my daughter is having her baby soon is it true that cats can harm newborns?

Answer 1

Well sure, they can scratch the baby, they can sit on the baby and suffocate. But that is not their aim.

NO animal should be left around an infant without complete supervision.

Answer 2

Cats are like anything else that comes in contact with an infant. They can be harmful or not. Cats do have a tendancy to want to curl up next to warm things. Small infants are unable to move away from a cat should it lay around the mouth or nose, cutting off or dimishing the infant's air supply. Some cats will want to lick around the baby's mouth because of the milky smell. As with anything, watchfulness is the key. If a baby is sleeping or very tiny, keep them in your sight or in a room with the door closed. If baby is to have their own room, a baby monitor or screen door for the nursery are good options. If mom and baby are sharing a room, just shut the door. It may help to set up furniture items in advance and watch the cat. Let the cat explore and smell, but use a spray bottle or shaker can to let them know inside is off limits. Remain vigilant after the baby is born. At about 6-7 months, when baby starts to roll, sit, and become really active, they are better able to move away from the cat if need be. Still, it is wise to keep kitty out of the room during night time and nap time. A cat may want to scratch when grabbed by a kid, but generally all it takes is once and the cat will learn to avoid the child if it finds the attention to be negative. Pouncing on a youngster in play can be problematic, but again supervision is the key. Keep the cat and let it know it is still loved. Teach the child early to be nice to kitty and in a couple of years, they can be the best of friends.

Answer 3

It is possible for cats to harm newborns if they claw them up, but mostly the cat will probably just get jealous of the baby getting all the attention. My best friend had 2 cats in her house when she had her baby; less than a week after she brought the baby home, the cats were sleeping with the baby in the crib. Not hurting the baby, just curled up next to it.

Answer 4

Stories about cats sucking the breath out of a sleeping baby is a myth. However, they have been known to curl up to sleep with the baby, covering the baby's mouth and nose in the process and suffocating the infant. You also need to consider that;

cats shed a lot of hair, and should not be allowed in a bed where the baby sleeps

cats that are exposed to ticks and fleas can transmit these little critters to your baby. Repellents may prevent ticks from attaching themselves on your cat, but that doesn't mean ticks won't get on the cat.

cats with claws and babies don't mix. Should your baby grasp the cat in the wrong place the cat will defend it's self.

young cats are very curious and playful, they will pounce on anything that moves beneath the covers on a bed. If you don't believe this, try moving your finger or toe under the bed cover where the cat can see the movement and watch what happens.

Answer 5

I would say the main risk is that the cat can curl up and fall asleep on baby, maybe suffocating it.
I think the only concern is pregnancy - mainly the earlier stages, cats carry that disease in their faeces (Im sorry I dont recall what it is called) that can cause defects in the baby if the mother was to contract it. I don't belive it will do a great deal of harm in the newborn, but
apparently a lot of people contract the disease when they have cats but don't realise it and usually once you have had it you don't get it again. You can take your cat to the vet to be checked if your concerned and they can test it.

Answer 6

Love cats and have three kids. YES, it is true that cats can be dangerous around babies -- even sweet, lovable cats that would never hurt anyone -- even cats without claws. Cats commonly do two things that kill newborns: 1) The cuddle with them because babies are warm and snuggle and gentle to sleep with -- and they accidentally smother them doing it, because they are not-so-smart and don't realize what they are doing; 2) Cats will commonly try to lick the milk out of a baby's mouth while you're not looking and because of the shape of their skulls and the placement of their nostrils, they will occassionally suck the breath right out of a baby as they breath so closely -- inhaling the baby's breath out of the baby's mouth and nose. Lose the cat.

Rebecca
http://www.ipowergrfx.com

Answer 7

No, If you have a female cat she might want to play the mom, and keep an eye on the wee-one. Just keep a eye on the baby and the cat. All should be fine. I had two cats when my daughter came home, the female cat enjoys being a mom, she was really upset then my daughter didn't walk after a few weeks. Really!!!

Answer 8

the cat could be prone to sleeping in the crib/bassinet and smothering the baby by laying on or near it. That's why they say they can harm newborns. We had a cat when we brought our baby home, and once or twice it climbed in the crib, or sat in the carseat, but we chased it out, and closed it out of the baby's room. GOOD LUCK, and congrats

Answer 9

yes and no... NO the cat will not "steal" the babies breath...that is just plain stupid. But the cat could scratch the baby and/or sit on the baby. Cat's are animals and can't really be trained like dogs so always keeps the cat out of the babies room...

Answer 10

during pregnancy, cat urine does something harmful, not sure what, but after the baby is born the only risk it really has is if the baby has an allergic reaxtion or if the cat tries to sleep on the baby to keep it warm, its a goodeffort, but they dont know that it could crush the baby