Often, a pet is raised and even pampered as if it were their own child. Everything is fine if it suits the temperament of the cat and the whole family agrees with the state of affairs. But when a real child appears in the house, problems can arise. The situation becomes more complicated if the cat is already an adult and has little or only negative experience with infants and young children, especially if it took place in such an important period of life for the cat as socialization (from 2 to 7 weeks of life). Many of us take a cat into the house after this period has successfully ended, or simply do not have the opportunity to introduce the kitten to small children in time.

Although there is a chance to make up for this lack of communication in later life, it is best to think through and prepare everything before the birth of a child. In order for your large family to live happily, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the animal itself and the environment. Your pet needs to have its own bed, food and water bowls, toys, litter box, etc. All this should be located in the house so as not to disturb people, but also convenient for the animal itself. The tray should be in a secluded area away from bowls and “high traffic” areas such as the kitchen and hallway; it is better to place a scratching post near the front door or a place that your pet has already looked after as a “victim” for its claws.

If possible, it is better to choose high-lying places or an area for feeding and rest that can be isolated from the rest of the house with the help of an arena. This way your cat will have a chance to hide from the onset of children. If the current location of your pet’s bed, litter box, and other items becomes impractical or uncomfortable when the baby enters the home, it’s best to make changes ahead of time. This is especially important for older cats, for whom all lifestyle changes should be made gradually.