Today we are going to go over some simple tips on feline hygiene for life with the new baby and family life.
We will be covering hot topics such as:- Toxoplasmosis
- Cats smothering babies
- If cats can tell if your pregnant
Here are some quick easy tips on hygiene for living with your cat. Because while cats have a reputation for being clean that is not always the case. In fact it’s more often the case that the feline itself is clean (ish) but the house is NOT because of the cat.
New parents often feel overwhelmed with all the extra housework a newborn creates. As the mother you are generally the primary caregiver of your newborn. Your husband can not do what you do, however he should pick up the slack in other ways. Divide and conquer is your new life motto. Also having a job is no excuse for the 1950 mindset of motherhood and gender roles. He should pick up more, do more house chores, cook or meal prep, and do more with any older children and of course he now becomes the primary cat caregiver.
Sometimes getting everything done that needs to be done in a day it’s impossible even with both of your equally contributing. In that case advice a friend of mine told me comes into play. Sometimes when you are drowning in housework budgeting for help can save a relationship. Start budgeting while pregnant make an account you both contribute some of your play money into as soon as you get pregnant that money will be your life saver. Even if you can not afford help a long term a bi weekly maid for the first few months vastly improves quality of life.
Cat Fur
Cat fur is a never ending challenge. It ends up everywhere. On your clothes, furniture, in your bed, on the baby toys, carriers, and strollers. Every single thing designed for the baby has the extra bonus of being designed for a cat. Oh and the worst just has to be Baby tethers they attract cat fur better then any sticky pad does.
Grooming
The number one way to manage car fur is to take your feline friend to A professional groomer within 2 weeks prior to your due date. A nice sanitary cat groom before a baby is born is great for a few reason they trim nails, check ears, teeth, nose, and eyes, brush out the fur, they also wash and treat skin dander that all cats have. Even short hair cats shed and can benefit from the groomers. In my household of 4 cats my short hair mink coat cat produces the most dander and fur. So so much fur she can make coats, yes plural.
Also consider a cat hair cut for those long haired felines. I have a long haired boy who just can’t keep his tummy and rear area cleaned so he gets a sanitary shave. Makes everyone happy and keeps him hygienic and feeling freash if a little breezy. You can work with your groomer to decided on a hair cut for your cat. Some new moms go full lion cut some do a trim. What really matters is sanitation so hygiene, brushing, and dander removal.
Fur maintenance
Brush your cat daily. I mean either you remove it into the bin or your house collects it on the floors. Delegate this responsibility to a household member. My 3 year old brushes my cats while I BF the baby bc that’s all he does. Except for my long haired cat, he’s a bully and I do not trust him with her. She has her jar of cat treats and she brushes them just fine feeding them bribes the whole time. It is not a professional groom, it’s not even what I could do, but it is good enough and it vastly helps manage the fur. A few minutes a day prolongs trips to the groomers and keeps my now 4 month old from ingesting cat fur. In addition my toddler is further developing her relationship with our cats and learning responsibility.
Vacuum daily
Have someone vacuum daily. It doesn’t have to be you but maintenance is key to being fur free. It doesn’t have to be with the heavy duty vacuum and doesn’t have to be the whole house but running a vaccine over your floors daily manages fur and litter which is necessary because your baby is on the ground a lot. I keep my vacuum by the area rug my 4 month old plays on and I vaccine that rug daily at least once. I do the whole house once a week and the main living area 2xs a week. (Vacuum and mop)
If you have the funds invest in a rumba or other robot vacuum and run it every day twice a day every day. A cheaper option is one of those light weight hand held vacuum’s those are magic and since you have to walk the baby at least once a day. You can baby wear and easily run the vacuum threw the house without hurting your back.
A friend of mine in Florida told me that Publix’s sells a cheap vacuum/mop hand held 2 in one she has a toddler, a few large dogs and clean fur free floors so I believe her recommendation. She says they last 3-4 months but she uses them multiple times a day. Next time I’m in Florida I’m am picking up a few of them because those are the easiest things to clean your hard wood floors with while holding a baby.
Sanitizing every counter top
Every single top needs to be sanitized before and after use. You will be making bottles, preparing food, sanitizing baby items on these counters. Even without cats you should clean the counters before and after each use this is even more important with cats.
Also baby items kept out on the counter cover it with a clean cloth every evening, plastic wrap or some enclosed cover. Cats are curious and while my cats have never been on the counters during the day. I have surprised them being naughty in middle of the night.
I use a bio cleaner from target. Some people make there own organic food safe cleaner. Whatever you decided to use is fines. I divide my store bought cleaner into small spray bottles and keep 1 bottle with a rag in a high spot on each room. That way I can easily clean the kitchen table before every meal, or coffee table or even the windowsill bc my toddler likes to sit in it and eat her snacks. Wipe down all surfaces you eat on before you eat on them or prepare food. It’s quick and necessary.
Cat litter
This is a big one. It gets every where. cats track it all over the house. Yes you can use the catching mats, yes you can have an enclosed cat potty (if the cat goes for it). However you never catch it all. Whatever litter box you use keep a hand vacuum next to it and vacuum it up every single time you walk by it. If not a vacuum a small hand dustbin and brush.
Cat fur and baby toys.
Wash everything once a week. It is super easy.
Put all soft toys in a mesh laundry bag (or pillow case if you don’t have a laundry bag) Do not put any soft toy that has electronic components because they no longer work after a wash cycle. Wash on delicate cycle and air dry. Bonus some babies find front loading washers fun to watch so move the bouncer so the baby can watch it.
This includes play mats, bouncer and swing liners, and changing table covers. Everything baby related is always washable unless otherwise stated.
For hard toys get specific mesh laundry bags just for this one purpose and reuse them weekly for this. Or you can get a few dish washer basket but toys don’t fit will in them depending on the size: Put the toys in the bag and place them on the top rack of the dishwasher and wash on the sanitize setting. Once again do not include any electronic toys.
You do so much laundry with a baby so set a schedule for what items you do each day and try to do one or 2 loads a day.
Conclusion
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