BEHAVIOR Cats

A baby is coming home: make changes early and leave your cat an escape zone

8 min read · Last checked: November 9, 2026 · Sources: International Cat Care, NHS

A cat stretched out on a bookshelf. Photo: George E. Koronaios · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Expecting a baby changes everything, and if you have a cat, "How will my cat react?" comes to mind. According to International Cat Care, cats thrive on routine and predictability, and their strongest attachment tends to be to their home rather than the people in it. That means new furniture, baby gear or a rearranged sofa can make some cats anxious. On the other hand, the organization says many cats take it all in stride and can be wonderful with children if introduced carefully. In this article we cover steps that can help your cat adjust before and after the baby arrives, based on International Cat Care's pages, plus the UK's National Health Service (NHS) page for litter box hygiene. Sending the cat away isn't presented as a solution; the aim is a setup where everyone is safe and settled.

IN SHORT

Start early: If your cat's sleeping spot, access to a room or feeder will change, do it before the baby, gradually.
Get used to the stuff: Let your cat sniff and accept new items; play a baby-crying recording at a barely audible volume.
Escape routes: Provide high places and hideaways the baby can't reach.
Homecoming: Stay calm, give your cat time to sniff; bring home something the baby wore from the hospital beforehand.
Supervision: Never leave a cat and baby together without an adult present.
Hygiene: Wash your hands after handling your cat and after cleaning the litter box.

Why can a baby be daunting for a cat?

According to International Cat Care, cats use their sense of smell to know what belongs to them. They rub their faces on furniture and door frames to leave their own scent; we can't smell it, but it's a familiar and reassuring marker for the cat. Baby items and the baby's own scent can disrupt that. The organization also lists:

New items: A cot, pram and toys arrive; some toys flash or make sudden, strange noises.
Smell: Babies smell different from adults; milk and dirty nappies are prominent.
Time: New parents have less time to play and interact with the cat, and up-all-night routines can disrupt the cat's too.
Unpredictability: A baby's noises and movements are less predictable than an adult's or older child's, which can be daunting to cats.

Before the baby comes home

Change things gradually

International Cat Care's first suggestion is to make any changes to the home gradually. For example, if your cat sleeps in your bedroom and won't be allowed in once the baby arrives, change that very slowly and offer another safe, comfortable place to sleep. The organization also suggests that if the new mother won't be able to feed the cat in the first days after the birth, you might change who feeds the cat before the baby is born, so the cat's routine isn't disrupted at a time when everything else is changing.

Get your cat used to new items

Let your cat investigate and accept new items by face rubbing. The organization suggests this method: while stroking your cat, rub a soft cloth gently on their cheeks and in front of their ears (where their scent glands are), then rub the cloth on the new items so they smell familiar. Only do this if your cat is comfortable with it.

Get your cat used to baby sounds

Before the baby comes home, International Cat Care suggests playing an audio clip of a baby crying (many are freely available online). Play it at a volume that's only just audible; if your cat shows no interest, you can gradually turn it up. The idea is to teach your cat the sound is nothing to worry about.

Set aside their own space

The organization wants your cat to have plenty of places to feel safe out of the baby's reach: cardboard boxes, perches, shelves, cat trees, igloo beds, plus behind the sofa, under beds and on top of cupboards. Cats feel more at ease with vertical space; see our vertical space guide for details. The "cat friendly home" page also says secret hideaways matter and a cat shouldn't be disturbed while using one.

When the baby comes home

If you spend a night or two in the hospital, the organization suggests bringing home something the baby has worn so your cat can sniff it and get used to the smell ahead of time.

When you arrive, stay calm, give your cat time to sniff the baby, and try not to create a tense atmosphere. According to International Cat Care, cats are usually adaptable and soon go back to their old routines, like curling up in a bed by the radiator. Occasionally a very sensitive cat gets stressed and may start unwanted behaviors like house soiling; the organization says this can be overcome by increasing the cat's sense of security. If you see changes like that, talk to your veterinarian.

A calm entrance: Be unhurried when you bring the baby in; give your cat time to sniff if they want to.
Supervision: Don't leave a cat and baby together without an adult. The organization is clear: cats should never be left unattended with babies, and physical contact shouldn't happen without adult supervision, so an adult can step in if needed and the cat always has choice and control over the type and duration of the interaction.
The baby's room: The organization suggests making the baby's room a no-go zone for your cat, especially when the baby is very small.
Cot and pram: Put a net over a baby basket or pram to stop your cat getting in.
Keep the routine: Even if you have less time, keep play and meal times as steady as you can; our indoor cat play guide has short play ideas.

Hygiene: the litter box and hands

International Cat Care's safety tips include: wash your hands after handling your cat, wear gloves and/or wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning litter boxes, keep cats off kitchen counters where possible and clean counters regularly. It also suggests keeping up with your cat's preventive health care, like flea and worm treatments.

The NHS also lists simple litter measures for pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems, to avoid the infection toxoplasmosis, which can be spread through cat feces: avoid cat feces in litter and soil if you can, wear gloves if you need to empty litter boxes, and wash your hands afterward. The same page says you can't catch it from stroking a cat or having one as a pet. If you're pregnant and have concerns about the litter box, ask your midwife or doctor. For choosing and placing a litter box, see our litter box guide.

As your baby grows

According to International Cat Care, as a baby becomes stronger and more mobile, they can reach the cat more easily, which can limit the cat's ability to retreat. Make sure your cat has shelves, cat trees and baby-gated areas the baby can't get to. The organization says babies and small children should always be supervised near the cat, and that it helps to teach children to touch cats gently with a flat palm, avoiding the paws and belly. Placing your hand under the child's hand can help protect the cat's fur from pulling and grabbing. The organization's "introducing cats to children" page also says litter boxes, food and water bowls should ideally be where children can't reach, and that letting children play with an interactive wand toy gets them involved without handling.

Talk to your veterinarian

If your cat can't adjust to the new setup, is soiling outside the litter box, hiding, has stopped eating or is acting out of character, talk to your veterinarian. International Cat Care says such behaviors can often be overcome by increasing the cat's sense of security. Follow your vet's plan for your cat's health care too (flea and worm protection, vaccinations).

Remember with Tüylüm

Routines can slip easily when a baby arrives. In Tüylüm you can tick off your cat's daily care tasks (food, water, litter box) on the Today tab, and with My home (shared household tracking) the other people at home can follow the same cat together. Vaccine, parasite and medication reminders and Food & litter supplies remind you from your phone.

Frequently asked questions

How early before the birth should I prepare?

The sources don't give an exact time. International Cat Care suggests making changes gradually, so it makes sense to start as early as you can and spread new items and sounds out over time so your cat can get to know them.

Can my cat go into the baby's room?

International Cat Care suggests making the baby's room a no-go zone for your cat, especially when the baby is very small, and putting a net over a baby basket or pram. Never leave your cat unsupervised with the baby.

What should I do if my cat shows signs of stress?

The organization suggests increasing your cat's sense of security (hiding places, high spaces, routine). If your cat still soils outside the litter box or acts out of character, talk to your veterinarian.

Keep track of your pet's care in TüylümLog vet visits, vaccine and medication dates, and we'll remind you when it's time. Share it all with your family in Home.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Ask your vet about any decision for your pet.

Sources

This article is for general information only; it is not a diagnosis or treatment advice and does not replace a visit to a veterinarian. Talk to your vet about decisions on your pet's health. By Tüylüm · Published and last checked: November 9, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to [email protected] and we'll fix it right away. Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the license shown below each photo.