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Need help!!
My sweetest, adorable, the most friendliest cat on planet is hissing at my Mother in law(MIL).
My MIL has come to visit us for a month, she has been here for 2 days now. the very first day my cat was friendly with her, sniffing her and showing some interest in her. but from next day onwards she has been hissing at her quite a few times in a day.
I am really worried because i am going to have my baby in few days and will be in the hospital for atleast 2-3 days. MIL and my cat will be alone in the house. I am hoping they both survive, more worried about my cat though!
any suggestions? I just don't want to deal with stress right now and my cat is like my baby.
I am looking for polite and 'diplomatic' ways to make things better here.
Need help!!
My sweetest, adorable, the most friendliest cat on planet is hissing at my Mother in law(MIL).
My MIL has come to visit us for a month, she has been here for 2 days now. the very first day my cat was friendly with her, sniffing her and showing some interest in her. but from next day onwards she has been hissing at her quite a few times in a day.
I am really worried because i am going to have my baby in few days and will be in the hospital for atleast 2-3 days. MIL and my cat will be alone in the house. I am hoping they both survive, more worried about my cat though!
any suggestions? I just don't want to deal with stress right now and my cat is like my baby.
I am looking for polite and 'diplomatic' ways to make things better here.
As always thank you
Okay a few questions come to mind.
1st, does your MIL own cats herself? if she does maybe the cat is picking up the odors of her cat and your cat is being territorial.
2nd, is this the first time for MIL to come and visit at any length? If not how did the cat react then?
3rd, how does your MIL carry herself? I mean does she walk and talk with authority? or maybe does she seem to stomp rather than walk (some people just seem to have heavy feet without meaning to.) or talk a bit louder than you guys do?
4th, does your MIL wear perfume that may be a bit strong?
Sometimes strange sounds or odors or even behaviors can set a cat off. It may also be sensing that something is about to happen in your house and it is a bit on the nervous side because it is picking up your nervousness. I'm sure that there is probably a lot of excitement going on in your house right now and the cat doesn't understand it, all he knows is the excitement probably got worse after your MIL came so your cat may be percieving her as the cause for this sudden escalation in excitement and nervousness.
I imagine that the cat will calm down once everything else has. I just would be careful not to let the cat be alone with the new baby for awhile at least not until it has had a chance to get used to it.
Good luck and I hope all goes well with you, the baby, the MIL and the cat. Oh and Congrats too!
I agree with Maggie2121 & Naturen...let your MIL feed & give treats/catnip to kitty...bribery works, lol! Sometimes cats simply dislike certain people for their own reasons, but as another poster said it could be strange odors or loudness creating the friction...if all else fails, maybe the cat could stay in a room behind a closed door until you're home and can run interference if things get ugly...good luck and CONGRATULATIONS on your new baby!
Is she using some kind of cream or "anything" on her hands/body? Cats are sensitive to "scents"....Your cat may just not be accustomed to her scent. It may take a few days, but I'm guessing your kitty will settle down and accept your MIL. The ideas of MIL feeding and paying extra attention to her will help.
So exciting on the birth of your child! I was just thinking of you the other day and wondered if the special day had arrived yet.
Be prepared...kitty may also do the same with the new little one.. New smells....but it will all pass. Keep us posted! ((hugs))
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. Congratulations on the baby! and I hope he/she is healthy and that your labor goes smoothly
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