Can I keep my cat in the home even though I'm bringing home a new baby? (My home is a small 2 bedroom apt.)

Answer 1

The warnings about cats mainly applied to being around a pregnant woman because cat feces can contain a substance that can cause birth defects. Some pregnant women thinks that means they only have to stay away from litter boxes......but cats don't wash their feet after they leave the litter box, so this birth defect substance can and usually IS tracked throughout the living area.

Now, having said that, since you are no longer pregnant and the baby is here, that substance can no longer affect the baby.

If I were you, though......I could add a special mat around the litter box that helps avoid tracking the litter throughout the home. Most pet stores sell them.

I would keep their claws clips so they aren't sharp and won't accidentally scratch baby......but be careful not to cut too short.....if the clipping causes pain to the cat, then you have clipped too short.

Once or twice per day, I would wet a paper towel and clean the bottoms of the cat's feet. I wouldn't use anything stronger than water because a cat will lick their feet after you are finished and you wouldn't want to poison them with a harsh antibacterial substance.

Cat's normally co-exist quite nicely with children. I would keep them both.

Sincerely,
Robin

Answer 2

If baby is not quite due to come home. Have someone experiment with a doll. There should be little problem, if the hair and dander is kept down. The cats should be mostly to themselves if always have been. For a while don't leave the baby alone with wandering, curious kitties. Eventhough they may be sweet nails do come out just to move arouind if off balance.
Try to give them the attention they have gotten in the past. If dad is around this will give him bondind time with the baby! They really do want to be involved despite a smirk or two.

Answer 3

First I want to make sure you know about Toxoplasmosis. It is a parasite found in cat feces (and raw meats) and can be dangerous to the fetus. Have someone else do the kitty box duty or if you have to, be sure to wear gloves.

I think it would be fine to keep the kitty in the home. Of course you'll want to supervise it's interactions with baby and shut it out of baby's room while baby is sleeping. Cats like a warm place to lay and next to a little bundle of warmth is just perfect but the cat may lay against baby's face accidentally. Make sure you have space to close off the litter box once baby is big enough to move around so he won't be in it!
Good luck and congrats!!

Answer 4

Sure you can. I had cats in my home all my life & I raised 3 kids. My mom had 3 cats the day I came home from the hospital. You will just be adding to the family with a child. You will need to watch the interactions when your baby starts getting out of his/her crib and starts to crawl around.

Answer 5

Cats and babies will get a long fine with one STRONG warning. Cats are known to lay across babies faces to catch the warmth of these little ones and be close to them and there have been reported accidents resulting in suffocation. Babies must be shut in their rooms at night, keeping baby and kitty away from eachother.

Answer 6

Keep an eye on things. I'm hoping that you are feeling the normal paranoia that first-time mothers all seem to have (they all have crazy rules about what is healthy for the baby--with your next kid you'll use common sense without going overboard). I hope that's all that prompted your question, because if you are the kind of person who gets rid of pets when they become inconvienent, you should have had an abortion--you aren't ready to be a mother.

Answer 7

Yeah... the cat won't like pounce on it or anything unless it's overly playful, and if that's the case, just make sure the cat isn't getting the 'fresh meat' look in its eye when it approaches the baby.

Answer 8

Sure you can....Don't believe in the old wives tales that cats will take baby's breath. We always had a cat when our daughter was an infant and she's 40 now. Good luck when your new baby.

Answer 9

Why couldn't you? Cats don't tend to harm babies. You just need to make sure you spend time with your cat so he/she knows you're still HIS/HER mommy, too. You will probably want to keep the cat out of the baby's room as much as possible, though, so your child doesn't develop allergies.

Answer 10

Yes cats are curious as you already know and will be at first,just treat your cat as loving as ever and things should be fine. Unless there is an allergy along the way to the cat.