Grover and Kate

I was nervous about how Grover would react to a new baby in the house. A couple weeks before she was born he decided to start pooping and peeing on the carpet and in his play tunnel in the basement. We didn't know if something freaked him out in the laundry room (where is litter box is) or if he could tell something was about to change. Thankfully after moving his litter out of the laundry room he hasn't had anymore incidences.

But we still wondered how this cat, who thinks he owns the house, would handle another small creature.

He thinks he owns the house, and obviously the play space was to be his too

After delivering Kate, Adam took her hat home to let Grover sniff it and get used to the smell. Then when we brought her home, we left her in the carseat in the middle of the room and let Grover come up to her and sniff her.

For the first couple days he wanted nothing to do with her. He didn't act meanly or anything, he just avoided her. He spent most of the time sleeping on our bed, and I tried to keep Kate out of our bedroom so he wouldn't feel intimidated.

Within a couple more days Grover has 'loosened up' a bit. If I have Kate in bed, he has no problem sleeping at my feet or walking by her to look out the window.

I'm so happy he hasn't freaked out and think the slow transition and introduction helped him adjust well.

How did you introduce your pets to a new baby (or a new pet)?

It Worked

As we get ready for baby Stybs' arrival (in just over 3 weeks! eek!) I've been washing clothes and sheets,  scoping out my registry, and trying not to buy too much baby stuff.

The nursery has been pretty much set up since my shower and Grover has been checking it out and marking his territory ever since. I was pretty surprised that he hadn't been in the pack-n-play- no sign of cat hair or disturbed blanket- and thought he would leave it alone. Until a couple weeks ago. I was asking Adam if he had seen Grover in it and just as he said 'no' I noticed the blanket was askew. Then I looked in and saw the little orange hairs on the bassinet.

So obviously Grover has been smart enough to only go in the pack-n-play when we aren't home. But I didn't really know what to do.

Last weekend my friend Jen suggested putting foil in it. I thought Grover would like the crinkly sound and it would encourage him to play in there, but she said cat's don't like the feel of the foil. What the heck, why not? I lined the pack-n-play with foil that weekend.

I haven't noticed anything since then - no hairs, no paw prints- and thought maybe Grover was over it and wouldn't try to sleep in it again (I mean he has other beds, couches, and chairs to sleep in all over the house).
Then this morning as I'm lying in bed I hear the foil crinkle and then see (and hear) Grover sprint out of the nursery. The foil worked!

Grover flipped out when he jumped in the pack-n-play. Hopefully he won't be back.Thanks for the suggestion Jen!