Kids and animals typically love each other, but there is often a learning curve when introducing a pet to a new baby.
If you have the pet first, they may be a bit jealous of the attention the new little one is getting. Or, they may simply not know how to act around the baby yet. Similarly, the baby could be a bit too rough with the pet at first as they learn what to do and not do.
It takes a bit of training, but with some time, a baby and animal can be the best of friends.
But when there’s a baby also in the house, there’s a lot more to consider.
Is it safe to have a pet in the home? How will the pet react to the baby? How will the baby react to the pet?
Thankfully, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has some tips on making sure your baby and cat get along.
It’s best to bring the cat into a quiet room without interruption.
Once you’ve had time to connect, then introduce your baby and other family members into the room. Place one of the baby’s blankets or articles of clothing in a quiet area where the cat can investigate it.
You’ll also want to make sure the area where the baby sleeps is off-limits to the cat.
Babies can’t turn over and a cat may choose to cuddle up too close to the baby’s face making it hard for the baby to breathe. Keep the baby’s sleeping quarters off-limits will also prevent the cat from marking the area with urine.
Make sure you spend some alone time with your cat so the cat doesn’t get jealous of the baby.
Lemisie the cat’s mom was a little concerned about how he would react to the baby.
However, she soon learned that she had absolutely nothing to worry about. Their adorable encounter was captured on video.
“Cats want a lot of affection, but babies need it even more,” the video’s caption reads. “That’s why a cat might get jealous when there’s a new child in the house. However, Lemise adores his new buddy and comes running every time he makes a sound. This adorable video shows the beginning of their precious friendship.”
The video shows the cat sniffing the baby’s head then licking it like he is grooming a kitten of his own. At one point the baby looks up at the cat but puts his head back down so the cat can continue licking.
And you can tell the baby likes it because he is smiling as he holds onto the cat’s paw. Major cuteness overload!
These two are completely adorable, and it’s clear they’re already good friends. This patient cat is a wonderful teacher!
Check out the heart-melting video below!
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