Is it safe and/or healthy to have a cat around a baby at any age?

Question

Is it safe and/or healthy to have a cat around a baby at any age?
(Sorry, I was @ work and failed to spell check as it was pointed out to me by you wonderful ppl)

Answer 1

Shouldn't be a problem for the child, although I'm not sure about the cat!

The gentleman concerned about a 1 month old putting things in their mouth - maybe true, but a 1 month old isn't moving around and picking things up, she's stuck where you leave her, so just leave her in a clean place and wash your hands after handling the cat. A hair or 2 (as opposed to handfuls of fur) shouldn't be a problem.

Of course, it's important to avoid letting your cat near your child when you're not supervising, but that goes for older siblings, too! I had a device called a "crib tent," which kept my cats from entering the crib.

Answer 2

The person who wrote about her grandson getting cat scratch fever is correct, it really is a disease because I contacted it when I was about 15. It is easily cured with antibiotics. I had been around cats ever since i was born and that was the first time I had ever gotten sick from one. It was not a major ordeal, just felt bad and went to the Dr., they did a blood test and here you go, take this for 10 days and you'll be fine. I really don't think there is a problem with babys being around animals from a young age. I breed and train dogs for a living and have two kids, neither of them has been ill from our pets. There has been studies done to show that the more allergens your children are exposed to when they are young, the less allergic reactions they have whenthey get older. My children were raised in a house with 3 inside dogs, and about 8 outside, no adverse affects whatsoever.

Answer 3

WARNING ! WARNING! I had cats outside when I was growing up and I keep them inside now and I have been safe for 54 years BUT... THIS A REAL WARNING BECAUSE I HAVE 2 GRANDKIDS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED- ONE WITH A VERY SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEM !!!!!!!!My oldest grandson got an eye problem from the poop of a cat or dog (they couldn't prove which because he was around both and both can be responsible). The virus from the poop settled( it goes through you system and usually settles in the eye) in his left eye and he is blind in the center and can see very little periphially. He can hit a ball with a bat pretty good, but gets frustrated, and he can't catch! The other eye is always in danger of getting it and then he would be totally blind. He is almost 10 now and must wear special and expensive safety lens in his glasses to protect his good eye. My other grandson actually got CAT SCRATCH FEVER last year!! He had swollen glands around the top inside of his legs and had them checked. He was tired, sluggish, and ran a low fever for about 4 weeks and he had to stay out of first grade until he wa safe to be around others. SO PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL! THE DANGERS ARE REAL. If you wash thoroughly before handling the baby you still can't be positive that the virus isn't on your clothes or the baby or child isn't going to put their hands into their mouth after touching the cat/dog or where the cat/dog has been. I always thought it was a myth also or just the song! My grandsons still have and love their animals but who knows IF it will hit them twice!!

Answer 4

no it isn't, I have had many cats and sometimes they go to sleep right on your face. They don't do it with malice just because they love you but the baby might suffocate. Now don't go out and kill the cat, just be careful. Don't make the cat jealous either or he'll hate the baby
I would never declaw a cat that's NOT nice. But they understand enough if you make them a place of their own to sleep, use the fluffiest jumper you own..
and...why need to spell check, when the brain is the most powerful computer we know...

Answer 5

I have had cats and dogs both around all of my children as babies and have never had any problems. The cat will be curious, so if you are worried about the cat trying to sleep with the baby, put some playpen netting over the crib till the cat learns to stay out of it.

Answer 6

NO, is not healthy!
Why? Because cat's ussualy drop hair, if the baby is small - 1 month - 1 year ussualy puts everything in his mouth, and cat hair can cause lungs problems and even more ... carry a bunch of parasites ....
A child older then 1 year is ok ... but the cat must be really clean ...

Is youre choice!

Bye from ROmania

Answer 7

Depending on the temperament of the cat. Most cats do just fine with babies, at least until baby starts crawling. Then the cat just has to learn to stay away.

My cat never hurt my kids and the kids were born after we got the cat. Kids haven't ever had any problems, but i did make sure to teach them to be gentle very early on.

Answer 8

Of course, be sure the cat has it's immunizations/ vet checks. There's a theory that babies exposed to dogs/cats at an early age are less prone to have allergies latter in life.

Answer 9

Having a cat or any animal around babies are the best way to teach children how to love and take care of our animal friends. It is a sad life for a child without pets.

Answer 10

my cat is like 10 years old and my youngest is 5 they slept in the same crib.. my cat never laid at the babies head (only at the foot of the bed) nor drank from her bottle..and we still have both. just watch that the cat so it does not sleep on the baby. and yes all children put everything in their mouths but the word yucky comes to mind.. sooner or later the child will not eat the cat's tail..