Cats and baby's...?

Question

34 weeks along with my first!
I am a BIG cat lover, I have 2,one male who is 2, and one female who is 12 (who I have had from the time she was 3 weeks old)
Ive heard some bad things about cats and newborns though, do the cats pose a danger to the baby? I know not to let them sleep in the room with the baby or lay on him. Not to let him get into the litter box (and my husband has been changing it for me) but is there anything else I should worry about?

Answer 1

Cats are actually no danger to a newborn, especially if you know not to let them sleep in the same room unsupervised. I also have 2 cats of varied ages and it took them several weeks before they would even approach the baby on their own.

Isn't it great to not have to change the litter box for almost a year!?

Answer 2

When my son was born, I put him on the floor and sat right next to him and let my cats have a good sniff of him. One was totally disinterested and the other cat took off when he started to fuss. If your cats seem too interested in the baby then I would certainly not let them in the room where he sleeps. I think for the most part, the cats will not be that interested in the baby, You should not change the litter box while you are pregnant. The other person answering the question was correct about the old wives tale regarding cats. Usually a few supervised visits with baby and cats and they will end up ignoring each other and there will not be any problems at all.

Answer 3

The worst thing you need to worry about is them possibly getting jealous and urinating in bad places in retaliation. Be sure to provide plenty of attention to them and give them tons of love when you come home with the baby. Have your husband bring a onsie/receiving blanket home before you guys get home that has the scent of the baby on it and let the kitties smell that.
It isn't a good idea to allow cats into the bassinette/crib just because they may accidently step on the baby when they jump in. Cats will not steal the baby's breath or suffocate them. I know my cat did spend alot of time sitting in my lap cuddled up next to the baby while I was holding him but we trained him before our son was born to not get into the baby's sleeping areas.
The only thing to really worry about is if there is a family history of cat allergies. My sister had to remove the cats from her home becuase my niece would break out into hives the minute she came in contact with cat dander...Couldn't even place her on the floor or couch without her reacting. She's now nearly one and a half and the allergy is subsiding but can still cause her problems. She is able to be around my cat but not to many others.

Answer 4

The biggest problem I had with our cats and bringing home my two sons was that it took them a couple of days to determine just what it was I had brought home.

My first son was hissed at for a day or two, my cat would see him on me and hiss .. then leave. That's it. Once she realized that mama loved baby and baby wasn't going anywhere, she decided that she was going to love baby AND protect baby too!

Don't even worry about it. Just introduce the kittys to baby and let them adjust. Be sure to give them attention while baby is napping or in Dad's (or Grandmas or Grandpas etc) arms and they will learn that baby is now an extension of their family.

Congrats on the pregnancy. May you be blessed with a perfect child to love for a lifetime!!

Answer 5

There is NOTHING in the world to worry about besides what you already know! My daughter came into the world with my fiance's grandfather's cat, Bustopher, as her best friend! He would literally lay on her lap as she was laying on my lap. He knew exactly where to lay to make her her footsies were nice and toasty. He never tried to jump on her or in the bassinet and he would actually come to me and meow whenever she was stirring!! Cat hair was a teeny problem once she really started to try touching him and playing with him around 6 months old. We solved that by brushing him twice a day.

Answer 6

Cat lover here too!!!!!!!!!
Don't worry... sometimes the cat will get naturally curious, but as long as you keep kitty out of the crib and away from baby all should be fine.

Answer 7

its all an old wives tale, the cat will have not interest in the baby. Cats don;t smother babies, the worst they do is claim the baby bouncer and car seat as their own and shed all over them!!

Answer 8

Found this on the internet, hope it helps, good luck

Cats and Babies or Children

If you've currently got a cat and are soon to have a new baby in the family, or if you're thinking of getting a pet, it's important to consider how babies and cats will interact. Many families with cats have no problems at all, but from a safety point of view, do babies and young children get on with cats?

When you've had a cat for a while, suddenly introducing a new member of the family, in the form of a tiny baby, can be unsettling to their normal routine. After all, they're a part of the family too. Unlike dogs, cats are unlikely to be aggressive unless their tail is pulled, but there have been a small number of incidences where cats have accidentally smothered a baby by sleeping in the pram. Instead, it's their behaviour in the early days that might change.

Cats are very sensitive animals and they're territorial, so a new baby in their space upsets what they're used to and their routine. There are new smells and sounds, people will be spending more time in the house and the cat may not be allowed in certain rooms anymore.

Some cats react by retreating off on their own, disappearing outside, into a quiet room or a quiet space they can find. Other cats act a bit stroppy, insisting on trying to get into the rooms they've always used! Some cats may start excessively grooming themselves and may also reassert their rights by changing from facial gland marking to urine spraying - not pleasant with a baby around.

To minimise disruption for your cat, it's helpful to prepare for the new arrival in advance. For example:

Get the cat used to not going in certain rooms, for example where the nursery will be.
Set aside one room where you can play with the cat and have quality time with it, away from the baby. Start doing this before the baby arrives, to get your cat used to it.
Many cats dislike the sound of crying babies. As crying is likely to become the norm in your house, you'll need to get your cat used to it. Try playing a CD of crying, whilst stroking your cat and comforting him.
Teach the cat not to sit in the pram.
If you haven't already got one, consider buying the cat a climbing centre, perhaps with a box at the top, so the cat is kept amused and has somewhere to jump up into if he feels the need to hide away.
Bringing Baby Home
When you first bring your baby home, be aware of your cat's needs and feelings. Don't constantly remove the cat from the room, but be happy for him to watch and observe the new situation. Include your cat in what's going on by talking to him or giving him a treat.

Treats for cats work well when you're feeding your baby, as it keeps the cat happy and lets him know you're thinking of him too. If the cat tries to crawl on your lap when you're feeding, firmly remove him and encourage him to sit next to you instead. Pram safety and cot safety is important and you may find a cat net beneficial. Cats love warm areas and prams and cots can seem appealing! But on rare occasions cats have been known to suffocate babies if they get in on top of them, so discourage your cat from climbing into the pram or cot.

Health-wise, cats are generally safe to have around. Children can get fleabites, so it's important to keep your cat flea-free. And remember to have basic hygiene rules, like not letting your cat lick your baby's face.


Buying a Cat
If you're thinking of buying a cat and already have a family, then it's still important to ensure they'll all get on. Before you go ahead and buy a cat, check:
The cat has no record of aggression.
Whether the cat is known not to get on with children.
If it's a kitten, consider the practicalities of training it.
First impressions are important and could indicate how well your children will get on with the cat, so taking them to see it before you make a final decision is really helpful. If your children don't feel comfortable with the cat, shy away from it or won't go near it, then you'll have to think again. Likewise, if the cat seems to react badly to your children, it may not be the right cat for you.

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Answer 9

You will have to watch the cat hair as they shed as well.