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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

fed up of people going on about my cat

51 replies

whimsicalquark · 02/11/2011 10:23

I'm getting sick of people making comments about my pet cat. I'm 38 weeks pregnant and I'm fully aware that I need to be careful that the cat doesnt try to climb into the moses basket with the baby. I have bought cat nets for pram, moses basket and cat and the cat isnt allowed upstairs at night. When the baby arrives it isnt going to be left on its own so i fail to see what the danger is with my cat, from what ive seen of other peoples they dont take any interest in babies anyway. You would think I had a pet alligator on the loose the way everyone is going on, if one more person makes the comment ' cats are always smothering babies, its because they smell of milk ' then im going to scream, its hardly something that you read about in the papers every day.
I'm pretty sure im not the only person in this country with a pet cat and ( soon to arrive) baby in the house.

anyway rant over !!!!!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Gemstar28 · 02/11/2011 10:50

OH GOD I am sooooooooo sick of this too!! I have two cats who I love so much and have been a massive part of my life...yet everyone insists on saying "be careful of the cats" "what are you doing about the cats"

I'm not even getting cat nets - they are completely unecessary in my opinion. Whilst bub is very young it will rarely be left on it's own long enough for a cat to sit on it....and as the bub gets older it will wriggle enough that sitting on it is the last place a cat would want to go!

My cats are very well behaved and like most cats typically avoid any babies/children that come to our house by heading off out through the flap!

These comments only come from people who do not have cats or have poorly behaved cats so I wouldn't worry about it. There are thousands of families with babies and cats and they all get on perfectly!

The only thing I'm worried about is that they won't love me as much once the bub is here!

Flisspaps · 02/11/2011 10:53

Tell them it's fine, you're going to make the baby sleep in the shed so that the cat doesn't sleep on it. This has to be done with a completely straight face.

Rikalaily · 02/11/2011 10:58

I've got four cats and four kids and have never had a problem with the cats jumping in the crib with the baby etc, the cats tended to avoid the kids when they were babies, gave them a wide berth.

I lock the cats in the kitchen during the night because I don't like them going into the bedrooms as they shed everywhere.

NatashaBee · 02/11/2011 11:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Catsmamma · 02/11/2011 11:08

Aren't people idiots??

We have always had cats and not a one of them has attempted infanticide. One particularly loved the moses basket and would get in it and sleep at the baby's feet.

whizzyrocket · 02/11/2011 11:12

I have this problem too- particularly with my mother in law. She has made comments about the cat, but her main topic of conversation is the dog. I think she thinks Maisie (dog) is going to savage young babe! I find this particularly ridiculous as I have a rather well-behaved toy poodle! The worst my son can expect from her is the occasional lick... but that will only be when he's old enough to be left downstairs on the floor.

pilotsprincess · 02/11/2011 11:26

arghhh I feel your pain!
Im 38 weeks too, ive got 2 cats and also my husband works away from home and he has been away for a week now. I am gonna actually lose my mind if I hear these words again :
'WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THE CATS?'
'OOH YOULL HAVE TO BE CAREFULL WITH THEM CATS'
'IS YOUR HUBBY HOME?'
'OOH HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU DONT 'GO' BEFORE YOUR HUBBYS HOME'

omg seriously on the verge of saying, its none of your business!!!
Rant over :) phewwwww felt good!

BeeBread · 02/11/2011 11:33

I have two cats who were absolutely fine when DS arrived, generally they ignored him and were faintly scared of him and the noise he made.

Okay, it is a bit of an extra thing to do - to check that they aren't where they shouldn't be etc etc, closing doors to the nursery rather than leaving them open while the baby is napping etc - but really, it is hardly the end of the world.

Boot very much now on the other foot - DS is two and loves hounding playing with them. More a question of me looking out for them, than for him!

smalltownshame · 02/11/2011 11:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DejaWho · 02/11/2011 11:36

I have cats AND dogs... oh how I anticipate fun when we go public.

smalltownshame · 02/11/2011 11:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tigresswoods · 02/11/2011 11:39

Dear cat, in roughly 8-9 months there will be a small mobile being in your home wanting to pull your tail, poke your eyes & eat your food. Discuss toddler-nets with your person now.

MissRee · 02/11/2011 11:40

Didnt you know all cats are evil and planning on taking over the works by plotting to suffocate all babies they come across

TheBrideofFrankenstein · 02/11/2011 11:48

I have 2 cats and we currently live in a 2 bedroom flat on the 6th floor, so the cats are inside 100% of the time. They have never voluntarily come into physical contact with DS, and have just avoided him for the last 13months. Getting trickier now he is walking and we are going to move to a house with a garden so that they can all get some space (not the only reason but a contributing factor), but my point is that all contact is being initiated by him, not them. They are smart and clean and do not want sticky little fingers on their fur.

I gave away by cat net, still in its wrapper, when DS was 9 mo.

BelleRomford74 · 02/11/2011 11:53

Hi, I am a 1st time cat owner & 24 weeks pregnant, a fellow cat owner had advised me to get a cat net, not sure obviously until baby comes if I will need it or not but would like to be prepared just incase...Any idea where to buy one from for carry cot or moses basket please. Thank you

TheBrideofFrankenstein · 02/11/2011 11:55

Mothercare and John Lewis sell them........but based on this thread I'd try ebay for a "second hand but unused" one

CatsRule · 02/11/2011 16:20

I can totally sympathise. I got "you'll be getting rid of the cat" and all the comments re smothering plus some about toxoplasmosis.

Truth is, we're more at risk from catching toxoplasmosis from unwashed food and red meat than we are from cat poo and anyone who's owned by a cat will be good at the basic litter change hygiene anyway.

Cats are more likely to find a quiet place to sleep too...which will exclude anywhere near a crying baby!

We all know the (small) risks with having any kind of pet with a baby but with a little common sense there is no reason to not have our cats around.

Babies are also more likely to be suffocated by smokers and their horrible smoke too!!

Can you tell the cat comments have annoyed me yet lol

PopcornMouse · 02/11/2011 16:48

Tell them it's fine, you're going to make the baby sleep in the shed so that the cat doesn't sleep on it. This has to be done with a completely straight face.

:o :o :o

handbagCrab · 02/11/2011 17:20

I have cat nets on everything, not to protect the baby as they're not here yet, but to stop the cat getting in my nice new cot and buggy! This is because the cat is very nosy and can be a mucky pup and I'd quite like to keep things clean until the baby gets here.

Isn't the cats suffocating babies theory how they explained SIDS before they knew what it was? So it's superstitious rubbish and not worth worrying about :)

GetOrfMo1Land · 02/11/2011 17:23

Apparently when i was a baby (in a house with 3 Siamese cats) they used to get in the crib with me and sit at my feet, and acted in a very protective and kindly way. There was a photo kicking round somewhere with me as a fat 6 month old surrounded by pouting cats.

I have never heard of a cat smothering or indeed scratching a baby, I think it is an urban myth.

moregranny · 02/11/2011 18:03

Never in 31 years had a problem with my cats where babies are concerned, only ever tried out changing mat ,cot, crib when empty, my grandaughter shares her house with a cat and so far all okay :)

Hotpotpie · 02/11/2011 18:36

ditto but my dogs because I have a great dane, which would never ever be left alone with the baby anyway, somehow hes morphed from being himself to some sort of child eating wolf over night. Makes you wonder just how fecking stupid some people think you are

mildertduck · 02/11/2011 18:39

As I understood it in most cases the cat hasn't suffocated the baby at all - what is far more likely is the cat has come in, thought 'oh dear, cold baby! I know what I'll do; I'll warm it up ' and then is found like that. Horrible, but not the cat's fault because chances are the baby had already died.

MrsRV · 02/11/2011 19:03

When my dad told his mum (my gran) I was expecting she said "OH NO" quickly followed by "what about those poor cats"!?!

I felt like ringing her to say "of course I'm banning the cats from the house or giving them away!! What else would I do with them!?! How else will I cope!?! After loving my cats to pieces I've suddenly started to hate them and clearly I will let my new baby be cruel to them". Stupid bag.

mrsravelstein · 02/11/2011 19:05

i've had 2 cats and 3 babies, and both cats have always steered extremely clear of the babies... one cat did quite like sleeping in the cot if there wasn't a baby in it, though

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