I have a cat and a baby on the way. Someone help please !!!?

Question

I hate a cat and I am expecting to have my first child in October. My grandfather is really afraid that my cat will harm my baby. My cat isnt the curious type of cat though. She doesnt really come around people exspecially if it is loud, but I've been hearing things about cats harming babies. Can someone please give me some advice because I really dont want to get rid of my cat.

Answer 1

Do you plan on hiring the cat as a babysitter? You should NOT worry about this unless you plan on leaving your newborn and your cat alone for hours. Even then, I wouldn't worry about it.

Want to hear some more old wives tales?
A bed changed on Friday will bring bad dreams.
Pulling out a gray or white hair will cause ten more to grow in its place.
A mirror should be covered during a thunderstorm because it attracts lightning.
A red ribbon should be placed on a child who has been sick to keep the illness from returning.
If you drop scissors, it means your lover is being unfaithful to you.
If 13 people sit down at a table to eat, one of them will die before the year is over.

Sounds silly, don't they? The soul sucking cat one is on that same list. Cats don't harm babies any more than walking under a ladder will cause you to have bad luck. Anyone who tells you differently is just uneducated on the subject

Answer 2

First, you should talk to both your doctor and your vet about any potential problems they might foresee. From your own doctor, you are likely to hear more concerns about having a cat while pregnant only because of the possibility of contracting toxoplasmosis from the cat. You can contract it from contact with cat feces while changing the litter box. The easy answer for that is to have someone else change the litter box. (And I know plenty of women who have changed their cats' litter box while pregnant and not had any problems, but better to be safe than sorry.)

Once you have an infant, there is not a whole lot to worry about. It is theoretically possible for your cat to pass on things like ringworm to your baby, but really VERY unlikely. If your cat is an indoor cat, there's certainly less to be concerned about. You also said that your cat is not particularly curious, which will also work to your benefit. After you have the baby, but before you come home, have your husband (or someone else) bring home a piece of clothing, a blanket, or a hat that the baby has used and let your cat smell it. Put it on top of one of your cats favorite napping places. This will allow the cat to become familiar with the baby's new smell before the baby arrives home from the hospital. Once you and the baby are home, give the cat supervised contact with the baby (preferably when the baby is sleeping so there aren't any flailing arms and hands that might accidentally grab the cat). The only other thing I can think of is to make sure that the cat doesn't sleep in the crib or bassinet with the baby to avoid the potential for smothering the baby. I really don't think you have too much to worry about. Just keep an eye on the cat's reaction at first. I'd say you might have more of a challenge when the baby starts going after the cat! Best of luck and congratulations on the addition to your family!

Answer 3

Cats do not harm babies- that is an old wives tail. Put an air purifier in the babies room if you are worried about cat hair. The only other concern would be that your cat will want to snuggle with the baby while it is sleeping in the crib and may try to snuggle around the babies head. When the baby is in the crib keep the nursery door closed and use the baby monitor or let kitty outside or have the cat in your room at night. There are several solutions to this. Chances are the cat won't even try to go in the crib at all, but better safe than sorry. But rest assured the cat will not hurt the baby.

Also if you are considering declawing- don't. It is just like getting your finger nails pulled off- imagine the pain. They actually make "press on nails" for cats that are like little slip covers for their nails- ask your vet about it. Less painful for kitty, cheaper for you. Taking a cats claws also renders it defenseless.

Answer 4

My in-laws have a house cat and my son has stayed at their place once about once a week since he was a few months old. It all depends on the temperment of your cat, but if she isn't particularly aggressive or territorial, it should be fine. Our biggest worries are the cat trying to "cuddle" an infant or get milk from the bottle. The solution has been simple: keep the cat out of the baby's room when the baby is alone, and cap the bottles. Not a big deal. We have an outdoor cat of our own and he's really gentle with our son now that he's 18 months old. I'm also due in October and I've no doubts that the situation isn't gonna change.

Answer 5

each cat is different with a unique personality. I'd say, at first, closely monitor the cat's behavior when you bring the baby home. don't leave your baby alone (or leave your baby's room open) with the cat. Most cats I've heard of are curious and actually "worry" when they hear a baby cry. I say just take it a day at a time and see how it goes.

Also, please tell me your hubby/boyfriend is emptying your kitty litter box. I don't want to scare you, but there is one pathogen (sorry I can't remember the name right now) that cats can carry that can harm your baby - so make your man do the dirty work.

Congrats on the upcoming baby - try not to worry right now. See how your cat does first.

Answer 6

Hi Sally... my son is 2 yrs old now and I had (still have a cat) when I was pregnant. My hubby was nice enough to scoop the litter. I was worried about the kitty harming my baby as well, especially that she isn't declawed. But when my son was born I just checked out how they act together. My cat was more afraid of that baby than of anything else. It worked out for us and we got to keep her. See how your cat acts around a baby. She might not even care it's there. Close the door to the nursary when your baby naps so you know she can't jump in the crib. Just watch closely and if your cat isn't a mean kitty then I think you're ok. Just as long as you watch closely for any danger signs. Good luck.

Answer 7

I am pregnant also, and me and my husband have 3 cats. My Dr. told me that I could keep my cats as long as someone else cleaned up after them ( litter box, hairballs, etc. etc) I have also heard that cats will get on the baby's face and smother them, or some such thing, and we are trying to find a playpen that has a dome type thing over it so it will keep the cats out and away from the baby. Hopefully this will help a little. Ask your Dr. more about it. Good Luck!!

Answer 8

I have two cats, and a newborn. The cat's never really bother the baby. Occasionaly I'll find the cat sleeping in her Pack N Play, but the cat doesn't do that if the baby is there. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just keep a close eye on the cat's reaction to the baby after you have it. PS- Congrats

Answer 9

Keep the cat. The cat will definitely not harm the baby. May sniff the baby when you first bring the baby home, that's it. Most cats could care less, as long as the attention they were receiving doesn't change. Congrats on the baby and DO NOT CHANGE THE KITTY LITTER. Cat's poop has some parasite that you can breathe and it is not recommended that pregnant women don't change the litter. Make your hubby do it.

Answer 10

As long as you keep the cat out of the area where the baby is sleeping, you should be OK unless the baby has allergies right away. If you are breastfeeding, and you are not allergic, there is a pretty good chance the baby won't be allergic either.

Please don't clean your cat's litter box during your pregnancy. There is a risk that your baby could develop toxoplasmosis if you do.