Cat + Crib

[matthia]

How do I keep my cat out of the crib!!??

Our nursery is TINY so there isn't really an option of keeping the crib away from other furniture she can climb, plus I think she can make it in from the floor now that she knows there's a bed in there. We just set the crib up on the weekend and she won't stay out! I've been keeping the door to the nursery closed as much as possible but I'd love a more permanent solution. We've got another 3 months or so to figure something out....

I have no idea how much we are even going to use the crib but I don't want the cat the get used to sleeping in it no matter what!!

Any ideas? anyone else have this problem?

[umsami]

I don't know if it's because our cat knew we were cosleeping or not (and the crib was used a lot for storing stuff ).... but she was always in our little one's crib.... through all three babies. I finally just gave up.... and would keep an extra sheet on top that I could take off in the rare chance one of the kids wanted to use the crib.

[mediumcrunch]

crib tent

http://www.amazon.com/Tots-Mind-Cozy.../dp/B00014PLAY

[Taylah]

Originally Posted by mediumcrunch

crib tent

http://www.amazon.com/Tots-Mind-Cozy.../dp/B00014PLAY

Going to second the crib tent, our cats are obsessed with the crib and changing table and would get in it any chance they had, once we put up the crib tent they will walk the rails and look in but can't do much else.

[ilovemaine]

Spray bottle

We've had luck training our cat to stay off our bed (in preparation for co-sleeping with this baby) by spritzing her with a spray bottle filled with water whenever she jumps on the bed. It's amazing how fast she learned that bed = water and now she knows to stay off. Of course, when we are gone at work during the day she might get on the bed but while we are home she won't dare to try.

Good luck!

[RedOakMomma]

We couldn't afford stuff like sleep tents just to keep cats out, so we used two-sided tape (or one-sided tape with the sticky turned up, but that can be a hassle). Just put several strips in the crib...

...when the cat jumps in and gets the tape stuck to him/her, she'll probably freak and run out of the crib. Yes, you need to de-tape your cat (usually it's not that big of a deal), but it's effective. Keep it up until the baby arrives, and hopefully that will be enough of a deterrent. By then you can keep the door closed as the baby whenever the baby is in the room.

(We've also used this successfully for kitchen counters and the fireplace mantel.)

[Catubodua]

another idea that the rescue i work with suggests - put a screen door on the door to the nursery. the cat won't be able to get in, but you'll still be able to hae the main door open and will be able to easily hear the baby.

and, it's easy enough to take down once you don't need it anymore.

[stephbrownthinks]

We've had a little bit of luck with putting aluminum foil on the crib mattress. Not sure what the cat will do once the foil is gone...

[AmyKT]

I tried several of the tricks mentioned here (aluminum foil, using a loud shaker when we caught him) and they worked ok, but the thing that finally worked best was having a baby in it. He didn't want to be anywhere near the new loud, grabby creature for a long time.

So keep your crib bedding out of it until the last minute and don't fret. The cat will probably keep it's distance once the baby is around.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Pets

[WaitingForKiddos]

My first thought is that once the baby cones along the cat is going to see it as a loud, smelly and annoying visitor and want nothing to do with the crib.

Is it the cat hair that is the issue?

[lifeguard]

My cats won't go near ds if they can prevent it & the LOVED the crib before he arrived. Now that we have abandoned the crib they love it again but while we were actively using it neither one would go in it.

[matthia]

Thanks! that's a bit more reassuring. I know that cat loves to sleep with us so I was kind of expecting a crib battle. It's reassuring that some of you seem to have had no problem with the cat and the baby. I'm just a little worried because our cat loves to sleep with us ( I think it's because we're warm) and I'm worried about her trying that with the infant before s/he gets to the grabby stage.
I think I'm going to try the tape thing!

[Aries1985]

I never tried to keep them out of the crib. I always let my cats sleep with my dd if they wanted to. If I didn't let them, they'd wake her up with their crying and trying to jump in. They always slept close to her, but never touching her. That pretty much ended as soon as she was rolling around. Then, she decided she LOVED them and they stopped being able to sleep! Both my male cats often co-sleep with us all at night, or I'll find one of them with dd at naps sometimes. It's never even phased me. Ironically, it's only my male cats that will sleep with her.