Red meets his new cousin, Bradley

My sister had a baby on December 27, 2008 - so that would make him just over 1 month old now. She came over with him today to hang out and do a bit of shopping in the U.S. (she lives in Canada, about an hour away from us). This is Red's first experience with Bradley, and with any newborn baby in general.

The only thing I was worried about was Red being too rambunctious with sniffing - he tends to poke rather hard, and Bradley's head still has soft spots. So we were careful about that. Also, whenever people first come over, Red acts like a wild heathen, but then calms down after a few minutes when he has had a chance to sniff everyone.

Tiffany came through the door carrying Bradley in a carseat/carrier, covered with a blanket. Bradley was fussing a little and making little crying noises. Red, of course, just wanted to sniff whatever it was she was holding, but what happened next I didn't anticipate...

Cloud and Titus (my 2 cats), came whipping around the corner all puffed up and yowling in a menancing sort of way. I think they thought another animal was in the house. Titus got especially pissed off and displaced his aggression on Red, chasing poor Red into the other room in a whirl of nails and hissing. Titus continued to howl as the baby fussed in the carseat. Everything was sort of crazy there for a minute, then the cats slunk back into the bedroom and Red began to calm down after being attacked by the cat.

Tiff took Bradley out of his carseat carrier, and fed him - all the while Red wanting to get close and sniff him, but still being kind of excited and therefore starting to poke hard. But he listened, and was a good boy around him.



I filled up his Tug a Jug with kibble and treats and that occupied him for awhile. He was calmer after that and then just laid around, only occasionally coming up to sniff/lick Bradley.

Here are some pics of Red and Bradley posing together:







Then it was off to the store to do some shopping. When we got back, the cats weren't as flipped out, thankfully. Titus came out to investigate, but not all puffed up and yowling this time. After the initial craziness, Cloud pretty much stayed in the bedroom out of sight - which is really strange for him because usually when we have company over, he is out and in everyone's faces. Titus is usually the ones who stays hidden when people come over.

I started to hold Bradley and Red was NOT too happy about that. He was jealous! He didn't make a stink when Tiff held him, nor when James was holding him later on. And now that I think about it, Red always wedges himself in between me and James when we are hugging or snuggling. I guess Red wants me all to himself!



Red: "Hang on a sec... he's getting more attention than I am!"



Here's Red being jealous whiney. I called it Red singing Bradley a lullaby...



James came home from work and was holding his nephew for a little while. And Red was not whiney or jealous at all - just wandered over to sniff/lick a few times.



Then it was time for Tiff and Bradley to go back home to Canada...

Red: "Are they leaving already??" =(



I can't wait til Bradley gets big enough that he can interact more with Red. Red will be a lot older by then so I think they will be good friends =)