Conference misery::feline_v1

    I had a friend who put a screen door on the babies room to keep the cat
    out. (works well to keep kittens in a room too!)
    Karen,Ruby, Stinky, Wing, Arthur, Goldie and lots more I hope!
    

    You have three weeks to train the cat not to do this.  I would make the
    room with the crib off limits to the cat when you aren't there.  Then,
    I would get a spray bottle, fill it with water, and wait until the cat
    gets in the crib.  Then let him have it with the water.  Enough
    corrections with the water bottle will probably lessen his desire to 
    get into the crib.
    
    Jo

    how about a little nest of his own?
    

     I second the screen door.  Works very well in keeping kitty out, but
    still letting you see and hear what's happening in the room.
    
                         Denise

    Water bottle and screens are both good ideas.  It worked for my
    daughter.
    
    When my first daughter was born, I had a cat that would sleep with her.
    She would be in one corner and he would be in the opposite corner.  He
    loved her and protected her. 
    
    May you be so fortunate.......
    
    Good luck,
    
    Sandi & Thunder, Lightning, DejaVu, Patches, Storm the Dog, & Grey
    		the Stray
    
    

    How about putting a blanket/netting over the top of the crib
    so he won't jump in.  Wish you luck with your new baby.
    
    Sandy

    My boyfriends sister adopted a new kitten a few weeks before 
    her baby came.  Sure it was bad timing on her part, but it was part of
    her healing process from losing her cat, Muffoon.
    
    Anyway, this cat started making the crib his, and she was all upset
    because she though she'd have to bring the kitty back to the shelter.
    
    They kept the door closed and off limits...but he'd still find times
    to sneak in.  Fortunatly once the baby came, the kitten decided that
    the noisy thing in *his* bed was too much to take and claimed another
    spot in the house.
    
    This little guy was on probation for awhile, but it's been 9 weeks
    and everything has settled down.
    

    Put a pan of water in the crib.....Kitty jumps in,
    land in water, and decides that the crib is no longer
    a nice place to sleep.
    
    Screen door idea sounds good, too.
    
    L-

    if you can afford it, buy a ScatMat ($70) and put it in the crib. This
    is a mat (2 feet by 4 feet) with a low-voltage electrical grid in it.
    This would keep all but the most stupid (or determined :-) cat away
    from it. This has been okayed by the humane society..
    
    I saw it in the Sporty's Preferred Living catalog, but you should be
    able to get it from any of the YuppyStores (Brookstone, JS&A, etc) in
    your area.                               

    
    Scat Mat is also available through some catalogs too.  R.C. Steele
    has it listed for 41.70 and a Jr. version for 34.17, suggested for cats
    and small dogs.(16x30)
    
    MaryAnne

    When I was born, my parents has Smokey.  From the moment they
    brought me home, Smokey and I belonged to each other. 
    
    Not only did he sleep in the crib with me but in my baby
    carriage as well.  He kept me company in my playpen (one of the
    old kind with slats) and followed me around the neighborhood
    like a dog.
    
    My grandmother was horrified about the crib sharing, but, as
    you can see, nothing happened except that I developed a 
    deep, deep love for kitties.
    
    If you are nervous, that's understandable.  And, all the
    suggestions so far are good.  (I, personally, am terrible
    at making my 3 stop doing anything--they get away with almost
    everything, although the sight of the spray bottle makes them
    run.)
    
    Best of luck with the new baby!
    
    Barbara (Melody, Missy and Brittany)
    

	You can get cat-covers for carry-cots and cribs over here, they are
	netting-type material that has larger holes than normal.

	My friends brought their 2-month old daugter with them when they came 
	round to dinner, they have a cat of their own, and put the netting over
 	the cot whilst we ate.
	My nosey-parker mog - Cider - jumped on this, and got off again in one 
	leap, he remembers, and has never jumped on a carycott since!

	Why not get some of this now and put it on. It'll show you how well it
	works, and set your mind at rest before your new addition arrives.

	I'm sure your new baby will get on really well with the moggie.

	Good Luck,
	Heather	    

    When my nephew comes to vist the kittens will get into the carriage
    with him.  Doesn't seem to bother him any.  I'm sure the warm, soft
    fur feels good.  Of course, I keep an eye on them all the time.
      Nancy DC

    Cinder was 5 when my third child was due.  As soon as the bassinet was
    put up before the baby was born, she claimed it for her own.  We tried
    and tried to keep her out of the room even though she cried like a
    banshee to get in.
    
    When my son was born she was curious about this new creature in the
    intriguing bed.  I can't tell you how many times I found her with him
    taking a nap.  Unfortunately, she learned how to turn the doorknob
    and open the door.  I thought that once he was in a crib she could
    have the bassinet to herself.  Uh-uh, she was more intereted in
    sleeping with the baby than which bed it was.
    
    Until my son was 4 years old she never scratched or bit him. Then
    one day she decided she had had enough and he was old enough to learn.
    Boy was he shocked!  But even now she is patient with him and takes the
    rough handling without little complaint.
    
    My son is now 13 years old and is still HER baby.  She has slept with
    him almost every night of his life.  When he started school she followed 
    him to the school bus in the morning and made sure he was safely on before
    she came home.  In the afternoon, she waited at the bus stop for him to 
    get off.  She will even interfere if he is being scolded for some misdeed.
    Cinder puts herself between the two of us and bites MY ankles until I stop
    scolding/admonishing him (with a 13 year old boy this is a frequent
    occurence). 
    
    I hope that your child has the same loving experience with your pet
    that my family has had with ours for the past 18 years.  
    
    When you bring the baby home, don't forget to introduce the two. 
    Remember the animal was there first and this is an intruder in its
    territory.  Use the same method with your pet that you use when you
    bring home a new baby to older children, the baby is  part of their 
    family too.
    
    
    

    
    
    Well it looks like Abby has learned the crib is off limits...all those
    scoldings each time he ventured in the crib must have done it.  I think
    I would have opted for the water bottle if he continued getting in.
    
    He likes to hang out on the second shelf of the changing table...it
    gives him a good view out the window.  I don't mind if he hangs out
    there...we plan to use the table as storge and change the baby on
    the bed.  
    
    I intend to introduce him to the baby when we bring him/her home...
    right now he is the baby...he gets all the hugs and kisses...I'll
    have to make sure I do not neglect his needs to be picked up and
    cuddled...(my husbands too!).
    
    Suzanne