Cats are not typically known to be friendly or kind toward new babies. However, with the right form of preparation, your cat and baby can get along safely and seamlessly. We will cover three essential steps describing how to baby proof areas of your home in which the cat has marked his/her territory.

Step 1: Litter Box

Based on its current location, you may need to move your cat’s litter box. There is a small chance that your cat can transmit a disease called toxoplasmosis, take care to always wear gloves when handling or cleaning your cat’s litter box. Make sure that you move the box to a place that is always going to be out of your baby’s reach. Disinfect the surrounding area with Lysol All Purpose Cleaner to remove harmful bacteria.

Step 2: Prepare Your Cat for a Change

It is not uncommon for cats to become anxious and uncomfortable by large, sudden changes, so there is certainly a right way and wrong way to make changes to your home while preparing for your baby. If the room you plan to build your baby’s nursery in is where your cat spends most of his/her time, it is important to gradually make changes to it rather than quickly overhauling the room. Moving too fast for your cat can anger and stress them out severely.

Step 3: Make Your Cat Feel at Home

Once you’ve made changes to certain areas of your home, reintroduce your cat to the area by playing with him/her there. This way, your cat will begin to associate positive feelings with the changed environment. They will also view those areas as a place of comfort versus a place of distress, which is vital for your new baby’s safety.