Monday, May 15, 2006
7:28 AM
I'm really really really curious to find out how the cats get will get along with Cupcake. Our pets are *really* important to us, so it's crucial to find some sort of balance between baby and kitties. I'm really hoping that Cupcake loves animals as much as we do. Animal rescue and doing volunteer work at the shelter is a huge part of our life, and at some point I'd like to be able to bring Cupcake over to the kitten shelter without having to worry that she will hurt the cats or they will hurt her. Plus, I don't ever want our cats to think that they are suddenly some play toy for a loud, messy, lurching miniature person.
I've gotten a lot of good advice on how to introduce the cats to the baby-for instance, if I don't travel to Vietnam, Tom is going to send me something of Cupcake's right away via postal mail so I can let the cats sniff it and get used to her smell. I also heard that it's really important to let the cats thoroughly inspect the baby when she gets home (with complete supervision). Apprently, the "sniff inspection" lets let them check Cupcake out, get bored with her, and then apprently they'll go on their merry way of ignoring her. I do know for a fact that if you try and prevent a cat from checking out something that h/she wants to, it only makes it that much more appealing to her/him. So I won't be doing the "no, stay away from the baby!" stuff. They need to co-exist.
I think I am going to try the "no touch" method with Cupcake- no touching the cats unless she is supervised and given permission. I know that sounds crazy, but I've been told that if you define the boundaries right away, sort of like teaching a baby not to poke someone in the eyeball of grab a person in the crotch, they pick up on it. I don't think it's fair if I actively encourage or ignore her when she grabs at their fur or tails or teases them. Yes, I know handfuls of fur will happen. But I'm going to try to not act like it's the Cutest Thing Ever, which I'm sure every new parent feels about absolutely EVERYTHING their child does.
I do think that Chester (the kitty featured in the photo above) will appreciate the fact that Cupcake will take naps in the afternoon. Chester is a CHAMPION napper. At around 11am, he crawls into the bed and has his turn sleeping six-eight hours (hence the unmade bed in the photo). He gets cranky if you try and wake him during this period. He never sleeps on his belly, or curled up in a ball like most normal cats - instead, he stretches out on his back, usually with his feet hanging off the side of the bed. Sometimes, he puts his paw on his belly for good measure. He's also taken over the one baby blanket we have for Cupcake, which I have been sleeping with in case I can't go to Vietnam (Tom is going to bring it with him so Grace can get used to *our* smell before she gets home). I think we might have to give Chester the blanket and get Cupcake another one. He's VERY attached. I can only hope he likes Cupcake as much. He'll either love her or be terrified of her. That's how he operates.
Delilah, our 9-year old cat, will be another story. She's very maternal and affectionate, but it takes her a while to warm up to certain people. I have a feeling she'll sort of observe at a distance, and then make a decision on whether she's going to spend time with the baby or just pretend as if she doesn't exist. I hope it's the former... Delilah's pretty much my favorite "person" in the world, and I think it would be incredibly cool if Cupcake, Delilah, and I could form a female trifecta and roam around the house together.
Girl power!
