Carla asks:

My daughter and grandson (9 mos old), recently moved in. My two indoor cats have started pooping and peeing on all the comforters in the house (I’ve thrown out two down ones) and they just did it again today. One of them actually got in his playpen (baby was not in there at the time), and peed on all of his toys. Cats are spayed and neutered and indoor cats. Any suggestions? They’ve never ever acted this way before.

Barbara says:

Cats do not like change. Change upsets that natural order of things or at least what the cats are used to being normal. And, worse than that from their perspective, you are spending time with some one (thing) other than them.

Although cats do not get jealous in the way people may sometimes be, cats view new people as potential threats to their security. They are upset and they are acting out of their fear. So, as busy as you are with your daughter and grandson, you need to give them extra assurance that they are still loved, still safe, and still the center of your affection.

If you can, it may be useful to give the cats a space of their own with their beds, toys, food, water, and litter box. With a new baby in the house, the cats need a place to escape the grabbing hands and crying. Try to spend some special time with them each day reassuring them of their safety and your affection.

It may help introduce the baby to the cats if you put a blanket or something with the baby’s scent into their special room so they can get used to the new smell. Also you can try Feliway an artificial cat pheremone (body scent) spray (available at your pet store). Pheremones are what cats rub on wall corners and pants legs with their cheeks. The type of pheremone that Feliway mimics tends to have a calming effect on cats.

A couple other ideas. If the cats are getting into the babys crib, you can put some double-sided sticky tape on the edges. The cat will not like encountering that when he tries to jump in. Try to keep a regular routine in terms of the times you feed your cats. Routine means security.

Finally, you may want to check with your vet to make sure that there is no physical reason for the cat’s sudden misbehavior. Although it is unlikely that both cats would get a urinary infection at the same time and coincident with the arrival of your daughter and grandson, you do want to make sure the physically they are ok.

Posted by Barbara.