Pet owners

Hoosier Kitty · #1 July 30th, 2009, 06:10 AM

How are your pets coping with your pregnancy and/or baby(ies)?

I'm always thinking about my 5 cats when I get pregnant and have babies.. how they would react.

Celry · #2 July 30th, 2009, 07:19 AM

One of my cats is just as affectionate as he has always been. My other cat has always been a little neurotic/clingy. He's been a lot worse since I got pregnant. He follows me constantly and won't leave me alone. Some days I feel like locking him in the basement so I can have a few minutes to myself

Seriously though, he follows me around the house meowing all day. He's sleeping right next to me right now. He sleeps up against me at night. I don't know if he ever lets me out of his site.

~April04~ · #3 July 30th, 2009, 07:40 AM

My dogs are just as affectionate... they just "guard" me more.

Lyz · #4 July 30th, 2009, 07:45 AM

my dog seems to be more affectionate with me. She sits right next to me on the couch and I think that's so she can be close to the baby. She's been our "baby" for 6 years so I'm slightly nervous on how this is going to go once Bella gets here.

LisaD · #5 July 30th, 2009, 07:47 AM

We were very worried about our Dog because she has never really liked little kids. But she is great with Nathan! She is his protector. She has to be by him all the time and always wants to know what is going on. She gives him kisses, it's too cute! Our cat could care less about him. She just ignores him basically.

~April04~ · #6 July 30th, 2009, 07:49 AM

argh - it double posted

xanada101 · #7 July 30th, 2009, 07:50 AM

Honestly... I now wish I didn't have pets (I have a dog and 2 cats). Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my animals... but I love Kerrigan more. I have found strands of fur in her eyes on more than one occassion. I am tired of fur all over her clothes and blankets. Not to mention that I am constantly terrified they are going to trip me when I am carrying her down the stairs. My dog has almost jumped on top of her (unknowingly) more than once. He is all depressed too because I just don't have nearly as much time to spend with him. It makes me feel horrible. Oh and one of my cats peed in the living room for the first time yesterday.... I found one spot, but I think there might be another. Just what I want with a newborn... a house full of cat pee.
Sorry, but I am being honest... this is one of my stresses.

NortheastWifey · #8 July 30th, 2009, 08:24 AM

My pets (two pugs and a rat terrier) have really not shown too much of a concern with Amelia - which surprised me. I thought they would be totally in her face, but they have been really good. it is tough to have her and bring them out to do their business, though - especially if she's crying. I'm working on DH to get one of the electric dog fences. I think it's going to be a necessity soon.

Etph007 · #9 July 30th, 2009, 08:31 AM

My dogs haven't really acted any differently. I do worry how they may act when the LO is actually here. I don't want them all in his face, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. They're all my babies!

Micksbabe · #10 July 30th, 2009, 09:24 AM

My one dog (the Yorkie) is all over me ALLLLLL the time lol, but that was normal before pregnancy. I think he will be fine with the baby once she comes, because he loves all my other friends babies, he is actually kind of scared of them

The other dog, well he isn't really that smart, so he is just same old, playing outside, I am nervous about him with the baby because I don't want him to jump on her, which I can see him doing, and that scares me!!

stlgirl · #11 July 30th, 2009, 09:28 AM

Neither of our two cats are treating me very differently. So that's good!

Hoosier Kitty · #12 July 30th, 2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanada101

Honestly... I now wish I didn't have pets (I have a dog and 2 cats). Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my animals... but I love Kerrigan more. I have found strands of fur in her eyes on more than one occassion. I am tired of fur all over her clothes and blankets. Not to mention that I am constantly terrified they are going to trip me when I am carrying her down the stairs. My dog has almost jumped on top of her (unknowingly) more than once. He is all depressed too because I just don't have nearly as much time to spend with him. It makes me feel horrible. Oh and one of my cats peed in the living room for the first time yesterday.... I found one spot, but I think there might be another. Just what I want with a newborn... a house full of cat pee.
Sorry, but I am being honest... this is one of my stresses.

Oh Toni I'm sorry your cats are being trouble. I have to ask because I have 5 cats and I have gone through this before (peeing on things).... how many litter box do you have and what size? I noticed if I use 2 regular dome litterboxes, they will pee on things cuz the box get filled up fast. So I bought Petsmart's Giant Litter Pan and it was TOTALLY worth the $$$ and they stopped peeing on rug.
Cats are very clean freaks. I wonder if you have been giving your cats any kinds of attention.. like pet them for short time a day? Most cats are very people cats and if their owner doesnt give them attention, they will do something and change behaviors.
Again, I'm just giving out info and advices to help out... There are different situations that could explain why cats are peeing outside the box.
I know my cats will pee on things if the litterbox is dirty or hasn't been cleaned. I clean in the AM and PM.
also, i noticed my cats gets bored if I am not giving attention.. so I bought them similar to this (only mine is smaller than this picture) Molly and Friends Four Tiered Cat Tree - Furniture & Scratchers - Cat - PetSmart
and they LOVE it! also i buy them few toys to keep them busy thru the day.

I use vinegar in the washer mixed with detergent to get rid of cat pee.
If you need to remove cat pee odor off floor or whatever.. I use baking soda, peroxide, lemon soap mixed and use hard bristle brush and rub the heck out of it.
I found a website that was helpful
How to Make Homemade Cat Spray Odor Remover | eHow.com

As for dog... is the dog trained not to jump or just jump and gets excited? How old is the dog? Can your DH or you train the dog and be consistent. Have your DH or stepchildren help out with the pets while you are tending to the baby.

This is a great explanation from Humane Society (Read under How Can I Prepare My Pet? & What Do We Do After Baby Is Born?)
Introducing Your Pet and New Baby | The Humane Society of the United States

I know it may be hard to juggle between pets and baby. I've seen it happen to few people.... Hang in there

Etph007 · #13 July 30th, 2009, 10:00 AM

I don't know how any you feel about this- so please don't flame me! But with our black lab (Layla) we use a training collar (it has both a shock and beep feature). My dogs were never introduced to a leash (because we live on a large rural property) and this has always kept her from running to the road. Also- she was always very wild (with jumping/etc) and this has TOTALLY turned her around. We rarely if EVER use the shock feature and mostly use the annoying beep feature. This has worked wonders on her and she's so much better. If you're not opposed to the idea, this may be an option.

Etph007 · #14 July 30th, 2009, 10:07 AM

PetSafe Deluxe Big Dog Remote Trainer - Training & Behavior - Dog - PetSmart

This is the one we have, but they also have them for small dogs..

Hoosier Kitty · #15 July 30th, 2009, 10:13 AM

Erin, I am not going to flame you for using the shock collar.

I have seen my friends who are dog trainer use it on my hearing dog I used to have.. and it didn't work on her. However shock collar worked on other friend's dog. It varies dog to dog and how committed the dog trainer is to achieve this goal.
Same with invisible fence.. there are controversy about it but I agree with the I.F. to prevent the dogs from straying away from the yard and teaching the dog not to go far.
I'm glad Layla is now trained. That's most important thing to do!

KCMomma · #16 July 30th, 2009, 10:42 AM

When I was pregnant at the beginning my dog (Megan - we have a yorkie too!!!) would not get off of me. He wanted to be on top of me all the time! Now, I think he's a bit stressed out when she cries, but as soon as we let him out he runs right to her room or to find her. I think they are going to be best friends!!! It's too cute, every time I feed he sits right at my feet. When I take a shower, I put her in the bouncy seat and he sits on the floor and just stares at her!!! I think he's gonna be super protective of her!

Etph007 · #17 July 30th, 2009, 10:55 AM

aww so sweet Gwen!

Aaron- we tried the invisible fence and it didn't work. I actually thought it was cruel because my dog didn't catch on. She got shocked 2 or 3 times and I was done with it. But the collar thing works great, but we're VERY persistent with it! We've also lined our 6ft privacy fence with electrical wire simply to keep them from digging out of the fence and getting hit (for their own protection). That worked very well.

Hoosier Kitty · #18 July 30th, 2009, 11:10 AM

Gwen, that's SOOOOO cute!!!!

Erin, I'm glad it is all worked out!

KDD · #19 July 30th, 2009, 03:49 PM

When I was pg with our angel our one cat - who is the least cuddly, was on my lap every night. It's funny how they know.

~* Liss *~ · #20 July 30th, 2009, 05:36 PM

I think about this often. Toby is a VERY affectionate cat... once you've been in his house for 5 mins, he's claimed you as his own and WILL sit on your lap regardless if you like it or not! I worry about him sometimes, cause I don't want him to be all over a baby... he's been around children and is pretty good with them.

Our other one, Harley, is a scaredy cat! I can pet him and rub his belly and he'll sit beside me on the couch but NEVER on our laps. Harley doesn't like change though... when we bought our house and moved her - he was upset and was hissing at his brother!!