Pets. HLEP!

So, we have a cat and we're expecting our first child in 5 weeks (or less!). We have the crib all set up, but our cat cant seem to stay out! She knows if we see her she's in trouble and bolts out right away, but why doesnt she learn to just not jump in there in the first place!? She also claws the side and Im afraid she's going to rip the bedding. She's getting declawed as soon as we can get some extra money, but after that... how do we keep her out?? Anyone have any suggestiong? We tried locking her out of the room at night, but we cant do that until she gets declawed cause she tore a hole in our carpet! Im so frustrated....   Help.

I trained my cats to stay out of things by spritzing them with water in a spray bottle when they were misbehaving and flicking them on the nose. My fiancee growls at our cats now and they'll stop what they're doing.

Someone told me about crib tents yesterday! And I'm going to buy one to keep my cat out.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4726174

hope that helps!

Quoting CourtneyC22:“ So, we have a cat and we're expecting our first child in 5 weeks (or less!). We have the crib all set ... [snip!] ... room at night, but we cant do that until she gets declawed cause she tore a hole in our carpet! Im so frustrated....   Help.”

ooooh.. just so ya know people on this site are not very friendly with the declawing of cats...thats just cruel! if you were afraid of her scratching stuff then why get her in the first place?!

but anyways, my advice would be to keep the door closed at all times before the baby is born and after the baby IS born to try to limit her space to a few rooms by gates (they have those tall ones). good luck.

We bought a crib tent to keep our cat out of the tent because I got sick of having to rewash the bedding before the baby was here.
A friend of mine said to use aluminum foil in the bottom of the crib because I guess cats don't like it. The tent was one of the best investments we made though (I got mine off of Ebay for $20), because it also kept Brant from climbing out of the crib when he got big enough to do that.

Quoting ♥sharon:“ ooooh.. just so ya know people on this site are not very friendly with the declawing of cats...thats ... [snip!] ... is born and after the baby IS born to try to limit her space to a few rooms by gates (they have those tall ones). good luck.”

She could have gotten the cat before she knew she was pregnant? That happened to me...and alot of vets recommend declawing along with the spay/neuter...

I put the wide packing tape sticky side up in the crib and on the rails. My cats hate it because their fur sticks to it. It normally only takes a week for it to work. I did the same thing with under the doors cause my cats did the same thing. They tore it up at the seams. Afterwards I went to the hardware store and got some wooden threshholds to put down in all my doorways so the carpet doesn't look so crappy. I hope this helps!

all our cats were declawed and had absolutely no lasting effects from it whatsoever. if you're not ready to get them declawed, then definitely consider thewater spray spritzing.. i know they make some keep away spray as well but not sure if you would want to spray that near the crib and bedding. perhaps you may want to get a new kitty bed for your cat and place it somewhere high since they do like higher places...good luck!

My sister had a cat when she was pregnant with my nephew and the cat kept peeing on all his stuff! Like he was jealous of the baby or something, they ended up having to get rid of it becuase it peed all over the place! they said their vet told them to use the water bottle too and that usually helps them to learn fast so maybe thats an option that will help. Good luck!

Quoting LoveMyCoastie:“ She could have gotten the cat before she knew she was pregnant? That happened to me...and alot of vets recommend declawing along with the spay/neuter...”

yeah, you're right. my vet told me (when i did have a cat a few years ago) to never declaw just in case the cat gets out of the house they have no way of defending themselves.


edited bc i cant spell.

i put my cats perchy thing up high near the window and they love, but they're young and playful so they like to jump on it and topple it over, if you get a cat perch make sure its some where high but make sure it wont fall cuz its a hassle to put it up all the time and it drives me nuts when i wake up to it falling

Quoting ♥sharon:“ yeah, you're right. my vet told me (when i did have a cat a few years ago) to never declaw just in case the cat gets out of the house they have no way of defending theirself.”

I always keep the back claws, but I'm really glad my cat has no interest to be outside, I could leave the door open and he will just stare lol like he is scared to go outside.

our first cat tigger was declawed in the fronts, she would get outside all the time, never stopped her from bringing home squirrels and baby bunnies.( YUCK) we had her for at least 14 years. she chose our house, my mom said fine you can stay but your claws are going LOL

Quoting LoveMyCoastie:“ I always keep the back claws, but I'm really glad my cat has no interest to be outside, I could leave the door open and he will just stare lol like he is scared to go outside.”

cats are weird sometimes though. i had a cat with an attitude and sometimes, if she was in the mood, she would let you touch her and other times she would attack lol i miss her!

I just have to share this, I've been teaching my cats Pixie and Elf to give me kisses on the nose, so I'm sitting here on the couch and Pixie comes and sits next to me, put his paw on my hand and looks at me so like I normally do I look at him and say hi, just like that he sits up further and licks my nose like he's kissing me and lays down all proud of himself...I think he derserves a treat for this one