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Original poster

Have kitten, does it need to go?

15 replies

SRM · 02/03/2006 19:06

Thinking of having no 3, however have recently acquired a cat and am worried about having a baby with cat in house. Am I being silly??

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 19:08

I'd say you were - we have two cats, and two kids. The cats were here first, but have been really good with the kids.

What are you worried about?

WigWamBam · 02/03/2006 19:10

There are a lot of people who have cats and babies in the same house ... as long as you are sensible about it there's generally no problem with having cats around. For me it basically meant making sure that the cat couldn't get into the baby's bedroom, or into her pram (from a hygiene point of view). I bought a cat net but didn't need it.

If the cat is anything like mine, she took one look at dd and decided she wasn't going anywhere near her and almost 5 years later she still hasn't!

BROWNY · 02/03/2006 19:12

I wouldn't worry at all. I've had kittens/cats when pregnant and they were all lovely with the babies and children - just make sure someone else changes the litter tray (if you have one)!

pucca · 02/03/2006 19:12

No it doesn't need to go, i have 2 cats who were with us long before dd came along (she is 2.3) iam pregnant again and they were/are fine. Just don't allow them upstairs, we don't.

cupcakes · 02/03/2006 19:23

we got a kitten when I was a few months pg with dd. Dh did all the litter changing (ha ha) and by the time she was born the cat was really integrated into our lives.

bobblehead · 03/03/2006 02:19

Had 1 cat before dd came along and then got kitten when she was 4 months. No problems at all and I think its quite nice they will grow up togetherSmile

mygirllolipop · 03/03/2006 09:10

Dunno if it's just an old wives tale, and plenty of people (as shown on this thread) have lived happily with a cat, but apparently cats can smother a baby because of the smell of milk on the baby's face. Oh God just had visions of last seasons Footallers Wives!

poppiesinaline · 03/03/2006 09:31

We had a cat before kids and she stayed when we had babies. The kids love her and she is really good with them. No problem whatsoever. You just need to be careful the cat doesn't get into the cot/pram. Cos of the warmth she might want to snuggle next to babe. We just make sure that the bedroom door is always shut.

I remember when I was pregnant with no1 SIL who was also preg with No1 said immediately "Oh, you'll have to get rid of the cat then". 'Errr. No" "You must. That cat may kill the baby or give it asthma" Angry
Shock

The cat has not killed the baby and strangely enough, it was her child that got asthma - not mine!

So no, cats and babies are fine as long as you are careful about the sleeping thing.

eve2005 · 03/03/2006 09:39

having a pet with a young baby is actually scientifically proven to reduce the risk of asthma and allergies and to boost the immune system. (swatted up when pregnant to defeat grandmothers in arguements!)

once they get a bit older it's a great way for them to learn from a young age how to be gentle with a pet and to 'help' look after them.

had cat since well before dd and he's never been a minutes bother, we don't leave them alone in a room together as some overly optimistic cats smell the milk on a baby and try to cuddle up, but to be honest he usually steers well clear of her. she's 13 months now and loves to stroke him and to shake an empty box of dry food over his bowl to 'feed' him. her first word was cat at 7 months!

Piffle · 03/03/2006 09:41

We had cats , use gloves if you're changing littler or better get someone else to do it.
Our dd adored our cat, he died last year but we have a new kitten about 10 mths old and dd loves her too.
WE made liberal use of repellants (natural ones like eucalyptus, tea tree, citronella) to keep the cats away from areas when dd was crawling and eating everything
Now they co exist in harmony

poppiesinaline · 03/03/2006 09:50

really eve2005? Wish I had know that information. SIL really grated on my nerves about that !

2Happy · 03/03/2006 09:55

ds looooves our two cats. Funnily enough, now that he's crawling, they don't feel the same way about him Grin And no asthma here either so far! But Piffle's right about the poo thing - purrfect excuse for someone else to empty the litter tray (if you have one)!

suwoo · 03/03/2006 12:37

We got our cat as a kitten when I was pregnant and it has been lovely for them to grow up together. My DD is 4 and they have a mutual love for each other! Interesting about the asthma, as my DD has asthma, but then again so do all her paternal cousins and my DH did when he was a child, so I suspect completely unrelated to cats.

Original poster
SRM · 07/03/2006 14:56

This is all really interesting thanks! I suppose my worries were the smothering thing when a baby as I had heard that too, and also toxiplasmoses (spelling??) from cat poo, but I don't go near the litter tray even now!

OP posts:
expectingsummerihope · 07/03/2006 23:46

Don't get rid of the poor wee pussy Wink. I'm sure your baby and cat will get along just fine. With ds I bought a cat net but never needed it as our cat never tried to get in the moses basket. She seemed aware that he was precious goods and was v protective of him. Would echo the advice already given about not leaving baby unsupervised when cat is about.

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