How to Safely Introduce Cats to Babies and Children

Having a baby is an exciting time but it’s also a huge disruption for the entire household. And this of course includes your cat.

Cats like familiarity and predictability in their routine and in their environment. They bond to their home as much as they do to their people, and they do not like change. A baby, and everything that comes with it, is very definitely a big change! So here is how to make sure the first baby-cat meeting goes smoothly.

If you already have a cat when you have a baby, your priority is helping your cat adapt to the change – and make the transition from being the focus of your attention to having to share you with your newborn.

If you have a baby however, it is worth considering if this is the best time to add a kitten to your family as both will need a lot of your attention - especially in the first few months of your baby’s life. Most new parents have enough to do with their human arrival to even contemplate a new feline one too!

Better to wait a little while until the demands of parenthood become more manageable, and then if you still want to, think about bringing a cat into your lives.

Whatever your situation however, read on to find out how to create a peaceful and safe home environment for children and cats.

Can Babies and Cats Live together Safely?

Health & Hygiene for Cats, Babies & Families

While cats are exceptionally clean animals, there are elements of indoor cat ownership that can pose a danger to babies – especially litter trays, food and parasites.

Start to consider basic common-sense hygiene precautions and get into the habit straight away. 

• Make sure litter trays and food bowls are kept away from areas where the baby will be or could get access.
• Always wear disposable gloves and then wash your hands after cleaning litter trays – even if you don’t think your hands have come into contact with dirty litter, pee or poo!
• Wash your hands after feeding your cat
• Making sure flea and worm treatments are up to date in advance of your baby’s arrival
• Find ways to keep the baby’s room as a no-go area for your cat – especially in the early days. You can buy cat proof door gates.
   

Scenario 1: Bringing Your Newborn Baby Home to Your Existing Cat 

Preparing Your Cat (and Home) for the New Baby's Arrival

Knowing how to introduce your newborn to your cat can be a concern – especially if this is your first child, as up until now your cat hasn’t had to share you and your attention with anyone else, and everything is as new for them as it is for you.

The good news is that you have plenty of time from discovering you are pregnant to bringing your baby home so with some planning and preparation, you can gradually prepare your cat to accept the new arrival and even welcome some of the changes this will bring.

Why the Baby's Arrival is a Challenge for Your Cat

First of all, take some time to understand why this is such an upheaval for your cat as, it’s only when you can consider things from their point of view, that you can help to make them feel happy and secure. The secret to helping your cat accept their new role as a feline aunt or uncle is preparation and making as much as possible familiar for your cat in small, gradual steps.

Here are a few things to consider when thinking about how to prepare your cat for the new arrival.

• While we think that it is dogs that have the best sense of smell, cats also have excellent noses and make use scent to help them feel safe and secure – often more than most owners consider. They will rub their faces on items around the house - and on us - leaving their scent on them so they know what things are ‘theirs’ or are known to them, so, therefore, are ‘safe’. With a baby comes a whole host of new things - such as decorating the baby’s room, new furniture, the cot, a pram, toys etc. All these are unknown and to your cat, don’t smell right!
• Then of course there is the baby itself. To a cat, a baby doesn’t smell like any human they know! They smell of milk, nappies, baby wipes and a whole host of other things that your cat doesn’t recognise.
• As well as their smell being different, babies make some very strange noises - all of which can be worrying for your cat.
• It’s not only your cat’s environmental security that is affected by a new baby - it’s also their attachment to you. Suddenly overnight your routine has changed, and you are no longer as available for ‘cat time’ as you were, as you are focussed on the new demands of parenthood. While you are going to be occupied with your new baby, remember that your cat still needs your love and your attention.

5 Top Tips: Cat Preparation Before Baby Arrives

1. Start planning the baby’s nursery slowly and calmly 
   Start any decoration of your baby’s bedroom as early as possible so changes to the house happen gradually. Buy furniture and equipment one at a time so your cat can become familiar with them in their own time.
2. Introduce new scents and sounds 
   Try and make these new things ‘smell right’ by gently rubbing a soft towel or a cloth along the sides of your cat’s face while they are relaxing with you then rubbing it around the furniture and baby equipment. Play very quiet baby sound effects so your cat gets used to hearing the noises that come with a baby.
3. Give your cat their own space
   Make sure your cat’s feeding bowls and litter tray are somewhere quiet, out of reach of a crawling baby but still easily accessible. If this means moving them, do that long before the baby comes home so you are keeping change to a minimum.

4. Don’t forget your cat's needs
   As you are not going to be as available to your cat for a few months, think about ways to add stimulation for your cat into their life that does not necessarily involve you. This could include giving them different heights or textures (a climbing frame or cat activity tree) so they can indulge in their natural climbing behaviours as well as giving them a new vantage point to watch the baby but stay safely out of the way), interactive food dispensing toys, extra cat scratching posts, and places to access window sills so they can watch the world outside to provide added interest.

   Think about enrichment feeding opportunities too – this could be anything from feeding mats, food dispensing toys – anything to make life more interesting.

5. Remember cat play time
   While you are going to be busy with your new arrival, schedule some cat play time into your routine too – and try to make this at a time when your cat is at their most active but that the baby is likely to be sleeping.

The First Meeting: Introducing Your Newborn to Your Cat

Until then, keep them separate as your cat gets used to all the new sights, sounds and smells that a baby brings.

You will know your own cat well enough to know how they cope with novelty – and how confident they are. Be guided by them.

If your cat seems settled and happy – and if they seem inquisitive – you can allow them access to the room where you spend most of your time with your baby (not the bedroom) so they can become more familiar with them in closer proximity.

Your aim is that your cat is relaxed and happy to largely ignore the new arrival.

Make sure all access is supervised. Even friendly interactions with. cats can come with claws and teeth so make use of door guards etc when you can’t give them 100% of your attention.
 

Managing Life with a Cat and a Newborn

Most cats are far less tolerant of what they consider inappropriate handling than dogs.

Interactions with humans – including children - can easily lead them to feeling stressed, fearful, worried or just uncomfortable, if they feel overwhelmed or trapped.

Even when they are happy being stroked and in the presence of their family, interactions can get too intense for them quite quickly. A cat has only two things they can do at this point. One is to leave the situation – and the other is to bite and scratch. This isn’t being ‘bad’ or ‘aggressive’ – this is just being a cat.

While children are young, all interactions between the cat and your child need to be supervised closely. Most cats will either be mildly curious about babies or just avoid them. But babies and toddlers can grab, and cats can scratch. You want to avoid both. 
This is why babies and younger children should always be supervised around cats.

One of the big differences between cats and dogs is that we can’t train cats! All we can do is create an environment where the cat feels safe and relaxed – and where all their needs are met. 

Scenario 2: Bringing a new kitten or cat home to a family with children

Should I bring a new cat into our family?

Bringing a cat into your family is a big decision.  Whether you choose to get a kitten or an adult cat from a rescue organisation, they will take time to settle in, feel safe and adjust to family life. And while they are less high maintenance than dogs, you still need to have time to interact with them, play with them, and give them enrichment opportunities – as well as provide for their health needs.

Only you know if you have the time, money and desire to do that.

Should I get a kitten or an adult?

There are advantages and drawbacks to both.

First of all, a kitten that is brought up around young children will probably grow to be more tolerant of them and learn to enjoy their company. But kittens are a lot of work and are a big commitment.

An adult cat may be less work but also may be less accepting of a young sometimes noisy family - and some rehoming centres will not place a cat in households with young children, viewing it as too stressful. Others will view each family and each cat as individuals and match you accordingly, so you may be able to find a rescue cat who has come from a busy home and who will fit perfectly into your life.

Preparing Your Home and Children for a New Cat

While everyone is going to be really excited to meet the new arrival, bringing a kitten or cat into a new home needs to be done sensitively so they have the time and space to feel safe and get used to this strange new environment.

• Involving Children: Ideally introductions to the home should be done by one person, but if your children are quiet and sensible – and are happy to let the new arrival come to them and only if they want to, then you can let them be involved.
• For the first few days, keep your kitten or rescue cat in one quiet room so they can get used to their new home gradually. It may take time for them to feel confident enough to explore but when they do, they will probably have a good sniff around. When they’ve investigated every nook and cranny, sit on the floor with them for a while so they can choose whether to come and interact with you or not, offer them food, make sure they have water and know where the litter tray is - and see if they need a rest.
• Make sure your cat has their own space to escape to. Cats like lots of different places to sleep in and knowing how much space your cat needs is important. So, make sure they have plenty of options both close to the family but also in more peaceful areas when they need some quiet time. The cat will need an ‘escape route’ so if family life is getting too noisy or overwhelming, they can take themselves off somewhere quiet.
• Set Clear Boundaries: Use door guards to keep kittens or cats out of rooms that you don’t want them to have access to – such as babies’ bedrooms. Stair gates in doorways are perfect for this - as the cat can get through them but your baby and small children can’t! Decide which rooms in the house are going to be out of bounds. Make sure those doors are ‘catproof’!

How to Introduce a New Cat to Your Child

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to introduce a new cat to your child:

1. Gradual Family Meetings: Once they have begun to relax, they can gradually meet other family members – who can also sit quietly on the floor for potential feline investigation (and not feel insulted if the cat chooses to ignore them!).
2. Keep Introductions Low-Key: These introductions should be very low key - ensuring everyone handles them gently and that they wait for the kitten or cat to come to them without chasing them, grabbing them or trying to hug them.
3. Allow the Cat to Instigate: All interactions should be instigated by the cat. It should always be their idea when they approach or retreat.
4. Gradual Access to More Rooms: Once they are happy and relaxed, they can gradually have access to other rooms – and start to get to know the family in their own time.
5. Sensitive Management is Key: These early introductions can’t be forced and will often set the tone for future relationships, so it is important they are managed sensitively – no matter how excited everyone is!

Fostering a Lasting Bond Between Cat and Child

Once the kitten or cat has settled down and seems happy in their new home, playing with toys (‘things on strings’) can be a great bonding exercise between older children and cats – but always supervise interactions.

With good early preparation, an understanding of cat behaviour and careful management and patience, children and cats can live together happily and grow up to be good friends.

Introducing cats to newborn babies and children doesn’t need to be a challenge, as long as you prepare and set yourself and your home the right way, you can ensure the introductions will be as smooth as possible.

Now that you know all about how to introduce a newborn to a cat, why not take a look at how to teach children to care for cats and dogs, next?

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