This article was originally printed in the October 1996 issue of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine's Catnip newsletter. When your full-grown cat cuddles on you lap, kneading you with his massive dinner plate paws and purring like a jet engine, he appears to be reenacting a nursing behavior from his kitten days. His actions suggest he regards you as a surrogate mother - a great honor indeed. Your cat may view the new person as a territorial invader or a rival for your affection. But, with a bit of effort, you can help your furry housemate adjust to the new group dynamic, and all family members will reap the rewards.
Babies mean new sights, sounds, and smells, and they take the lion's share of everyone's attention.
This is particularly true of tightly bonded cats that depend on their owners for lots of physical contact and play. If you plan ahead, you can make the arrival of a new baby much less stressful - at least from your cat's point of view. The first step is to introduce the cat to the baby's things. Curiosity specialists that they are, cats will usually investigate the new crib, toys, blankets, and other paraphernalia without much prompting. But if you plan to do a lot of nursery redecorating, do it gradually over several weeks.