Did you feel a hatred or strong disliking for your pets after you had a baby?

Question

RANT 
Ever since bringing my baby home from the hospital I see my two cats as walking germ infestations and little nuisances. I’m disgusted by them to be honest. 
The cats seem very jealous of my baby and very needy of my attention. I don’t want them around my baby they seem gross to me now. How they walk in their litter box and cover their shit and then jump in my baby’s pack n play/bassinet. I don’t like their hair getting on my baby, I’m always picking cat hair off my baby’s clothes, hands, feet, and bottles. 
They also try to rub up on me or sit on me while I’m trying to care for my baby and I feel sooo overstimulated I have to push them away. They also tear up all the brand new baby stuff (pack n play, crib, carpet, swing, etc.) they seem to always be right under my feet so I’m constantly tripping over them, sometimes while I’m holding my baby!! 
I know everyone poops but their shits are so foul and putrid smelling and engulf the entire house and it seriously pisses me off. One of my cats has decided to shit outside the litter box now; I assume because they’re stressed from all the changes the baby has brought… guess what I’m stressed too. 
I used to really love them but now I see them as walking piss and shit and dandruff covered germy nuisances and there’s nothing I can do about it because my husband loves the cats and would never re-home them. So I guess I’m stuck with them. I know this makes me sound like a terrible person but I can’t help the way I feel. 
Im expecting to be in the minority here but has anyone else felt like this?

Answer

Do you feel anxious about anything else or just the cats? I'd be tempted to mention this to your doctor- especially if you used to love them..

Answer

I had a really really terrible dog when my daughter was born. I loved him so much and had all the patience in the world for him before having a baby. After having a baby, your priorities just shift. I no longer had tons of patience for the badly behaved dog who I’d tried multiple different attempts at fixing his issues. I only had patience for my baby who kept me busy all day everyday. I eventually got rid of him and was much happier once I got rid of him. I wished I’d gotten rid of him sooner.

Answer

Ever since having kiddos I am just over pets in general. We went from 5 to currently 3 (yes 5 because I was a vet assistant so you just bring them home). I have the cats closed off to bedrooms because of safety and because I don’t want hair everywhere. The cats are therefore anxious because they don’t have good hiding spots. I’m tired of the hair, the hairballs, the litterboxes, the mess, etc. I wouldn’t get rid of them but I sure can’t wait for a pet free life (I’ve just had a lot of pets for so long and can’t wait to not have that obligation).

Answer

I felt the same way towards my once beloved boxer dogs… As majority of the comments address this, I too was diagnosed with PPD. I’m sure you have plenty going on, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m all ears.

Answer

I was very fortunate because when my son was born we just had our black lab who was already well trained and she also picked up on our energy immediately. She went from being a young, boisterous overgrown puppy to being a sweet and docile dog pretty much overnight. We had no issues with her at all. 
I've had friends whose dogs became aggressive after having a baby and it's a sad situation, pets are family but at the same time you can't risk your baby's safety. 
Cats are harder to train than dogs and litter boxes are disgusting, there's no way around that. So I understand how you feel and I think your feelings are normal. Anxiety is really common post-partum. 
Can your husband help mitigate your stress by scooping the litter box every day? And you guys could try to train the cat not to get on kitchen counters or anywhere in the baby's space with a spray bottle. I successfully trained my cat not to climb on the kitchen counters and table this way.

Answer

Yes, this is actually a common experience and is related to postpartum anxiety and depression. Pete are frequently surrendered to shelters or rehomed after new babies.

Answer

I think as a parent to a newborn you are just on edge and any little thing can make you irritated
I do remember having moments where my cat drove me crazy after, but I never felt hatred. Just remember, the animals are adjusting to having a newborn too and they probably miss the attention they used to get

Answer

So… you’re neglecting your animals 
Rehome them and don’t get another animal 
Ever

Answer

I didn’t have pets so I didn’t experience this but I know it’s a really common this.  
TW-   I had a friend who had horrible horrible post partum depression.  She loved her dog but after her daughter was born she started to hate him.  She literally opened the front door one day and told him to get out, and he ran away.  
The next day a police offer knocked on her door and told her that her dog was found dead in the street (the dog was chipped) 
It was really all related to her PPD.  I would definitely speak to your doctor

Answer

For me no but I have heard other have this issue. I have 4 huge ass dogs, had 3 cats when baby 1 came and 2 cats when baby 2 came and a litany of farm animals. For me I loved them even more because I saw my dogs watching over and being so concerned about my kids anytime they felt sick or sad or upset and found comfort in feeling a sort of my old life when I was overwhelmed especially on my 1st baby. When I felt stressed and like I was doing something wrong or fearing I was gonna fail my baby and everything is so different I loved when a kitty would come lay against my leg while i was breastfeeding and remind me that the important things like who loved me are the same. For me I took comfort in them. But I am not you...I'd talk to your husband about how you are feeling and I don't think they should be rehomed if he loves them.but maybe he can help change things. Have him take on the role of cat person. Clean the litter box more to help prevent smell or buy a litter ninja maybe. Play with them more and give them more attention so maybe they don't seek it from you as much. Find ways to keep them out of the crib or behavior changes. Just try to help put some of what's bothering you on him some. But I'd talk to him and see how maybe he can help and hopefully for you as your baby gets older maybe the love for the cat will come back. It doesn't matter if your in the minority for feeling or not it us how your are feeling so it is valid and hopefully your husband can understand and help and the kitties and baby and you can all have a good happy life with some changes.

Did you feel a hatred or strong disliking for your pets after you had a baby?

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