Help! My cats think the baby's crib is theirs!

[Elyse Orecchio]

Hi guys, I'm looking for advice. I've got a baby due in a month (yay!), and my cats just love going into the crib and the bassinet! They look so cute and peaceful in there that I haven't been good about scolding them to get out, which I should have done from the beginning. So now I'm stuck with them seeing those places as theirs.

I tried putting foil in -- that didn't work, they enjoyed playing with it. I haven't tried sticky tape, but I don't think that would work either.
They have safety nets to keep animals out, but that's for the crib, not the bassinet, and I'd like to avoid that if I can.

What did you guys do to keep your cats out of the crib when you had babies?

[Courtney]

Congrats on your pending new arrival.

I haven't had personal experience with this issue, but whenever I wanted to deter my cats from getting into something, I'd use the water bottle method. Just a quick spritz and a loud "NO!" was enough to get the message across. They were especially attracted to the couch when they were younger - despite having a scratching post right nearby. If I caught them going after the corner of the couch, I'd spritz, shout, "NO!", and leave it at that. Whenever I saw them using the scratching post, it was all praise and petting, ear scratches and belly rubs.

My suggestion would be to get a little squirt gun or water spritzer bottle, do what I described, but also buy or make a replacement little "nook" for them to sleep in. They probably like the crib and bassinet because they are enclosed structures. Find a deep box and line it with fleece, and put it near the crib. Maybe rub the fleece all over the cats before putting it in the box; they like areas that are marked with their scent. (On that note, you should wash the crib linens, too - not only for the baby's sake, but to remove the cats' scent) Encourage and praise them when they use the box instead of the crib.

Good luck!

[Elyse Orecchio]

Thanks Courtney, those are excellent suggestions! I don't know that they'll really care about being sprayed with water, they might even like it! But I love your other idea of making a spot for them next to the crib with their scent. I'll try that.

[gayle67]

cats will always be curious. I would make sure they are out of the room and the door closed if you leave the baby sleeping because the smell of milk will bring them close to the baby's mouth. I like the spray bottle idea, too but never leave the baby alone with the cats until it is much older just to be on the safe side.

[Gloria]

You might want to see what happens when the baby comes they may not want to go in there anymore, or you may wnat to keep the door closed now so they get used to not going in there, if you don't have a cat bed get one and put some catnip in it this will make them want to stay in there.

[Kathy]

Our kittie just loved our granddaughter's crib that was set up in the guest room. She sure did look cute snuggled up in there but keeping the door closed solved the problem. If I went in there, you better believe she was there in a snap jumping in.

She had no interest in sleeping in the crib when Zoe was in there. In fact, she had no interest in Zoe at all and still doesn't. As soon as Zoe left and went home, zoom she was right back in the crib sleeping. I hardly ever discipline my cat because she is such a sweetheart all of the time. But, you better believe she knows when my voice is irritated with her. We just keep the door closed...problem solved. When I washed the bedding and saw all the cat hair, it made me more vigilant in keeping the door shut. Congrats! Kathy C.

[michelle]

Hi,
I don't have children but my brother and sister in law were having the same issue. They put balloons in the crib and when the kitties would jump in ,the balloon would pop and make loud noise which caused them to run. Sounds pretty mean but it worked and no one got hurt. Good luck!

[Elyse Orecchio]

Thanks for all the responses so far, I'm reading all of them and taking notes!