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12-04-2012 at 2:19 PM
FutureMrsT...
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keeping cats out of a bassinet?

so, I have two cats, neither of which are at all aggressive, and I don't want them to not be allowed to be near the baby, I'm just concerned with them possibly getting into the bassinet during the night while I'm sleeping, keeping them out of the room is not really an option for a couple reasons.

I repeat I DO NOT want to exile my cats, I just want to train them to not get into the bassinet. They haven't really seemed all that interested in it when they are around it so far, and this may not be an issue at all, but I was wondering if there is a peace of mind option that can help me to know for sure they aren't going in there at night while I sleep.

I've seen crib tents, and once the baby moves into the crib, we'll probably use that, but until then I've not seen any bassinet options, any suggestions?


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12-04-2012 at 2:22 PM
mistressco...
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Not a cat person here (DH is terribly allergic) so this might be a terrible idea but the first thing that came to mind is putting water in there.  Maybe line the bassinet with a trash bag and put a large pan/bowl of water in there (like a turkey pan) full of water so if the cats jump in they get wet.  Might make them associate water with the bassinet and make them less interested.  

 
12-04-2012 at 2:25 PM
minervacul...
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I've heard of putting something loud and crinkled in there so if they jump in they freak out and won't do it again.

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12-04-2012 at 2:30 PM
FutureMrsT...
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lol that would work right up until I took the bag out, my cats are freaking smart(well, one if them is anyways), we have a ssscat thing that blows a puff of air at them if they enter a room(we tried it for the nursery) and one of my cats stared at it for a couple days and realized if she ran fast enough past it it wouldn't get her.... we eventually decided to only leave the nursery door open when we are in there.

We actually wont even have a nursery anymore, for a while, once baby moves into the crib(moving into my parents' garage temporarily due to military discharge), though, so baby will be sleeping most nights in the same room as the cats.


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"Why do I do it?.... because nights alone aren't permanent, missing him reminds me that I'm lucky enough to have someone to miss, and because I'm not afraid to make sacrifices for true love"

 
12-04-2012 at 2:35 PM
Wild_flowe...
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Tin foil, fill the bassinet up with it.  I left some in the crib for long time before DS was born and it work, the cat never went in there.  You think they are smart, but you scare them badly with it once or twice and they won't try it again lol

 

I also wouldn't worry about it after the baby if they still go in there.  They will probably avoid the baby at all costs so shouldn't bother him/her when she's in there.


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12-04-2012 at 2:37 PM
Chocodoxie...
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The best idea I have heard of is putting balloons in the bassinet, or pack-n-play. They jump in and jump right back out. 

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12-04-2012 at 2:40 PM
mrsmcdonal...
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 I wouldn't bother with the crib tent - a lot of them have been recalled due to safety issues. 

I would try some of the PPs' ideas. 


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12-04-2012 at 2:53 PM
MLPFlutter...
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Chocodoxies:
The best idea I have heard of is putting balloons in the bassinet, or pack-n-play. They jump in and jump right back out. 

 This. I had heard this idea and we are planning on doing this. We have three cats.


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12-04-2012 at 3:41 PM
caseylynw
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my mom was worried about this to when my sister was born (mom has 4 cats and my sister is 2) but the cats wouldn't actually go into the bassinet or crib when the baby was in it. they just jump up onto the edge, look at the baby and then jump right off. they don't really like to be in such a small space with the baby. it's to cramped.

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12-04-2012 at 4:01 PM
mishka29
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The best way to keep them out is to put a baby in it! lol  Def some good ideas above. Other things that keep cats away is orange peels and a squirt in the face with water.  I use the squirt bottle on my (not very bright) cat when she eats the Christmas tree.  I can yell and slam things but she keeps on chewing...as soon as I get up she runs! lol

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12-04-2012 at 4:15 PM
ObLaDi
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Tin foil is a good idea. Similarly, when I was a kid we trained our cats not to jump on the counters by putting contact paper on them.

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12-04-2012 at 4:19 PM
etude de l...
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squirt gun (something cheap like from the 99 cent store)! Every time the cat is into something you don't want have a squirt gun and they get wet!

I had one in the kitchen (kitchen counters/breakfast table) as well as the baby room. Only took 2 times and the cat refused to even go into the baby room and I never caught her laying on our table again.  


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12-04-2012 at 4:44 PM
llo85
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Hey!

I have been dealing with the same thing. I have a net that I keep over the bassinet and the cats have been staying out of it. The net will come down once the baby arrives. Not sure how to keep the cats out after that.

Try a crib net


 
12-04-2012 at 4:52 PM
Blackfire1...
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Pp ideas sound good, I'm a bit in the exact boat as you op.

I know personally, I picked my girl up by the scruff and told her "no". Granted she knows this action from her kitten days. I also put the baby tub, since we have one already, in the bassinet. Like pp said, most cats don't like to share.

Defiantly train your kitties now, before baby arrives. That's a given, I know, but it's one of the most important things to remember. The sooner the better.

Also, if you used a particular training method to keep them, say off the counters, use that method too. Like I said, my cat knows that a stern "no" and being removed means not to do it.

http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/67276033/ShowThread.aspx#67276033 
12-04-2012 at 5:06 PM
ajckie
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We're keeping the nursery closed to keep our 2 cats out. I know that isn't an option for you, but I'd try the tin foil and spraying with water. One of my cats LOVES babies, baby animals, baby humans. She just can't get enough. And they both love a snuggle and all cats love the warmth of body heat. I'd just be worried, that although not aggressive, they might accidentally smother them while trying to cuddle. Maybe call your local vet and see what he/she suggests?

 
12-04-2012 at 5:54 PM
jlk2424
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I had to laugh at this because we set up our bassinet the other day and 3 out of our 4 cats have already been in it napping.  Also, the other day I finally put the changing pad and cover on the table.  FOUR times today my cat has been napping.  I will be trying the aluminum foil idea!!!
 
12-04-2012 at 6:24 PM
82Sonia
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We've used rolled packing tape in the past to deter the cat from scratching on the furniture.  They certainly don't like the feel of the stickiness on their feet. 

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12-04-2012 at 8:10 PM
FirstBabyM...
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I was worried about this because I was constantly finding my cat in the crib/bassinet before DD was born. Then she was born, and he couldn't have kept farther away from her if he tried! It was seriously never an issue. Plus, we had the bassinet in the room with us for 4 months so we were right there to monitor (except while sleeping, but it never came up).

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12-04-2012 at 8:39 PM
FurtureMrs...
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I second the tin foil. The day we put up the crib and changing table I put a layer in each. My very nosy cat hasn't jumped in there once. We actually are living at my moms so we have to share the room with baby and the cat. It's going to be tight quarters for a while.

 
12-04-2012 at 10:04 PM
reason00
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You know...

My cat pissed me off to all ends of hell before my first was born. She would always be on his things, inside of his stuff. When he came along, she didn't touch any of his things. She never once climbed in his playpen anymore.

Either she's really smart, or I scared her enough to never touch his stuff again.


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12-05-2012 at 12:15 PM
genepoolpe...
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We've been having the same dilemma at our house. Our two cats are very cuddly, and wicked smart (or smart-@$$es). They don't give a hoot about tin foil, but they are TERRIFIED of mylar balloons. So we plan on stringing up a couple of those around the baby when the cats are around.

The cats are not allowed in the nursery (door is shut) and we've been shutting them out of our bedroom during the night while we're sleeping. LO will be in our room with us for the first couple months before moving to his crib in the nursery.

Let me know if you find a crib tent. All I can find online are ones that have been recalled, or ones that look like mosquito netting (which my 14lb & 17lb cats will easily tear through).


                
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12-05-2012 at 12:19 PM
PatchChild
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Contact paper, sticky side up, helped discourage my incorrigible cats.  Tin foil is ok but wan't as effective.

 
12-05-2012 at 11:07 PM
ForeverEve...
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Our bassinet is in our room. I've got a sheer curtain rigged up to keep my cat out when the baby isn't in it. I also can't shut her out because she sleeps with us and would just scratch the door all night trying to get in. She usually sleeps on DH's hip, so I'm a bit worried she'll try to get in with the baby, but we plan to watch her the first few times. A loud clap and stern no, and she gets the message.

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