my doc just told me not to clean the litter box she did not say i should get rid of them.and i know there are people who have cats and babys.well my baby is due next month and right now we are redoing our house so we are staying in the guest house but it has no doors or bathroom we go in the house for all that but we do everything else in the guest house so pretty much its one big room no doors what would you do about your cats?how to keep them away from the baby?we have 3 young cats no more than 6 motnhs old and im a lil afraid that when we go to sleep they might try to get in there but i have a crib that is coverved so nothing can get in.but if they where to jump on top of it they could be sitting on top of the baby and who knows what would happen.so who has had cats and what would you say?please dont tell me to get ride of my cats im asking for people who have cats and babys.if i have to get ride of my cats i will but if theres another way i would like to know.thanks <3
2007-10-12 06:28:05 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
we will only be in there for 3 weeks after the baby is born so im just wondering what could i do in the mean time?
2007-10-12 06:29:28 · update #1
I bought a little bouncer with a zippered screen covering. We let the baby sleep in there instead of a crib until she got a little older. We had a one bedroom house at that point and nowhere to keep the baby away from the cats. They're pretty affordable and it worked great for us. I'll put a link to something like it for you. A lot of these people seem to have cats that don't want to be around babies but two of my three cats have always slept with our daughter.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265788&categoryId=2256080
That's pretty much the exact one I have. And make your husband clean the litterbox or wear gloves and a mask.
2007-10-12 06:33:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cat feces has something in it that can be harmful to an unborn baby, but if you've already had them for several years, you've probably developed an immunity of sorts any way (that's what my doc said when I questioned him about it)....although this is a great excuse to have hubby clean the litter box!
I never had a problem with the cats going into the crib. Your best bet would be to have the crib set up as soon as possible (before the baby is born). Any time the cat goes near the crib, scare it away so that it will learn beforehand not to go near it.
2007-10-12 06:39:15 · answer #2 · answered by Mom22girls 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason your doctor told you not to clean the litter box is because you are pregnant. When you are pregnant, you are at risk of getting toxoplasmosis from the cat's poop which would be harmful to your baby. Once your baby is born this is no longer an issue.
We have a cat, but he's not the lovable type. So, we never had to worry about him snuggling too close to our baby. You should just make sure the cats stay out of the baby's room by closing the door when baby is in there, etc. You will be checking on your baby frequently too. Also, it is an old wives tale that cats suffocate babies, but just to be safe, try to keep the cats out of baby's room while baby is sleeping.
2007-10-12 06:35:24 · answer #3 · answered by CLICK 2 $AVE! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If this is your first baby, you are probably going to worry about the cats jumping into the crib no matter what anyone else says. So, if you are able to keep the cats separate while your baby is sleeping, then do that. Otherwise, it is probably not very likely that your cats will jump into the crib with your baby or on top of it when you have it covered. I have 2 cats and they were both petrified of the baby when he was first born due to all of the crying. They have never attempted to jump into his crib. Unless your cats sleep next to or on top of your head, then I would not worry about them. I know that sounds ridiculous, but seriously, try not to worry too much! Everything will be fine!!
2007-10-12 06:52:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The doctor told you not to touch the litter box while you're pregnant because of the risk of Toxoplasmosis. Most people who have had cats have already been exposed to it, but it's a good safeguard.
I have heard tons of stories about cats & kittens trying to jump into the crib at every opportunity. Heck, it's warm, cozy and has a little snuggly friend to cuddle with. Plus cats are jealous! I think the risk of actual smothering is just a myth.
See the attached link for some great ideas.
If they just won't calm down (heck they're kittens and you're in tight quarters), I'm not a big fan of keeping animals in kennels, but during the adjustment period and while you're still in the guest house, I might consider getting a large travel kennel to keep the kitties in overnight.
2007-10-12 06:35:46 · answer #5 · answered by eli_star 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't see any reason for geting rid of the cats. I have 2. It is a bad idea to go near their feces when you're pregnant or breastfeeding, so enlist your hubby for that part. I think if you're only gonna be in the guest house for 3 weeks after the baby is born, the cats will still be so freaked out by the sound of the baby's cry that they won't really go near him/her. Use the canopy piece over the crib, and maybe stick a bell on top of it, so if a kitty jumps on it, you'll hear the bell ring. Congrats on the new baby!
2007-10-12 06:34:34 · answer #6 · answered by Marie K 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I would definitely not get rid of the kitties. Your baby will love them and become an animal lover. Plus, I was recently reading an article on allergens and babies, and it mentioned that some early exposure to animal hair/dander can prevent long-term pet allergies. Our five month old adores our cats and dogs, and I cannot imagine him growing up in a pet free home!
Our cats 'live' in our finished basement unless we are around and want them free, because our males (neutered) spray to mark their territory (yuck...), so we have the luxury of putting them in their room (which has three chairs and four litterboxes for our three spoiled felines) when we can't keep an eye on them.
While you are in the guest house, you could puchase one of those tri-fold screens that are about 8 feet high (you'd need a sturdy one with no cloth on it) and put it in front of the opening to the baby's room in the guest house. If it was tight against the door, it should keep the cats out.
Good luck! And congratulations. :)
2007-10-12 06:42:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have always had cats ALWAYS
We have never had a problem with them even coming close to harming the babies. One very possessive cat we had wanted to sleep in the babies things like her car seat, bouncy chair even her crib but not when she was in any of these things. I think he was a bit jealous but not in a bad way. A cat can learn to stay away from baby til its bigger, they are not unteachable. The love you and will love baby :) don't worry. If the crib isn't set up yet then set it up and go to it to see if they get interested..if they do tell them NO. I personally would let them see it and see baby but then put them on the floor and say No or what ever you say to tell them something is not for them. Congrats on baby :) and remember your cats were there first so give them a bit of respect on that issue but don't allow bad behavior of course.
2007-10-12 06:37:30 · answer #8 · answered by sharonsmineonly 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Vanna,,,
PUNCTUATION! SPELL CHECK!!!
sigh...
OK - we had 2 cats when our son was born. His first words were "kitty cat". The cats were fine with him except when he cried. Then they howled along with them. They didn't try to get into the crib, they didn't sit on him and smother him, they didn't harm him a bit. They were curious about him, and wanted to get a good look, but wouldn't get too close if we put him down. After awhile they learned to ignore him like they did us, until he learned to crawl and walk. Then they just learned to move out of his sight, and all was well.
The reason your doctor doesn't want you to clean the litter box is that cats can carry a bacteria that can cause troubles to your unborn baby. Ask your doctor to be sure, but I think that it's not a problem once he's born. So have your hubby change the cat litter, but make sure that he washes his hands well afterwards. Your cats will be fine with the baby, at least until he learns to walk.
2007-10-12 06:37:02 · answer #9 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
4 years ago, my husband and I had twin girls with two cats living in the house. To tell you the honest truth, there wasn't much worries about that issue. We had the twins sleeping in a playpen/bassinet beside our bed when we went to sleep, and believe you me, we, (or I should say I) knew when there was the slightest noise coming from their bed. So should a cat jump in their bed I would have known.(Not that that ever happened anyway) Since you'll be staying in a one room "house", I would suggest to do just that; have your baby sleep in a bassinet beside your bed. Afterall, its only for 3 weeks, and since this seems to be your first child, you WILL want the baby to be that close to you anyway. :0)
When you move back into your home, and using a baby monitor, you'll be able to close the door securely to your baby's room. (After you've checked to see that the cats are not in there of course.) Hope this helps... :0)
2007-10-12 06:45:59 · answer #10 · answered by Mandy C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋