Babies and cats

[gillaz]

Help.

At present my cat has free run of the house. He sleeps in our room and comes and goes as he pleases. When the baby arrives will I have to lock him out of the bedroom at night or keep him locked downstairs? Is something you can buy (like a mosquito net) to put over the cot to stop him getting in.

I've heard horror stories of cats sitting on babies and suffocating them. As much as I adore my cat I'd rather not have him suffocate the baby.

THe stories about cats suffocating babies are just that - stories. Your cat will probably avoid the baby like the plague when it's born. I have three cats who also have the run of the house, and they never went near dd when she was born and are similarly avoiding my ds (5 weeks old). Don't waste your money on cat nets for cot/moses basket. i did first time round and used it once!!

Oh good. Thanks for the advice. I can't bear the thought of naking the cat feel unwanted and unloved

No prob

I have 2 cats and they never went near any of my children when tiny babies, they do however sleep with them now they are toddlers.

I agree with peggotty.

We have eight cats (long story) and without exception they stay out of the reach of the baby.

We shut the cats out of our room whilst she slept with us and TBH I always montior her interactions with the cats (18 months old) but that is more to protect the cats than her !!!

agreed no need to be overly concerned. We did, however, start shutting the cat out of our room in advance so she didn't associate the rejection with the baby. Was good for me anyway as I shouldn't let her in anyway with my asthma! Otherwise cat avoided baby anyway and is only gradually letting dd (2.8) get the odd cuddle. She's an unsociable moggy anyway though :-)

Second peggotty's comment. Our cats have only just started venturing near the children now DS2 is over 2 and will sit still long enough to offer a lap. For 2 years they have confined themselves mostly upstairs during the childrens waking hours.