does your cat know?

[Bloomingstar]

for those of you who have just had our babies, or those mamas who've done this before, did your cats act differently around the time right before you had your LOs? My cat is not a lap cat by any means, though she does't mind hanging out with me from a close distance. Lately--as in the past couple days--she's been VERY clingy--wanting to nap right next to me so that shes touching me, sitting next to me and staring at me... It sound kinda silly but I wonder if she knows something about the timing this LO has in mind?

[mom2annika]

I don't know but my cat has been super-clingy these last few weeks too. She was like this with my first, too. DH jokes that she knows the "new pet"'s coming. (We referred to DD1 as the "new pet" in the beginning. The dog and cat were our babies. Now they're just pets.)

But once DD1 was born the cat wouldn't have anything to do with me for the better part of two years. In fact, it was only after DD1 weaned (at 25 mos.) that the cat would even let me pet her. It's funny that she's clingy now that DD2 is almost here.

[OakBerry]

My cat used to try to climb in the toilet to smell my pee when I was pregnant with ds! It was like he couldn't get enough of it, it was freaky. He didn't care about it before, so I think he knew.

[jmmsunshine]

My cat ALWAYS slept at DH's feet - except when I was pregnant! Then, the closer I came to birthing, the more he would lay on me to sleep!

FWIW - once your LO comes home, ignore your cat unless your LO is in your arms or your nursing. It sends a very strong message about where your LO ranks in the home order and will make it more likely that your cat will accept/respect him/her.

Good Luck!

[smerkin]

A few months after I first found out I was pregnant, so probably well into my 2nd trimester our cats started peeing outside their litter box! It was so awful! We tried everything but finally had to move them outside. I'm hoping that after the baby is born we can move them back in. They're doing ok outside mostly because my DH built them an awesome little house and put a lightbulb in it to keep them warm. Anyway, I miss my kitties.
My dog is fine though. She's always high maintenence and hasn't really seemed to notice my huge belly. I think she'll love the baby, she adored my nieces when they came. And yes, she's our "first-born" child.

[hollyvangogh]

My cats didn't do anything different that I noticed before I went into labor. Though they were pretty freaked out by my moaning and such once I was in labor. Though, not nearly as freaked out as they were when we brought our baby (who promptly began crying) home.

[Starfish11]

Out of our five animals only one cat really noticed Evangeline's arrival. I thought that was insane! She won't sit near the baby but will come and sit on my other side if I'm holding Evangeline to one.

The other cat is doing her best to IGNORE this new intruder. I woke up one afternoon from a nap on the couch; Evangeline was on my tummy and the cat was on her back!!!!! Aye yay yay.

[pantufla]

My cat wouldn't leave my side. He stuck close by and sat on me or next to me whenever possible.