My boyfriend has wanted a cat since we bought our house, and I wanted to get him one for Christmas, but I don't know if it is a good idea since we are having a baby. I have never owned a cat, so I don't know what they are like. Would a cat harm or be harmful to a baby, or even me being pregnant (if I don't change the litterbox)?
2006-11-28 07:33:42 · 29 answers · asked by newmommy 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
ok well your not supose to handle kitty litter it can cause toxmoplasmosis how ever you spell it. and with me i would be worried about the cat getting on the baby not sure why but cats love to sit on babys usually on there chest and mouth somethng about the babys breath milk breath probly, and id worry about the cat scatching the baby. then there is all the cat hair getting on the babies clothes bottles pacifier, blankets in the crib cause cats shed there hair so bad, and to me its more of a hassle than its worth. and even with out the pregnancy i still wouldnt want a cat cause the cat hair goes every where and cats get on the tables and stuff. and cats are bad about causing ring worms. but if you think he would like an animal id get a ferret. they creeped me out at first lol but the kids wanted a pet so i thaught well it sleeps in a cage and its little its quiet so now lol all we have is a ferret i wouldnt go back to having a dog or a cat they dont shed hardly at all. but if you think you might want to get him a pet you can go to the pet store and look around im sure he would like to go just to look and play with the animals
2006-11-28 07:52:06 · answer #1 · answered by cute redhead 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations!!!!! I got a cat a few months before my baby was born because she was being abused in the home that she was in..She turned out to be such a great cat and got along with our do wonderfully..Since our dog was the baby if the family we needed something to change her ways because she would be going on the back burner! The cat succeeded in doing so.. Cats are very unpredictable and every cat is different in the way it acts when a baby is around. Some are good and some are bad due to the habits they could have been accustomed too. If you do get a cat you need to start off having it being firm! Not allowed in baby's room, not to sleep on the bed with you (I suggest keeping it in the bathroom when you sleep)..There are many downsides to a cat as well like where to put the food once your baby starts crawling and having fur EVERYWHERE!! That's what I am dealing with..trying to get fur out of my baby's mouth..Good luck and I hope this helps :) And if you don't change the litterbox than NO it cannot be harmful to you nor the baby..
2006-11-28 07:41:15 · answer #2 · answered by rkonkin226 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Having a cat will be perfectly fine. I have always had cats and I have 3 kids and one on the way. They dont do any harm to the baby at all regardless of what others say. My cats dont even pay attention to the kids, even when they are babys. When are you due? If you get a kitten then they will defiinitley get used to a baby when the baby comes. But you are right about changing the litter box. Your boyfriend will have to do that himself. The litter itself is not harmful, but the feces can carry toxoplasmosis if handled and then you dont wash your hands, and eat something, et... Since you have never had a cat before then you may not be immune to it. People who have had cats all the time, are usually immune. So get your boyfriend that kitty for Christmas and it will be ok. Good Luck!
2006-11-28 09:30:59 · answer #3 · answered by Blondi 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I kept my cat around when I had a newborn with no problems. And I didn't feel any differently about her after the baby arrived. Ignore all the old wives' tales. Its unlikely that having a cat around will effect your or the baby's health.
That being said I might not recommend getting a cat right now becasue having a baby is a huge change and will take up your time and energy. Let the household settle down a bit before adding an animal. As far as the comment about getting a puppy....puppies are a lot of work! So are newborns! I personally wouldn't want both at the same time.
2006-11-28 08:23:00 · answer #4 · answered by sempurvivum 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
YES it is a bad idea!
Why? Pets are lots of work. More than you think. Babies are the most work you can imagine multiplied by a thousand.
You've got some huge changes coming in your life. It will be stressful for a while, and you won't be able to give the baby or the cat the attention they deserve.
Wait a few months after the baby, when things quiet down a bit, and settle into the "new normal" Then see what you can handle. My guess is you won't even care about a cat anymore.
Congratulations and good luck!
2006-11-28 08:22:45 · answer #5 · answered by N N 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It will be fine if you aren't the one changing the litterbox.
It would probably be best to get an adult cat (2 or older) so that when the baby comes, you won't have to worry about where the kitten is and what he will get into next...you'll also know it's general disposition right off the bat. Outgoing confident calm cats are usually better with kids than the ones that grow up to be shy and skittish. Less scratches.
2006-11-28 07:44:43 · answer #6 · answered by Chels 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've lived with cats all my life. I think it would be wonderful if you got one. But it would probably be a good idea to have your boyfriend change the litter box (lucky him!) while you're pregnant.
No, a cat will not harm your baby. And the (VERY) "old wives tale" of a cat "sucking the breath" out of a baby is absurd. Remember, cats are skittish and young children are unpredictable. The cat probably won't have much to do with the baby, but it definitely won't hurt him/her. And the cat won't lay on the baby to get warm.
2006-11-28 07:59:31 · answer #7 · answered by spelling nazi 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a cat when I was preg. with my first baby. She turned out just fine and I never had any problems. You are right about not changing the litter box but other than that go ahead and buy your kitty. If it is going to be a house cat I would just watch it around the baby it shouldn't bother it just sniff it a little. Just watch your baby when he/she gets older so it doesn't get scratched from being a curious little person.
2006-11-28 07:40:49 · answer #8 · answered by SARAH B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a bad idea to have cats, dogs, any kind if furry, walking pet in your home with a baby. If I were you, I would ask your hubby to hold off on the cat until your child is about 5 years old. You two are going to be so busy, you won't have time for a cat anyway. Also, you need to keep things around your baby as sterile as possible. His immune system doesn't need to fight off cat germs. Good Luck!!!
2006-11-28 08:14:11 · answer #9 · answered by Sunshine 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do not give your cat human meds. The cat should get over the cold without any meds. If it persists you need to take the cat to the vet. I could be an upper respiratory infection. The vet will give you some oral antibiotics for your kitty. My cats have all had horrible respiratory infections. They often get colds now that last about a week. Their eyes get runny and they sneeze alot. If your cat is coughing, it definitely has a respiratory issue. I would not mess around with that.
2016-05-22 22:58:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋