Has anyone had a cat and a newborn?
2007-10-25 13:41:07 · 23 answers · asked by ♡chele♡ 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
Completely false!
2007-10-25 14:07:47 · answer #1 · answered by Tigger 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Totally untrue, it's another old wives tale.
In grandfather's time, cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) was not known as such. In developed countries, infant mortality was much higher than today. The presence of a cat in or near the crib is not evidence of suffocation - it is circumstantial. In tragic cases of Sudden Infant Death, we want to blame someone or something. A cat is a convenient scapegoat. There may have been no post mortem, but the tale of the "killer" cat gets passed down through the generations and is accepted as fact despite a lack of real evidence.
2007-10-28 13:03:38 · answer #2 · answered by Michele the Louis Wain cat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 4 cats and an 8 month old baby.......and no it's not true.....we got our cats used to the idea of a baby being here before he was born.....like not letting the cats in the baby's room or on his stuff and my cat's did just fine.....and the reason people say cat's will steal a baby's breath is because if they are able to get close enough to a baby they will smell milk (or formula) on a baby's breath and try to lick it....but they don't mean to harm the baby.
2007-10-25 21:14:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have had both at the same time. This is what they call an 'Old Wives Tale.' No, your cat may be attracted to the baby because of the smell of milk, but it KNOWS that is a living being and will not attempt to smother it. Whoever told you that was trying to frighten you and I think it was really nasty.
My Siamese cat slept under my daughter's bed and would come and wake me up when she cried. My daughter was a quiet crier and I was glad to have the cat to warn me.
2007-10-25 22:43:13 · answer #4 · answered by The Y!ABut 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
At one time, I did have a newborn baby and two cats. The cats only sniffed at the baby when I showed her to them and walked off. They never bothered her after that and they didn't try to sleep in her crib.
2007-10-25 23:17:29 · answer #5 · answered by RoVale 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No it will not. Cats do like warm places, and the myth is that babies faces are warm and the cat will cuddle up on it. I personally would not just leave a cat alone with a newborn anyhow, who knows what could end up accidentally scratched or something.
2007-10-25 20:46:05 · answer #6 · answered by lirpalynn39 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yes but, it's the smell of the milk on the baby's mouth.
But, if I was pregnant & I still had my cat or if I had another cat, I'd keep the cat. Just keep the cat away from the baby unless your around. I think it's very improbable that it would happen. I don't hear about it to much.
2007-10-25 22:39:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have heard it before, but cat's are attracted by heat, and may sleep in or nearby a source of heat, including a baby. I doubt a cat would purposely kill a baby though.
2007-10-25 22:20:23 · answer #8 · answered by 'Er indoors!! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat loved my daughter from the day she was brought home. He slept with her all the time and he even would lick her head when she cried. It is a horrible myth and should not be treated as truth.
While some will get a bit jealous they will adapt and baby and kitty with be just fine.
2007-10-25 23:05:24 · answer #9 · answered by revwargirl@sbcglobal.net 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not really it was said the cat would lay opn the chest and steal breath but in the real world the cat would curl beside .
2007-10-25 20:46:50 · answer #10 · answered by the only 1 hobo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I heard this story long ago. I think its an old wives tale. Not sure. But no they don't. I do know that cats carry diseases that are harmful to babies. You do need to read up on this. Don't worry you will not find your cats paws over your child's mouth. I can't even get an image of this happening.
2007-10-25 22:38:34 · answer #11 · answered by sandy b 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋