Many pet owners wonder if their cat will get jealous when a new baby arrives. Cats are often seen as independent creatures who don’t need much affection. So it may come as a surprise that cats can experience jealousy over a new family member. Understanding normal cat behavior and properly introducing your cat to the baby can help prevent or reduce jealousy issues.
Do cats get jealous in general?
Yes, cats can absolutely get jealous. They are territorial animals and can get possessive over their human companions. A cat that is used to being the center of your attention may start to act out when there is a new focus in the home. Common signs of feline jealousy include:
- Excessive meowing or yowling
- Urination outside the litter box
- Aggression towards owners or the new stimulus
- Excessive grooming
- Hiding
Cats may see a new baby as competition for your affection and resources. Anything that disrupts a cat’s routine can cause anxiety and stress. A jealous cat may vocalize more, try to get between you and the baby, or even act out aggressively.
Why do cats get jealous of babies?
There are a few key reasons a cat may get jealous of a new human sibling:
Change in routine
Cats thrive on predictability and routine. A new baby means big changes in the household that can be stressful for cats. Your schedules, activities, and availability all change with a baby in the house. The sounds, smells, and sights of a newborn can also put your cat on edge. These sudden changes cause anxiety that may translate into jealousy behaviors.
Less attention
Before baby, you were likely very focused on your cat’s needs. Now your time and attention shifts to caring for an infant. Some cats will act out to try and regain that lost affection. They may meow insistently, rub on you, or even nip at the baby. Your cat is used to being the center of your world and now has to share you.
New smells
Babies come with a lot of new and unfamiliar smells. The sounds and smells of a crying newborn can be alarming for cats. They may stay away from the baby at first. Make sure you are still giving kitty plenty of affection so they don’t get too distressed over the new sensations.
Disruption of favored spots
Cats claim favorite sleeping, perching, or hiding spots around the house. When you start setting up the nursery or rearranging furniture, it impacts your cat’s favored territorial areas. Try to maintain some familiar and high perches where kitty can observe all the changes from a safe distance.
Less sleep
Between late night feedings and frequent crying, a newborn severely cuts into your sleep. This means your cat is also getting disrupted during the night – their prime activity time. The resulting sleep deprivation can make cats irritable and prone to jealousy behaviors. Make sure kitty has some quiet, dark areas away from the nursery to unwind.
Signs of jealousy in cats
How can you tell if your cat is acting out of jealousy over your new baby? Here are some common indicators:
- Excessively vocalizing (meowing, yowling)
- Rubbing on you more than usual
- Peeing outside the litter box
- Attacking fabrics with the baby’s scent
- Biting or swatting at you or the baby
- Blocking your access to the baby
- Withdrawing from social interaction
- Staring intently at you or the baby
- Repetitive grooming
Any behavior that seems obsessive or is suddenly increased could stem from jealousy. Pay attention if your cat fixates on you or the baby. Aggression should not be ignored either. Professional intervention may be needed if the behavior is extreme or inappropriate urination continues.
Preventing jealousy before baby arrives
You can take some proactive steps to help prevent or reduce jealousy when transitioning your cat to life with a new baby:
Gradual change
Slowly start altering your cat’s routine weeks before the due date. Mimic disruptions like noises, new smells, and furniture adjustments. This gradual change eases anxiety before the big transition.
Meet baby smells
Introduce clothing or blankets with baby smells before you come home. Let kitty investigate while the scents are still novel and you are there to offer reassurance.
Provide comfort
Make sure kitty has comfortable, dedicated sleeping and perching spots around the house. Give them an area they can retreat to that is quiet and peaceful.
Extra playtime
Increase interactive playtime with kitty leading up to the birth. Tire them out and reinforce your bond. This helps offset the future drop in attention.
Routine vet visit
Get your cat in for a vet checkup to rule out any medical issues that could be exacerbated by stress. Address any health problems ahead of time.
Baby-proof dangers
Check your home for any loose cables, poisonous plants, and other hazards. Remove anything kitty could harm the baby with. Tucking cords away denies access.
Pheromone diffusers
Plug in Feliway or a similar feline pheromone product a month before baby comes. The calming pheromones reduce anxiety and stress behaviors.
Introducing baby and cat
The first introduction between cat and baby is crucial. Here are some tips for a safe meet and greet:
- Have another person hold the cat across the room while you hold the baby. Let the cat look, sniff, and observe from a distance at first.
- Never force an interaction. Go slowly and give the cat space if they seem scared.
- Have treats and toys on hand to distract the cat if needed.
- Allow the cat to leave at any time – provide an escape route.
- Never leave the baby unattended with the cat.
- Make the first few interactions positive and rewarding.
- Consider using a mesh baby gate to safely separate but allow the cat to observe.
- Provide lots of affection to kitty when the baby is around so they don’t feel left out.
With patience and positive reinforcement, the cat can come to see the infant as part of their social group and not a threat.
Dealing with jealous cat behavior
If your cat starts acting out of jealousy, respond right away to correct the behavior before it escalates or becomes a habit:
Address inappropriate elimination
If kitty stops using the litter box, take them to the vet to check for medical problems. Reduce stress and make sure the box is clean. Use synthetic pheromones and cleaning products to neutralize urine smells. Never punish a cat for urinating outside the box.
Redirect aggression
Distract a swatting or biting cat with a toy. Offer treats for calm behavior around the baby. Remove the cat if they seem overly stimulated. Try synthetic pheromones to curb aggression.
Discourage attention-seeking
If your cat meows excessively for your attention, ignore the vocalizing. Give them attention when they are quiet and calm. Satisfying the jealous behavior will reinforce it.
Spend one-on-one time
Make sure kitty gets dedicated playtime and affection away from the baby each day. Reinforce that your bond remains strong even with the new family addition.
Use deterrents safely
You can use automatic air spray deterrents to keep cats away from off-limit nursery areas. Never use punishment that could harm kitty’s trust in you.
Try synthetic pheromones
Feliway and similar pheromone products help relax cats in stressful situations. Diffusers, sprays, and wipes are available to use around the house.
When to seek help
In extreme cases of jealousy, aggression, or inappropriate elimination, seek help from your vet or a professional animal behaviorist. They can provide tips tailored to your cat and oversee any needed behavior modification or medication. Life with a new baby takes adjustment, but professional guidance can get kitty back on track.
Providing for your cat’s needs
While your focus is on your new baby, your cat still relies on you to provide for their basic needs. Make sure kitty continues to get:
- Regular, nutritious meals
- Clean, easily accessed litter box
- Daily playtime and affection
- Access to perches and hiding spots
- A comfortable, low-traffic place to sleep
- Obedience training and behavioral care as needed
- Annual vet exams and vaccines
Don’t neglect your cat’s care, especially if they are displaying jealous behaviors. Keep up their normal routines as much as possible after the baby’s arrival.
Creating positive associations
You want your cat to build positive associations with the baby from the start:
- Give kitty treats, praise, or play when they are calm and quiet around the infant. Reward wanted behavior.
- Encourage supervised sniffing and investigation of baby items. Let the cat explore the new smells.
- Make sure the cat has a peaceful spot away from the bustle of baby care.
- Spend time together as a family – include kitty when able so they don’t feel left out.
- Play some of the baby’s favorite music and give the cat treats. They will start to associate the sounds with good things.
- Rub a worn baby blanket gently on the cat to transfer smells and help them acclimate.
With time and positive associations, the cat is likely to accept the newcomer as part of the family group.
Cats vs. dogs – who gets more jealous?
Both cats and dogs can experience jealousy in the right circumstances. Dogs tend to be more outwardly attention-seeking when there is a new baby. They may nudge, paw at, or try to physically get between you and the baby.
Cats exhibit jealousy more subtly through litter box issues, over-grooming, hiding, and staring intently. They may also act out through aggression by swatting or scratching. Dogs aim for attention while cats tend to withdraw or display behaviors aimed at the baby.
Overall, dogs accept and engage with babies at an earlier stage. But cats can also coexist and build positive associations through training, routine, and rewards. The key is understanding species-specific behavior signals and addressing problems right away.
Managing multiple pets
Introducing a new baby is hard enough on one pet, but multiple cats or dogs pose additional challenges:
Separate introductions
Initially introduce each pet individually to the baby. Too many animals at once can get overstimulated.
Jealousy between pets
The existing pets may start fighting with each other as they adjust to the new social hierarchy. Watch for signs of aggression between your pets.
Litter box issues
With multiple cats, just one starting to eliminate outside the box can trigger the others to do the same. Clean soiled areas thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner.
Feeding and care
You may need to separate animals at feeding times and enforce rest periods to prevent fights. Ensure each pet continues to get adequate individual care and attention.
Adding another member to a multi-pet household takes even more planning. Be patient, go slowly with introductions, and tackle any behavior issues right away.
Benefits of raising baby and cat together
While challenging at first, raising your cat and baby together provides some great benefits:
- Companionship – your child has a fuzzy friend as they grow
- Socialization – the baby learns how to gently interact with animals
- Immune system – early exposure to allergens may help prevent allergies
- Responsibility – a child can help care for the family pet
- Unconditional love – pets provide constant affection
- Stress relief – cats purr and provide comfort
- Security – pets make kids feel safe and offer protection
Despite some initial hurdles, the bond between a child and cat can become incredibly strong over time. Having to share you with the baby also helps your cat learn to be more patient and resilient.
How to encourage positive interactions
To promote safe, friendly interactions between your cat and baby:
- Always supervise play and petting
- Model gentle behavior when handling the cat
- Designate “no-pull” zones your child can pet from
- Praise your child for being kind and careful
- Redirect any rough behavior immediately
- Trim your cat’s claws regularly
- Teach your child to recognize signs of overstimulation in the cat
- Use toys to show the proper way to play without grabbing
- Shower your cat with attention when they tolerate the baby well
With time, your child will learn how to safely interact and positively engage with their feline sibling. Consistency is key – always reinforce kindness and respect.
Keeping baby safe with cat
While interactions should be supervised, you also need to ensure your cat doesn’t harm the baby accidentally:
- Never leave them unattended together
- Keep the nursery a cat-free zone
- Secure windows and doors so kitty can’t sneak in
- Use mesh covers for infant carriers and cribs
- Consider a screened nursery divider to separate spaces
- Remove high perches looming over baby areas
- Put tempting items out of reach during diaper changes
- Keep litter box very clean and inaccessible
- Trim nails to remove scratches during play
- Use bitter tastes on bandages and wires
Stay vigilant and take precautions to keep your curious cat from harming your vulnerable infant unintentionally. Safety comes first, always.
Conclusion
Cats can definitely get jealous when they have to share your affection with a new baby. All the disruption and change is stressful. But with preparation, training, patience, and care, kitty will come to accept your bundle of joy as the newest member of your family. Maintain routines, give your cat adequate attention, provide a safe baby-free zone, and encourage positive associations from the start. With time, your growing child will forge a loving bond with their furry feline sibling.