small dog can ac cidently pull it over. Your routine will change dramatically with the introduction of your new baby, and that means your pet’s routine will change as well. Spend the last couple of months of
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