Moustache and the New Baby: A Maine Coon Becomes a Big Brother

When my wife and I found out that we were expecting a baby, our first worry was not the nursery or the money. It was Moustache. Our brown tabby Maine Coon, with his white bib and waiter's moustache, has followed me from room to room for four years, supervising my cooking, my laundry and my coffee. He is huge, gentle, and used to being the only child.

We started preparing two months early. First, we set up the crib in the spare room and let him inspect it. He walked around it twice, jumped in, tested the mattress, gave me a look that said 'acceptable', and went to sleep. We then made the room a no-cat zone when we were not there, with a mesh door, because cats like warm places and a baby needs space.

Second, we played recordings of baby sounds a few times a day, very quietly at first. Moustache, with his bird-like voice, answered them every time. We also brought home a blanket from the hospital before we came home ourselves, so he could smell the baby first. Our vet in Thonglor told us to keep his routine the same: same food, same hours, same play time, and to give extra attention to the cat, not less. She also suggested a check-up and a parasite treatment before the baby came home, which we did.

The first meeting was calm. I sat on the sofa with the baby, and Moustache approached very slowly, sniffed her little foot and sat down next to us like a guard. He has not left that spot since. In the first weeks he followed us to the nursery at every night feeding and lay at the door with half-closed eyes, watching the baby and, I suspect, us.

Of course there are small challenges. Cat hair has found its way into every bag and bottle, and I keep the litter box far from the baby's room. We also never leave them alone together, no matter how kind he looks. But last night I found them both sleeping, his big paw on the edge of her crib. If you are expecting and worried about your cat, start early, stay calm, and ask your vet.