First of all, I love my cat. He loves to snuggle and play and is a real sweetheart. But he can also be a real a**hole. When I'm getting ready to leave the house, he will stalk me and end up biting me on the ankles before i make it out the door. He knows exactly when I'm about to take a shower and hides in between the shower curtain and liner, so when i open the curtain he's right there to attack. Or when I'm working on the computer he'll come right in the way, and when i move him (even after petting him for a bit) he bites me.
Now, this can be all so cute if he was just nipping...but he doesn't. This cat bites way too hard breaking my skin every fricken time. And now that I am pregnant I'm thinking I should get rid of him when the baby is born. My baby is more precious than any animal. I am worried my cat will bite the baby like he does to me? Do you think my cat will hurt my baby?
2007-11-20 07:12:27 · 27 answers · asked by Sonya J 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
That's one crazy cat!!
I think he doesn't want you to leave. You should find him a good home with someone you know. this way you can still visit your cat !
Just don't dump him in a pound!
2007-11-20 07:22:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
First of all, you love your cat. That is good! But the thing is, you love your baby more. There is no other job more important in life now than protecting your child. Nobody who ever has to make this choice thinks it's easy and nobody likes to do it. The only people that will give you grief are people that have either never had children or never had a pet that they think may harm their child. I was once in your shoes. I have (had) 2 cats. One was just a terror. While I was pregnant we tried extra hard (harder than we did pre-pregnancy) to calm her down and teach her good behavior. It didn't work, so we were left asking ourselves "Do we risk the safety of our baby or give her to a new home?" Nobody walks into parenthood saying "GOSH! Finally I have a reason to get rid of this cat I love and have had for years!" That just doesn't make sense. We gave her a new home and she's happy and we're happy. An unhappy home is not a place for a pet or child or US!!! If you think there may be a problem, go with what you think is best becuase once your baby is here you're going to have A LOT on your hands and it either may be too late and too stressful. I totally understand. We love our pets but only a parent truly understands this situation.
Add: "Rhonda P" is right. You think you have a problem now, wait until this cat gets jealous. He may pitch a fit seeing that "his" time is taken up by something else. If he's ballsy and outgoing enough to attack you (playfully or not), I don't think he'd have a problem taking a bat at this little thing that's the same size as him whom he is quite jealous of. My other cat is ultra calm and only gets hyper every once in awhile (usually when he sees a stray outside) and he started acting out after a week of the baby being here. He literally bats at the wall and jumps up it then tears through the house w/ big wide eyes when he feels he hasn't had enough attention or if the baby is crying and we're paying attention to her.
Another "add": sorry... lol... but this ultra calm cat I have ended up being found in my babys bassinet one day! And he lays on her clothes if they're out! he's stolen her socks! It's funny but we laugh that he is a diluted version of a real cat... I put a real cat in his place and imagine what else may happen... marking her clothes, being in her crib repeatedly and maybe while she's in there... etc etc etc....
2007-11-20 07:28:32 · answer #2 · answered by throughthebackyards 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That's actually a very good reason to get rid of your cat. Not only may he bite your baby if he thinks that the baby is taking away from 'his' time, it can also be dangerous for a pregnant woman to keep getting bit by a cat even if he's just an indoor cat. I believe it has something to do with the bacteria in a cat's saliva. I like cats but my baby is definitely more important.
2007-11-20 07:25:05 · answer #3 · answered by Rhonda P 1 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I don't know why your cat does that. Do you make time to play with the cat? It sounds like he's missing play time. One of my cats bites really hard. She doesn't attack me though. If she "bothers" me (bites, plays with my hair), it's because she's hungry. Is there a room where you can put your cat so you can do what you need to do without the cat biting you?
It sounds like you don't have a lot of time to work with the cat to change the behavior. It takes a long time to train the cat.
It's really unfair to get rid of the cat. Obviously this has been a problem but you have been at fault for not addressing it sooner. This is a live animal, not a toy, not something that anyone should be able to toss aside because it's no longer convenient. As a volunteer with cats, I see what too many people do because they don't take the time to educate themselves. They blame the cat when they are to blame more often than not. It is frustrating and very costly for society. It hurts us animal volunteers who care for these animals. We sometimes want to attack the people that do these things to these animals, put them in the situation they are in.
I feel your frustration but it's your fault. You should do what you can to alter the cat's behavior. That's how you make this right. Find a book about cat behavior. Talk to the vet. Get to work.
Read before bedtime. Consider this your public duty.
I'm really appalled at some of the answers here. Animal abuse is not funny. When any person takes in a pet, they are making a commitment to that pet to care for it for life. A pet is not a person. It is an animal. Educate yourself (not directed at you the questioner) before you get a pet. Make sure the pet fits your lifestyle. I have been around cats and dogs my entire life. I have never had any problem. NEVER. My grandmother had a lot of cats. NO Problems at all. Ever. At one time, my parents had 10 indoor only cats. Again, no problems. My mom is a vet tech. I have read books on cats. I think if you read 1 good book by a reputable author, you will have a better understanding about cats and what a plausible solution is for you. My husband shares the attitude here when it comes to pets. It aggravates me to no end because he hasn't bothered to educate himself on it. I don't understand it. Why do people think they know it all? Why?
2007-11-20 07:31:52 · answer #4 · answered by Unsub29 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, although you say the cat is a real sweetheart, he doesn't seem to be from your description.
It's possible the cat may know that the baby is more vulnerable, but it's not worth the risk. In addition to the biting behaviour, cats sometimes to climb into the crib and sleep with baby. Before I was born, my mom's friend's daughter was almost killed due to the cat curling up in her crib to sleep and laying on the babies face.
This cat seems to need a lot of attention, and will very likely be jealous of the new baby and the attention it gets. Cats can be very vengeful. Who knows what might happen?
2007-11-20 07:24:42 · answer #5 · answered by Taryn 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a cat person so my first reaction is to get rid of him. However, I am a dog person and my parents' dog (my dog when I lived at home) is a growler and we worried about her around my daughter at first. I let her sniff her when she was an infant and my dog instantly became a protector of her, barking at anyone who came to close and never once hurt her my daughter. She is 2 1/2 years old and can't wait to go visit my parents and see the dog. So, you can wait to see if your cat will be nice to the baby if you want or give your cat to a friend, neighbor, or relative where you can still see your cat but he doesn't live in your house.
2007-11-20 07:18:27 · answer #6 · answered by Precious 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Cats are jelous animals. So yes I would prefer my child than a kat.
I would be looking around for a good home for the cat people you know personally or aqcuaintainces know. You dont' want him to be neglected in another home.
I believe you should either give him away or train him with a "baby" or something similar.
After all cat's have nails!! and teetch that can harm a little angel
2007-11-20 07:28:38 · answer #7 · answered by yolie857 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, I understand how you feel...my cat bites ankles to play and still has her claws. I was worried too, but when my son arrived, she really didn't want anything to do with him and left him alone. I kept the door to the nursery closed all the time to keep her out and she did-normally she sits at closed doors and whines so annoyingly until someone opens the door but she didn't this time. I would just keep her until after the baby arrives, and see how he does. If you're still nervous, find him another home. Good luck!
2007-11-20 08:53:11 · answer #8 · answered by emrobs 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would keep the cat away from the baby until it is at least 6 months old, for safety sake. the cat is not to blame. it is a cat. just be sure to keep kitty locked out of baby's room at night for the first 6 months and things should be ok
cheers!
2007-11-20 07:16:27 · answer #9 · answered by michael 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No it is not wrong, I had a cat that did this since i can remember i didnt want to get rid of her either but after my first born i often found my cat jumping inside of her crib, and the last straw was when she started swatting at my daughter with the claws out.
2007-11-20 07:17:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋