Is it true that domestic animals, cats mainly, 'know' or can sense when a woman is pregnant and tend to be drawn to the womans belly? I have heard that cats will always want to be near or actually on the womans belly during pregnancy and i just wondered if anyone else had heard of this.
2006-08-11 03:00:59 · 17 answers · asked by Davesgirl 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Yes, I have heard of this and had my cat do it to me. She was a rather standoffish animal prior, but thenmy first pregnancy, she began to want to sleep right on my stomach. With this pregnancy I have two cats, and only one of them is oddly 'clingy'. Not sure what it is that draws them.
The only thing I can say is really watch that particular animal after the baby is born, because they are seemingly more likely to be interested in the milk as well, which is what can lead to a cat 'stealing the baby's breath'.
2006-08-11 03:20:31 · answer #1 · answered by saintlyinnocents 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi Amy,
I am unsure of this one. I have worked for a couple of vets, and have not heard of it.
A few cautions though with cats and pregnancies/babies.
If you have cats and are pregnant--DO NOT clean the litter box yourself. Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted to you during this time. Get someone else to do it, or get one of those automatic self-cleaning boxes that rake the litter and put it in a bag. Then all that is left is to close the bag and toss without spills or a chance you will come in contact with it or anything that had contact with it-like a scooper. Sometimes when burying, cats put the scooper, or toilet paper or anything else handy in there to cover. You could also toilet train your cat.
Another thing, do not allow the cat access to the baby while the baby is sleeping. Cats have suffocated babies. They do not mean to, they smell the milk on baby's breath, and lay there--blocking breathing. Sometimes, friendly cats want to cuddle like they do with you, but a baby is too small and their mouth and nose are to close together to deal with that.
Lastly, a general pet caution: Pets are family members for most of us. They feel it too. When a new baby comes, some animals are jealous or feel the need to emphasise their place in the family over the baby. Make sure you prepare your pet for the arrival, make sure the pet knows the baby belongs to you, and you are top dog (or whatever), and make sure your pet knows you still love them even though there have been changes, and that the pet will have to adust to the new way of things--with good behavior.
I had both cats and dogs with babies. The cats were not allowed in the house while the baby was sleeping. At night, they were in, but I closed the door. Once I had my sister's dog at that time, so the dog went to live with my mother when the baby came. With another dog & baby, that dog was famous for being great with babies, but I still never left them alone together until my son was older.
Not the answer you were looking for, but many pregnant women do not know these things.
You can bet I'll be looking to know if animals know...very interesting.
2006-08-11 03:23:52 · answer #2 · answered by Bodicea 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, i definitely think that is true. I have noticed my cats who never wanted much to do with me all over me when I am pg, before I knew. ALso, about the ones who said to stay away from your cat. You can still be around your cat. It is best to have someone else scoop the litterbox if you can, butif you cannot then jsut wear gloves & wash your hands immediately. The toxoplasmosis is not found in all cats, just some. Chances are if your cat has always been an indoor one(never outside) then you don't have anythign to worry about. ALso, it's not just the litterbox, toxo. can be found in the dirt outside, so watch if you garden. Another thing, if you've been around cats & changed boxes alot then you are probably already immune to toxo. because of the exposure. Love that kitty as much now as ever!
2006-08-11 03:21:41 · answer #3 · answered by mamabens 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if they'd be drawn to your belly early on in the pregnancy, but animals can definately smell the change in your hormones even before you know you're pregnant and when the baby is old enough to move around they can either hear it or sense it in some way because my dogs totally knew that I was pregnant. They were more careful of my belly and seemed even more loving toward me than normal.
2006-08-11 03:07:39 · answer #4 · answered by mutherwulf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I've heard that myself, but if your pregnant and have a cat make sure someone else empty's the litter box and that you are not around it, there are harmful toxins in the cats urine and feces that can hurt the mother and unborn child! A lot of people don't know about that be sure to ask your Dr. about those risks.
2006-08-11 03:08:43 · answer #5 · answered by Wish 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard that alot. Just be careful after the baby is born because i have heard of babies being suffocated by cats because they are drawn to the smell of milk. You also do not need to clean a cats litter box while preg. The feces can harm the baby.
2006-08-11 03:30:59 · answer #6 · answered by housewives5 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
certain your infant ought to all proper be contaminated in case you grow to be contaminated your self. there is not any favor to provide your pets away, purely positioned on rubber gloves at the same time as dealing with the puppy waste and at the same time as gardening too. steer away from being scratched with the aid of your cat at the same time as pregnant with the aid of no longer choosing it up if that is possibly to scratch you. once you've already had toxoplasmosis previously, as you believe, then you actually could have immunity and consequently received't get contaminated back. once you've had different cats contained in the previous, you're maximum possibly immune. that is complicated to say now what brought about your miscarriage. did you comprehend that a minimum of 25 % of pregnancies bring about miscarriage? i have had a million too. After your infant is born, purely be particular you practise good hygiene like handwashing after dealing with pets and do not enable infant to be scratched with the aid of pets or eat kitty clutter etc. i'm particular you'd be wonderful. good success
2016-11-29 22:00:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do think that animals have a third sense but I think that is more of an urban legend than anything else.
2006-08-11 03:07:35 · answer #8 · answered by Nicole C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
never heard that...pregnant women should avoid cats especially the litter box it can cause major problems to change litter while pregnant.
2006-08-11 03:07:38 · answer #9 · answered by ally'smom 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have seen it with dogs not cats, my friend was pregnant and my dog would sleep on her lap when ever she was visiting, and after she had the baby, the dog would not have anything to do with her, the dog guarded the baby instead
2006-08-11 03:19:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋