A stray cat keeps sneaking into our house and wandering into our baby's nursey. I've heard stories of cats injuring or killing infants in an attempt to get at milk in the stomach. Maybe it's an "urban legend". But are cats dangerous? (other than obvious diseases like toxoplasmosis, rabies)
2006-10-13 08:36:30 · 20 answers · asked by Babyface 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Okay, there are really two questions here.....
1-No, cats do not steal baby's breath, as your mother, grandmother, etc, may have told you. There are no documented cases, there is no reasoning behind it, and it's just plain silly.
2-Yes, any animal, especially a stray animal who may not be used to children, can harm a child. The issue is not whether the cat may mean to or not, but if your baby reaches up and grabs an ear, a tail, or a handful of hair, he or she may get scratched because the animal is trying to defend itself. This is NOT the cat's fault. The cat is doing what is normal and natural, as is the baby. Therefore, it is your responsibility to keep these two incompatible creatures apart until one of two things happens. Either the cat learns to deal with being jerked, pulled, grabbed, and "loved" by a small child, or the child learns not to do those things to the cat.
2006-10-13 08:42:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe the part about the cat killing infants in an attempt to get in milk in the stomach is an urban legend. I would highly recommend keeping a stray cat away from your house and child. Our 6 month old has grown up around our cats and they have never been harmful or agressive. I do beleive that if any harm was to occur it would be a result of the cats loving him too much and unintentionally smothering him. For that reason the cats are not allowed in his room.
2006-10-13 16:41:52 · answer #2 · answered by Shannon H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's an urban myth that a cat will kill an infant by smothering it. We had 2 cats when our son was born, and he's fine. The cats were curious about him at first, but then ignored him.
When your baby learns to crawl, he will naturally try to go to the cats, because he's curious about them, too. The cats will learn to move away, or stay in places that the baby can't get to, like the back of the couch, or underneath furniture. Once he starts walking, he'll try to follow the cats, but they'll be able to avoid him easily for a long time.
2006-10-13 15:45:31 · answer #3 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stories of cats killing infants are urban legends. But you shouldn't let the cat sleep in the room with the baby. They could accidentally smother the baby just as pillows in the crib can. If it's not your cat you should call animal control. Or take it in to the vet to make sure it's not carrying any disease.
2006-10-13 15:44:21 · answer #4 · answered by kat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can be dangerous. Not because of trying to get milk from the baby's stomach (I have never heard of this) but because of smothering. Sometimes a cat may jump into the babies crib and lay on their head, suffocating the baby.
Not all cats do this, in fact I have 2 cats and have never had this happen but it can. When we brought the babies home we just watched our cats and made sure they werent in the nursery. If they wandered in there we would pick them up and take them out. We did this numerous times and our cats now seem to understand that they arent supposed to be in there, there is nothing interesting in there..plus the crying of the babies seems to scare them anyway ;)
2006-10-13 15:44:38 · answer #5 · answered by twinsin06 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think if it's a STRAY cat then you have to be careful because you don't know what he's bringing into your home....
If it's a house cat like a neighbour's cat then it shouldn't pose any danger......
BUT there seems to a lot of babies that are allergic to cats which trigger asthma.....
so just watch out for a cough that doesn't go away or wheezing
2006-10-13 15:40:43 · answer #6 · answered by Joogie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, cats will not kill an infant. Cats are not dangerous. They seek out soft warm places and guess what? A baby's nursery is both. Try to catch the stray kitty and take it to the shelter.
2006-10-13 15:42:57 · answer #7 · answered by Mrs. Strain 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not so much the stratching, biting, and stuff that you should be worried about, its the fact that the cat wants the milk because they can smell it on your baby and their breath. The cat will try and get the milk (not in the stomach, but in the mouth) and could smother your child.
I know this for a fact and that is why our kitten is not allowed in the babys room. I caught her once sniffing the babys bottle and trying to lick the nipple, and I threw her across the room (no animal rights people need to comment. she isnt hurt, she fine, she got back up, but she needs to know that she cannot drink the bottle).
But please dont let the cat in the nursery, ESPECIALLY since its not your cat!!
2006-10-13 15:48:35 · answer #8 · answered by Barbi 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i dont think cats are a real danger to babies. the only thing that you have to look out for is the cat trying to snuggle with the baby because the baby is warm, this doesnt sound like a bad thing but they could suffocate the baby. not intentionally of course. but no, the cat is not going to try to get the milk in the babies belly, if that were true, they would do it to adults after they had consumed milk.
2006-10-13 15:48:06 · answer #9 · answered by krystal 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes, the cat can scratch the baby or harm him in any other way. It is a stray cat,so just keep him away, fix the hole he's getting in through, dont let it in your house
2006-10-13 15:42:21 · answer #10 · answered by Baby Ruth habla español 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋