How to Get a Cat Used to a New Sleeping Area When the Baby Comes

Gabby sleeps in the spare bedroom -- she's been basically living there for years. But now you have a new addition on the way and need that room for the baby instead. Avoid suddenly giving Gabby the boot from her room overnight, since it is her comfort space. You can, however, slowly start to introduce her to a whole new spot that she'll learn to prefer over the baby's pad.

  1. Early Preparations

    • Get Gabby used to baby sounds and smells long before baby Michael arrives, so she̵7;ll be comfortable sleeping during all the changes. Prior to Gabby̵7;s evening massage, rub your hands with baby lotion. You̵7;ll leave a bit of that infant scent in her fur, making her more familiar with baby smells. Washing her bed cover in the baby̵7;s laundry detergent and playing baby music near her sleeping area are additional ways to help Gabby get acclimated to the big transformation.

    Changing Areas

    • Every day, move her pillow in her favorite room closer and closer to your desired spot. Sprinkle a bit of catnip or leave treats on it if you need to entice her to keep sleeping on it. If Gabby has favorite furniture she has been resting on for years in the baby's new room, move it to the office if you don̵7;t want Gabby staying in the nursery area. This way Gabby can still snooze on top of the dresser, but you don̵7;t have to worry about her sneaking into baby Michael̵7;s room to get to it.

    Get Her on a Schedule

    • Your life will be hectic once your little one arrives, so you̵7;ll need to get your four-legged friend̵7;s internal clock adjusted ahead of time. A couple weeks before your due date, start getting Gabby on a sleeping schedule that will resemble what her life will be like with a baby. Get up early, feed her, scoop her litter box and play with her. Allow her to take a couple naps throughout the day during the times your newborn might rest and then wake her up several times during the night. When you do want her to settle down and stop playing, pet her until she drifts off and then place her in her new bed. She'll start getting used to the different time frames and sleeping locale.

    Sharing the Scent

    • As soon as your bundle of joy comes into the world, have a loved one take a dirty onesie or washcloth to the house. Place the baby-scented material right on Gabby̵7;s pillow next to the window -- her new sleeping area. She̵7;ll sniff around at it and become more familiar with the way baby Michael smells. After snuggling up on the cloth a few times, Gabby becomes covered with your new infant̵7;s aroma. This way when he finally does come home, it won̵7;t be such a shock for your fur-covered companion and she̵7;ll be able to curl up and comfortably rest in her new spot.