Baby's Homecoming to the House of Cats

Hello Everyone-
We recently have added a new addition to our household-- our first baby!  Our first human baby, that is...   Jacob Tristan Weiner (aka Jake) was born February 21.  Two days later, my husband and I were faced with the question that all of our friends and family members had asked throughout the pregnancy:

"How will your pets will deal with the baby?!"

We were not sure how they would react, but overall we were confident that the transition would not be too bad.  After all, we bring random animals into our house so often that I assumed the pets would just think we brought another "stray" home.

Meet Jake- our newest "pet"  :-) He is 1 day old here.

Now, keep in mind that NOT all pets are safe around children. Some can be aggressive, fearful, jealous, or unpredictable.  Thankfully, our pets are very tolerant.  Our dogs have never shown any aggressive behaviors or prey drive (which is the instinct to chase a small moving animal).  I would like to share our personal experiences with introducing our pets to our baby, but please remember that not all pets will react the same way.  If you are bringing a baby or child into your house, discuss your pet's temperament with your veterinarian first.  I have known dogs that are great with babies, but unfortunately become unpredictable once the child grows into a walking toddler.  Again, please discuss any concerns and safety measures with your veterinarian or board certified veterinary behaviorist prior to exposing your pets to a newborn, toddler, or young child.

Warnings aside,  I have found that cats tend to be either curious or fearful of babies.  Cats do not tend to lash out, bite, or scratch unless cornered, which may become an issue once a baby becomes an active toddler or a small child.  Our goal as parents will be to teach our son to respect the pets and not to chase them or tease them.  I'm sure that there will probably be some tail or ear grabbing along the way... so we will have to be careful.  I will be sure to share these experiences with you as Jake grows.

So... how did our first day go when we arrived at the house with the baby?

I'll start by saying that we had family members bring home some clothes that the baby wore in the hospital prior to our arrival.  I instructed them to leave the clothes lying out where the cats could smell them.

Baby clothes from the hospital-- available for sniffing and exploring by felines...

Here's Jake! He's ready to come home!

When we got home,  we left Jake strapped into his carseat while he slept, and I allowed the cats to see him and smell him.  Two of the cats came to check him out on their own (the brave ones- Cosmo and Nemo). Cosmo, being the troublemaker of the house, was very curious and he sniffed Jake up and down.  He did not appear scared at all.  Nemo also checked him out, but then proceeded to roll around on the ground-- completely lacking any signs of stress.  Jaime, our older patriarch, is an extreme chicken and he immediately ran away from the room and hid under the bed.  This is exactly what I expected from him.  Paulie, our socially inept cat, did not even realize we were home, so I had to pick him up and   bring him to the baby.  He just walked away.  Overall, the first introduction was uneventful.

Cosmo was very interested in the newcomer.

In preparation for bringing the baby home, we did our best to make the nursery and sleeping areas safe and clean.  We installed a tall metal gate at the entrance to the nursery to decrease the pet traffic into the room.  We put up the gate about 4 weeks before the baby was due, and before that we were keeping the door closed.  I expected the cats to jump the gate immediately, but I was pleasantly surprised that they avoided it. Perhaps the vertical, slippery bars made it less tempting.   Now that the baby is here, we've noticed that our adventurous Nemo can indeed jump the gate, but she only tends to do so when we are in the nursery and she wants to join us.  If I catch her in the act and scold her, she usually will stop climbing the gate and will then slink away guiltily.

 So far, none of the cats have jumped into the crib.  Having a cat jump into a crib and smother the baby tends to be a common concern among pet owners.  I suppose it's not impossible, but after seeing how the cats react to the baby, I do not think it is probable. The biggest potential threat in our house is Paulie since he's a major "cuddler", but he prefers to sleep with us.  He does not see the baby as a source of affection (Jake can't pet him yet...) so he does not seek attention from him.  The cats do not cuddle with each other for warmth, so I can understand why they wouldn't snuggle with a baby for warmth either. Nevertheless, my husband and I monitored the nursery in anticipation of a "feline crib jumper".  Thankfully, the gate still allowed us to close the door when we weren't there.  There have been no observed attempts to join Jake in his crib. Again, if this changes, you all will be the first to know.  (On a side note, I have heard of cat owners installing a screen door at their nursery entrance.... a cool idea!)

 As you will see in future Blog entries, we strive to make all the rooms in our hour cat friendly by providing ample litter boxes, water bowls, scratching posts, and window perches.  The nursery has none of these things, so the cats do not need to go in there for any of their resources.  They are curious, and prior to the gate installation, the baby changing table provided a nice bed by the window.  Besides hiding under the crib,  there isn't much in there for them to play with.

Bassinet ready for baby...

Bassinet protected from kitties

In other rooms of the house, we have taken some other precautions.  During these early weeks, we do have a bassinet in the master bedroom for the baby.  The cats, of course, see this as a beautiful, comfy bed.  We line it with towels when it is not in use to keep the sheet beneath it clean in case one of the cats jumps in.

Nemo says, "This new bed is perfect!!"

In the guest room,  we placed another gate since there are litter boxes in that room.  This gate has been placed in the doorway about 6 inches from the floor so the cats can crawl under it, but the dogs cannot.  This will prevent an exploring toddler from going into that room and playing in the litter like a sand box.  For additional health reasons, a powerful HEPA filter is in in that room to remove litter box dust and cat hair from the air.  We also have another style of gate provided  at the entrance of our laundry room, where other litter boxes are kept.

Air filter-- helps to remove allergens

Parasite control is also very important.  Indoor cats can acquire intestinal parasites, fleas, and heart worms. ( Did you know that about 15% of all potting soil used for indoor plants contains eggs for roundworms?  We all know that some cats love to play with potted plants...)  Intestinal worms such as roundworm and hookworm are zoonotic (which means they can be passed to people) and fleas can carry Bartonellosis ("cat scratch fever").  Therefore, all of our cats are given a medication on their skin called Revolution every month to prevent infection from all of the above. Similarly, our dogs are given Sentinel pills  (to prevent intestinal worms, flea eggs, and heart worm) and Parastar topical ointment ( to kill ticks and adult fleas) every month.

I have had many owners voice concerns about applying chemicals to their pets, especially in the presence of  children.  I understand this concern now more than ever.  The medications that we are using, however, are extremely safe and they are not harmful to people when applied to the pet correctly.   There are many over-the-counter flea/tick medications that are dangerous, however, and I recommend sticking with what is recommended by your veterinarian.  There are real risks for a child to acquire roundworm, hookworm, tick-borne diseases or flea-borne diseases.  As a matter of fact, the Center for Disease Control states that it is the  responsibility of veterinarians to educate owners about preventing zoonotic parasites.  There is no way I am letting Jake be exposed to parasites, so our 4 cats and 2 dogs are getting chased down monthly to get their preventative medications.


Over the past few weeks, I have found that the cats and dog have chosen to interact with the baby in different ways.  While the baby is nursing or being held, Nemo often tries to join on the same lap. She will even "mark" him has her own by rubbing her head on him.

Nemo says, "Who is that??"

Nemo decides that Jake can share a lap.

Paulie chooses, instead, to sit next to us when we are with Jake.  Jaime will reluctantly come out and sit on the back of the couch behind my head while I hold the baby, and Cosmo will walk right up to Jake and roll around next to him.

Jaime is a little uneasy... but he'll still sit with us.

Paulie is wondering who mommy is holding....



Frisby (our faithful dog) also sits next to us in an effort to reclaim her rights to the couch.  Sometimes she barks or paws at me while I am nursing because she wants attention.  If I am home alone with the baby, she sometimes will beg to come into the nursery with me, so I allow her through the gate.  Most of the time, she just sits near us for company.

Frisby wants to know who is taking up daddy's attention.

As long as Frisby can still fit on he couch, she's happy.

Those of you who know "Kitty" -- our very special Pomeranian-- keep asking what she thinks of the baby.  Honestly, I'm not sure she recognizes his existence.  She is more interested in relaxing in her bed....

Ignorance is bliss!!!

Until next time!
- Dr. Schock

Meet the Cats! (and the other pets...)

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to my Blog!  In this entry, I will be introducing you to our furry family. In future posts, you will learn more about their habits, personalities, and adventures in our household. I will also discuss different ways that we make our household "cat friendly".

Jamie is our patriarch cat.  He was adopted by my husband, Zach,  just before he started his first year of veterinary school.  Jamie was what he called a "failed foster"- i.e. a cat that he brought home to be fostered away from the SPCA, but then was never returned because Zach fell in love with him.  Jaime's story was that he was brought to the shelter after living with a family for 4 years.  The family had bought a new puppy, and Jaime's response was to hide under the bed all the time.  The family decided to give up Jaime (so sad!).  At the shelter, Jaime acquired a respiratory infection, so Zach brought him home to help him recover.  Needless to say, Jaime had found a new home.  He travelled with Zach to New Jersey, and when we were married, Jaime had to learn to cope with new pets.  Like most cats, he would prefer to live alone, but he has learned to live with other cats and dogs.  He is still timid, and when he is stressed he has the tendency to urinate where he shouldn't... our bed, the coffee maker, the kitchen counter, the couch, etc.  He is, therefore, a poster child for Fluoxetine (Prozac).  This daily drug, in addition to multiple litter boxes and other environmental enrichment, has helped minimize his emotional problems.   Despite Jaime's timid and stressed nature, he is actually the dominant pet of the household and is the first to appear at the scene to break up the ruckus if the other cats are "play fighting".

Jamie- aka "Jamison McFuzzibutt"

In the summer, Jaime gets a "lion cut" to keep him cool.  He's a little embarrassed...

Nemo is our only female cat.  I adopted her during my last year of veterinary school.  She was a stray picked up by the local SPCA, and she was brought to the veterinary school clinic since her leg did not appear normal.  I was the student physician that day, so I was the first to meet her.  I was taken aback by her bold, yet affectionate, personality.  She was a beautiful young tabby, and she sat on my lap while I we wrote my files that day.  The issue with her leg, as it turned out, was very interesting.  Her right hind leg "bowed" outward and she could not bend it.  After taking X-rays, we realized that she must have fractured her femur as a kitten, and she managed to let it heal on its own.  The result was a crooked leg-- which I called her "lucky fin"-- and thus named her Nemo.  She is confident, sweet, and acts like the eternal kitten.  You will soon see that she is also a daredevil and too smart for her own good. She has been known to steal food off your dinner plate and run away with it!

Nemo is a proud Red Sox fan!

Nemo is an expert at relaxing.

Paulie is very special.  He was found as an outside stray by one of Zach's veterinary colleagues.  The cat was emaciated, jaundiced, anemic, and close to dead.  He had obviously been owned since he was neutered and declawed, so we assume he lost his way in the outside world.  After being nursed back to health, he needed a home, and Zach brought him to our house. I have never met another cat with his personality... he is overly affectionate with no social boundaries. He has no survival instinct, and he is the only cat in the house that needs to be reminded to eat.   He lacks the ability to be aggressive, and he meows so loudly for attention that it can be heard across the veterinary hospital. If one of the other cats play fights with him, his only defense is to lick their head as viciously as possible!

Paulie says, "Can I love you now?"

Paulie is trying to crawl into bed with the dog...

Cosmo is our class clown.  I adopted him as a sick hospital case.  He was brought in because he was dying secondary to a urinary obstruction.  With persistence, extended hospitalization, surgery, and crossed fingers, we nursed him back to health.  He has become a wonderful addition to our family.  He prefers active play rather than sitting on a lap.  He hunts toys, plays lightening tag with Nemo, and wrestles with Paulie.  Cosmo yearns to go outside and eat grass, but he is not permitted to do so.  In rebellion, he has been known  to push out a window screen, go out on midnight patrol, and return inside by morning without us knowing... we figured this out once we found a partially open screen, muddy paw prints on the window sill and a pile of puked up grass on the floor.  Cosmo is strikingly beautiful in his 'tuxedo', and he knows he can get away with anything!

Cosmo is handsome.... and he knows it!

Cosmo likes to beat Paulie at wrestling.

It would be unfair to introduce the cats without introducing our other pets since they have to put up with the felines....

Frisby is my wonderful dog I've had since my first year of veterinary school. She was rescued from a crazy hoarder who had at least 104 dogs trapped in her trailer.  Frisby was brought through the vet school to be spayed.  When she was brought in, she was pregnant, infested with parasites, emaciated, and completely unsocialized.  With a few months of rehabilitation, she blossomed into a beautiful, vibrant dog.  It took several years of socialization, however, to help her recover from her emotional scars. She is obsessed with food, and it was through many, many treats and positive reinforcement that she learned people were OK.  Frisby is a submissive dog, and she is actually a little scared of the cats.  She will steal cat food and climb into the litter boxes to eat special kitty "treats". Despite her sneaky behavior, Frisby is my faithful canine companion and best friend.

Here's Frisby in her younger years-- her face is a little more gray now.

Kitty says, "I love life!  I love the car!"

Frisby says," Kitty- you are disgusting. Get me out of this car."

"Kitty", believe it or not, is also a dog. She is Pomeranian that my husband saved from euthanasia at his veterinary hospital. She is named Kitty because I had previously promised Frisby we would never get another dog while she was still alive.  Therefore, we called her Kitty to fool Frisby into thinking we had just gotten another cat.  Kitty had a severe skin infection when she was rescued, which caused her to become infested with fleas and maggots. To treat her, we had to shave off all her fur, which made her look very funny. After her skin started to heal, we realized that she also had a complicated seizure disorder.  Kitty needs five different medications daily to help decrease her seizures.  These medications, unfortunately, make her ravenous and very thirsty, so she pees all the time and tries to eat her own poop.  To make her even more fun, she has failed to learn to be housebroken.  SO... we have a heavily medicated Pomeranian that needs to wear a diaper all the time.  (Anyone want a FREE Pomeranian???)

Ahh Kitty... our special needs dog.  We can't say she's not happy!

Poor Kitty day 1 of her new life with us...

"Dirt Dog" is a female dwarf rabbit that I also adopted from the veterinary hospital.  She had a bladder stone that required surgery.  As adorable as she looks, she is actually very grumpy.... she likes to scratch me and grunt whenever I clean her cage.  When she runs low on hay or salad, she lets me know by throwing her litter box across the cage.  The cats and dogs are intimidated by this little bunny, and they do not try to antagonize her.

"Evil" has many faces... this is my very own Monty Python scary bunny.

I hope you enjoy my Blog!  New entries are coming soon-- stayed tuned!
- Dr. Schock