OT: Newborns/Babies and Cats

[Amirah95]

My DM and my DMIL told me that newborns, babies and cats don't mix. I got my first cat when my DD was 10 years old and I've had them ever since and now I'm pregnant and they have got me worried.

Can someone please tell me this isn't true or if there are some issues that can come out of us having cats at home with cats? I do NOT want to give up my cats for no reason. I just adopted two more kittens last month .

I plan on calling my DD's pediatrician next week to get his opinion. I didn't worry about it until the mothers came to me with it.

I'm looking for advice from moms with babies who also have cats. Thank you!

 

[mrsltg]

It's an old wives tale and it's baloney. I've had cats through the infancies of my children and will still have them through the infancy of this baby. It's fine. In fact, my one cat used to sleep with my older dd starting when the baby was about 4-5 months. Scratchy would lay at one end of the crib, the baby at the other. They still - 6 years later - sleep together.

 

[TinkerValkyrie]

We have 4 cats, a 4.5 year old, a 1.5 year old, and a new baby on the way. We had all four cats when the 1.5 year old was a newborn. He was recovering from Respiratory Distress Syndrome and having the cats around didn't hurt him at all. They didn't bother with him unless he was in his papasan and then they'd just sniff him and move along.

Cats and babies are fine. We won't be getting rid of our cats when the new one arrives.

We set up DS's pack and play in advance and trained them not to go in it. Once he came home we had no problems whatsoever. In fact, if we'd be in another room and he'd start crying the one cat would come and alert us that the baby was crying(as if we couldn't hear)

If you can't train your cats to stay out of the crib/packand play they make coverings to keep them out.

I've also actually heard that having pets when growing up makes it less likley for children to have allergies when they get older.

Please don't give up your kitties... you can make babies and kitties work out just fine.

 

[PollyannaMom]

We had our cat before DS (now 6), and they got along great through all his baby years. The only thing I did differently was let DH scoop the littler box while I was pregnant and nursing.

 

[pweyl36]

My cat would also sleep in the crib when my kids were babbies. Just make sure the cat doesn't sleep on top of baby,could accentdentily smother the baby.The best thing to do is just shut the door when the baby is asleep in
his/her crib.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

We've had the same cat for 11.5 years. She didn't really like any of my babies, but for the most part she just avoided them. Actually she still does. If it were up to her, she would be an only "child."

I have heard the wives' tale that a cat can steal a baby's breath!

 

[fterie4u]

We have 2 cats and a DCD (16 months) and have never had a problem with them! Actually she loves them and the dog too! I would not think twice about having animals with an infant, toddler, or any children!
People just worry way too much!

 

[bzzymom]

We had 2 cats when DS was born. Neither of the cats would bother him. Infact, we didn't see cat #2 at all until he was asleep. She would not be around him at all. Cat number one was initially curous when he was small, and when he was starting to move aound on the floor and such, she steered clear of him, until he was 4 or 5. Cat nuber 2 was so scarely around us, that I felt like it wasn't a good place for her to live, so I found an older woman who lived alone, and gave her the cat. Poor thing just didn't like kids at all.

 

[cybrkitn]

I'm going to agree with everyone else. We've had our cat for 8 years and our DS is 5. We've had no problems at all between our cat and when our DS was a baby.

Our cat, Thomas, did run in the opposite direction when DS started to walk though . Now they are starting to get close. DS5 has been trying to "train" Thomas. I think it's starting to work, b/c I've noticed that Thomas will nuzzle up to him and let DS pet him. With DH and I he'll nuzzle up to our feet, but when we try and pet him he'll "nip" (not hard) at us to let us know he doesn't want that. He'll also let us know as soon as we wake up that he is hungry and wants to be fed.

 

[kris10399]

We've had our cats for 8 yrs before our first was born and had no problems. This time around (c-section on 8/21!) the doctor told me not to even worry about the toxoplasmosis thing. She said that I was immune by now if they had it. They are also inside cats so I'm not worried about them dragging any infections home that they didn't get inside the house.
Both of my cats would sleep in the crib prior to the births but will not be anywhere around once the baby is born.

Congratulations!

 

[lyzziesmom]

Cats generally don't like babies and will stay away from them when the baby is awake. They do like to curl up next to a sleeping baby, and that's fine. A lot of older people still operate under the misconception that a cat can steal a baby's breath when they are asleep or smother the baby - not true! In the "olden days" (as my DD8 says) people didn't understand SIDS and many people thought cats were causing babies to die in their sleep.

I've had cats when both of my DDs were young (in fact we just got an adorable new kitten!) and it's a joyful experience to watch the children grow up with someone smaller than them to love and cuddle.

Just make sure you DO NOT go anywhere near the litterbox while you are pregnant! The box contains bacteria that can be very bad for a pregnant woman. Also, it's a great excuse to get out of a nasty chore.

 

[KimD]

Nah! I've had cats my entire life. My parents had them when I was born, my brother was born & I had mine when my DS16 was born & my daughter DD9 was born. We've never ever had any problems what so ever. If anything Boris would give me dirty looks when I played with DS until I gave him some attention too. Other than that he just steered clear until he was a little older. By the time DD was born he could care less about anything. I also think it's one of those old wives tales that just hasn't been completely laid to rest yet. So no need to be giving away your cats/kitties, they are your babies too!

 

[Manda]

We had our cats long before DS. They pretty much have avoided him and anything that has to do with him since the day he came home from the hospital. One cat has finally decided that he's tolerable.

The only problem that we've had is that the cats just don't get the love and attention that they deserve - it's hard to give them attention when they insist on hiding whenever the child is awake.

They've hissed at him on occasion, but never attempted to scratch him or bite him. And every time they've hissed at him, it's been a well-deserved warning. He's been trained from the beginning that the cats deserve respect and he's not to bother them while eating or go anywhere near their cat box or chase them or yell at them or bother them while they are sleeping.

 

[murcor]

My dad and his wife were the same way

My doctor said if that was the case there would be alot of abandoned cats!!

Just dont play in the litter box when you are pregnant

 

[Amirah95]

I feel better now! I didn't let the mothers know I was concerned and just brushed them off telling them they were crazy and what not ha! I figure that I live with my cats, all 4, and my family does too and that it shouldn't be a problem. My cats are all indoor cats and I don't do anything with the litterbox as DH will have my head so I steer clear of it.

THANKS EVERYONE!!!! *hugs*

 

[Kimkimba]

We've always had cats, and the cats never want anything to do with the baby.

Right now I have a 3 month old and a cat. The cat stays away from the baby. If anything, the cat wants to help the baby when she cries by coming to me and meowing. But the cat has never touched the baby.

 

[tonilea]

I don't think you need to get rid of your cats. However, I don't allow my cats in my son's room. I have large cats and they like to lay on your chest. It is something they did long before there was a baby in the house. I don't think they would ever try to hurt him and I don't believe in the "breath stealing", but if an 18 pound cat lays on an infant's chest it could certainly suffocate a baby.

 

[Elmo888]

We had inside cats when our 2 DDs were born, and they didn't bother the babies. I think that I heard them yelling "no more pinks!" though.

I just kept the door to the baby's room closed, esp. when they were sleeping. I was more worried about them waking the baby, though, than actually causing harm. (Don't wake that baby!)

 

[suffolkprincess]

Don't worry!

The only problem we had with our cat was that he did urinate in/ on some baby things. Once, it was dirty laundry in a basket. Another time it was the bouncy seat, and then the pack and play. Finally, he made use of a toy basket that had stuffed animals.

Simple to clean up with laundry febreeze and enzyme cleaner.

And-- each of those "markings" was related to some general upheaval in the house NOT to the baby!

Now, they are best buddies!

 

[LJRJR]

When I was pregnant with my children, especially my 1st, people (cat haters i call them) told me horrible things. I lost many nights sleep over it. None of it is true. As far as the litter box is concerned, I asked the vet, and she told me that there is a virus that a cat can catch from another cat (yours dont go outside so there is nothing to worry about) the virus will remain active within your cat for two weeks, and during those two weeks you could be affected (I dont know the name of the virus) if you clean the cat box. There is a test that the vet can do that tells if the animal has ever had the virus, and once cat has been exposed to the virus, it will be no longer be able to carry the virus. I did catch my cat sleeping in the babys crib a few times, but only if the baby was not in the crib. My cats avoided the babies until they were much older, now they sleep with the kids all the time. I hope my explanation of the "cat virus" makes sence. Let someone else change the cat box for now, less work for you while you are pregnant!