Things you can do to make you and your cat comfortable with the new baby...

Before the baby is born

• You should establish any new routines or rules before you have your baby.
• Take your cat to the vet and have it examined to make sure it is in good health and free of any parasites. Also make sure that your cat’s vaccinations are up to date.
• While supervising give your cat the chance to walk around in the baby’s room. Begin to do this a few months in advance, and make a visit daily, to establish a regular pattern with the cat.
• Get your cat accustomed to any new scents they may encounter with the baby. Apply baby powder and lotions to your hands and/or arms and let the cat smell them. Do this often enough to establish it as normal to the cat.

Consult your vet for any recommendations they might have about how to get the cat accustomed to a new baby.

Once the baby is born

• Before the child is brought home, have a spouse or relative bring home an article of clothing or a blanket with the baby’s scent on it.
  This will allow the cat to learn the scent of the new baby.
• When the mother and child return home from the hospital, give the cat attention.
  Have someone else hold the baby, while you hold the cat.
  You will want to spend some "quality time" with the cat every day.
• During the first few days with the baby at home, try to keep visitors to a minimum.
• Keep to your cat’s regular schedule. They are creatures of habit and like to keep their routines as normal as possible.
• When the cat and the baby are present together, act normal. Supervise any interaction between the two and try not to get nervous.
• Include your cat in activities with the baby.
• When the cat exercises good behavior around the baby, give it a treat. Re-enforce the idea of being good around the baby.
• Do no neglect your cat. To it, it is your first born. It is used to getting all of your love and affection and will take some time to get used to "sharing the love."
• Keep an eye out for any warning signs that the cat is having a negative reaction to the new baby. Look for improper or unusual behavior, (elimination, sudden aggression & hiding)
• If your child is in a playpen or stroller, be aware of your cat’s presence around them.
• For some, the most sensible thing to do is to make the baby’s room "off-limits" for your cat. You can shut the door and listen with a baby monitor for the baby. Or, if you wish to be able to see the baby, simply install a screen door to the baby’s door.