Baby/kids displacing animals
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Topic: Baby/kids displacing animals
Posted By: ginger
Subject: Baby/kids displacing animals
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 8:31am
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One thing I've been really aware of with having Cuinn is to make sure that our animals' place in the family has remained as unchanged as possible, aside from a shuffling down the ranks. I didn't want inside/outside dogs to become outside dogs because of him, or to miss out on their walks etc because we were knackered or running short of time or whatever, or the cat to be locked out of the house to be kept away from him - that sort of thing. The cat is nearly 10, the dogs 7 and 6 respectively, and so they've been around a long time before Cuinn.
But, holy hell, is it hard?! Being Winter, the door is shut to keep Cuinn in (and the cold out  ) and I've got both dogs each at the cat door to go out, then at the cat door to come in straight away because it's cold out, then at the cat door again to go out and so on and so forth all day. I couldn't tell you how many times they've woken up a bad sleeper to the point where I just wanted them put down (not really - I adore my dogs, but you know what I mean!), and the cat ... she's just become obsessed with scratching at Cuinn's closed door, and is waking him from just about every sleep he has. If we get a rare day nap, he gets woken and the other day spent 4 and a half hours wailing about it, and most mornings he's woken early - any time from about 5am to 6am or just after, by her scratching at his door ... and is grumpy because he's tired. And doesn't day nap to make up for it 
It's sort of a whinge, but also me realising that where I've looked at displaced animals in the past and thought judgemental thoughts  I can totally see how it happens!!------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Replies:
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 8:55am
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what would happen if the cat could get in the door to his room?
we had a cat before i had kids so it wasnt too hard for her place in the family to stay the same. she put up with a lot did poor old ziggy. I suppose if it was a real animal family things would change if it was a new puppy come into the group so dont feel too bad. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: CarrieMum
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 9:18am
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I totally understand! We have 2 burmese cats and they can be very naughty meowing outside my baby's door and playfighting up there too. I generally have them outside most of the day now and then inside for the evening and shut in the garage overnight.
I even found one of my cats asleep on my baby in the bassinette when Daniel was about 8 weeks old! They'd pushed his door open and gotten in. That was the turning point for me! Dont feel too badly, its pretty normal and not forever and im sure your animals are still looked after better than most. |
Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 9:18am
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We have a cat and have had him since he was a kitten, he is now 6 and unfortunately we have noticed him being a bit out of sorts since DS came along.
He's Persian and indoor so a real lap cat, but he HATES when DS cries and will leave the room immediately when any crying starts and goes into the spare room on the bed or onto our bed. I feel really really guilty that he feels quite put out - he definitely ruled the roost before DS came along! We try as best we can to encourage him to sit with us and pay him lots of attention after 7pm when DS is in bed for the night. It's been really hard on Merlin though as he has been to the vet a couple of times since DS was born and his illnesses have been due to stress 
Lately though, DS notices Merlin and watches him and tries to pat him when he comes anywhere near so I'm hoping they might get along in the future! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Flutterby
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 10:00am
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Totally understand. Our dog barks at almost every car that goes past the house fast or if it sounds like it is going to come up the drive, and she barks when she thinks she hears some noise that requires being barked at. Luckly Ds is sort of used to it by now and hardly ever gets woken up by her but in the early days it was such a pain.
I am staying at my mums at the moment and the dog is even worse up here. She barks at every little noise that comes from outside. And then sets off mums dog.  I honestly think it would be easier if we didn't have her, even though I do like having her around for security reasons.
And we don't pay her the attention that she used to get, though DS does give her cuddles. As for the cat well she spends all day outside then all night inside so is no trouble. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 10:05am
She's just curl up on the couch - but then the door would be open and I've have the dogs going in and out and banging the door open which would wake him up, as well as let all the heat out (we have a heater on at night in there). If we shut her in, she'd scratch to get out ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Bizzy wrote:Posted By: Disco
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 10:13am
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We had the same problem with our dog. He's four and half so had a few years of being the center of attention. He's really sensitive and was just so put out with DD when she arrived. He would just ignore her and pretend she wasn't there. Then he turned into the neediest dog in the world and was so competitive for attention, it was unreal.
It totally stressed me out as I hated to see him so unhappy. He even went off his food a refused to eat. So we did what we could and made a fuss of him once DD went to bed at night. now that she's on solids and dropping food everywhere he's finally almost back to his normal self. only taken 8 months! i guess it's a big adjustment for them. I'm hoping they will be best buddies when she gets a bit older. He already cracks her up and she squeals with delight at him. sorry not much help disco |
Posted By: mollymoo
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 10:33am
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hi all- gosh there are some well loved animals out there! we are TTC#1 and have 4 dogs in our house- yes 4 and yes IN the house, lol! a black lab, a choccy lab, a german wirehaired pointer (the size of a small horse) and a english springer spaniel. all very good friends- apart from the black lab who's grandma boss and NOT a dog according to her! we are starting now to lay down the rules... dogs are... outside most of the time or... if you are inside you sleep in your beds- not on the couch and 2 outta 4 sleep outside, we are getting a 3rd kennel as soon as we can. we have lots of friends with little human critters, as well as an 11 yr old SS, and the woofers are pretty clued up on "little people = food i can reach!!!" hmmmm. only prob normally is the lick, lick, licking and waggy tails knocking toddlers over- oooops! soooo i'm hoping when we are lucky enough to have our baby our furbabies will be easier to adjust to outside time etc. anyway good luck to everyone blending their animal/ human families to one! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: MrsJMcD
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 10:44am
| I've been wondering about this....our cat is a total sook and gets loads of attention and I think she's going to hate it when our little one arrives! My DH works from home and she sits beside him, or on him, all day (he's as big of a sook as she is!) and sleeps on our bed most nights. There are very view parts of the house she does not feel are her's to roam in anytime she likes, and if one of the doors is shut and she wants in she'll scratch. thankfully, the room that will be the nursery has up until now been a bit of a junk room and the door is always shut, so hopefully she'll refrain from scratching at it to get in once it's a nursery. I'm a bit worried about where she'll sleep at night though..if we have the bassinet in our room at night I won't want her in and I just know she'll scratch at the door! |
Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 11:14am
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I am also worried about my two little ones. One of the kittens is very clinging, gives me practise at carrying a baby in burping position i guess.
And the other one likes being rocked like a baby lol. I am just not going to have enough hands for them all. At the moment the baby is going to be in the nursery not in the bedroom, so they can still sleep in our bed. My major worry is that they will sit outside the babys room crying all night as they cant get in. Thats what they do when we shut the door of our bedroom for some cuddle dancing. Kills the mood alright. |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 11:17am
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With the cat scratching his door.. our cat would meow at the door until everytime I heard it happening I went down with a pump bottle and sprayed her. Only took about 4 times and she hasn't done it since
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Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 11:24am
| Is it possible with your house set up to use a baby gate at the beginning of the hall to keep the dogs in the family areas. That way the cat can come and go as she pleases with the door only a little open in regards to the heat. Hang a blanket over the door frame with just a little gap at the bottom of the slightly ajar door so that the draft doesn't go all the way up to the top of the door and just a small gap at the bottom. Or is it the couch she wants and can it be moved into another room. Maybe just the couch cushion she sleeps on. In regards to the baby gate you are bound to use it at some point with you baby so it won't be wasted money. Cats can easily jump over or go thru the slats of a baby gate. Dogs can jump over but tend not too. |
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 11:28am
| Also just thought I would add I can sympathise completely. My first cat ran away 1 week after bringing my oldest into the house. We also have a schnoodle and a cat now and the dog is mainly outside as she is so hyper. Put her in a room with three kids and it all goes to custard pretty fast. They just feed off each other. However she was a purchase after the three kids so she hasn't known any better. |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 11:56am
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can you leave the door a little bit ajar - just cat size? maybe he needs a cat door on his room door?! LOL sorry - thats not helpful. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 12:15pm
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Hehe, I worried about our cat when DS was born, he is 14 years old this year and is a really cuddly, sooky cat....but he has adjusted so well. He sometimes sleeps in DS room during the day, keeping him company..so cute...and then he gets all worried and meows when DS cries! I was worried that he would jump in the bassinet but he was not at all interested. He lets DS pat him and buts his head up against DS too for 'pats' lol...
hmm no help at all, just wanted to share lol! I love my cat haha. ------------- 
 Oct 11
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Posted By: MrsH
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 12:23pm
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Aargh, I have issues with our dog. She's an inside dog (bichon poodle X) and barks at every little sound. DS is 14 months old and we still have the white noise going to block out some of it.
She generally doesn't go into DSs room unless she thinks we're in there but when she does, it's annoying as hell and do you think she closes it when she leaves?? Grrr..... We now ring just as we're arriving home so she doesn't bark the house down and possibly wake a sleeping DS but it's not ideal. It's blimmin' hard trying to cater for one pampered pooch, I'd hate to think what it'd be like with more!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 4:25pm
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We have 2 cats and 2 dogs. The dogs became outside dogs over summer so they would be OK sleeping out in the kennel when bubs arrived. We have set up a playpen that they cant get into in the lounge. They were just too destructive to keep inside, I never knew what I was going to come home to/wake up to.
One of them is driving me nuts! He does the in/out thing all day. If I dont let him out in time he pees on the floor, and if I dont let him in he barks and scratches at the door. He is SUCH a pain but DS adores him 
Our cats have been outdoor cats since the above dog came along... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: babylove
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 4:36pm
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as kiwi2 said maybe a gate to stop the dogs getting through. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 4:38pm
I'd have a riot on my hands But, having said that, the cushion from the couch is a really good idea - I might try putting that in another room for her to curl up on! Ta!!------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Richie
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 5:51pm
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We've been pretty lucky with our dog. He is an inside dog, only really goes outside if it's a nice day or if we go out. He has always been our 'wee' baby (he's a Boxer so not actually very wee) and I was a bit worried that he might feel a bit put out when bubs came along but he has been great. We just made sure he knew that her room was out of bounds before she came along. He's pretty lazy anyway so tends to spend 90% of his day asleep in the lounge under the heatpump anyway lol And DD loves him to pieces. She laughs at him all the time cause he gets excited when he sees her and wags his whole body and looks like a complete dork. I think they are going to grow up to be best buddies! -------------  
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Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 7:07pm
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We have 4 cats, (2 are ours and 2 are MIL/FIL though 1 is really DPs old cat, we live with his parents atm) and while I did get a bit worried b4 bubs was born because the door to her room won't shut properly and they would go in and jump in the cot, now that she has arrived they don't want anything to do with her and stay as far away as possible. THough the last month or so the smarter 2 now 3 have figured out her room is the warmest, the heater is on low most of the time, and they will sleep in there on the dresser or the chair. (Haha I sat on one of them the other day cause it is really dim at night even with the nightlight and I didn't see him!! He's really lucky I didn't flop down) ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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