Baby on the way and troubles with cat

[40Crazabet2000]

Hi ladies
just looking for some advice and people’s thoughts … please be mindful that I already feel awful having to post this so really don’t need any nasty comments!

I got a cat a year ago now, before I fell pregnant. He’s been the highlight of my life. He is so sweet and I absolutely adore him.

lately I’ve been having some issues… he’s been bringing live pigeons in the house which we’ve had to capture and get out. He’s also been bringing fleas in the house, he is flead with bravecto regularly, but for some reason the fleas aren’t dying on him and instead are getting in the house. We’ve been lucky so far to capture them as we’re brushing him with his flea comb as soon as he comes into the house. I caught some in the kitchen today and had to quickly kill them before they got loose.

the problem is that I’m nearly 9 months pregnant and really can’t afford to be capturing pigeons when baby is here and worse, really don’t want baby exposed to this as they’re so unsanitary.

As welll as this, I really don’t want to be fumigating the house every month or so because of flea infestations. it’s not healthy for baby having to keep up and move to my parents house while the house is fumigated.

I know I sound absolutely horrid but I am thinking of re-homing him.
I do understand it’s not the cats fault, it’s their natural instinct to hunt and also it’s not his fault that he’s bringing fleas into the house. I really am not the type of person to do things like this if anything I hate people that get animals just to give them up, so I’m spending hours each night getting all worked about this while hubby keeps begging me to just re home him for our own sanitary and babies safety.

my instincts while being pregnant have been super heightened and I really don’t feel comfortable having a baby in this environment. I don’t want to br a new mum with a newborn chasing pigeons around the house and having to disinfect every minute. I’ve got the point where I’m spending hours on my hands and knees searching the house and ensuring it’s flea free which is absolutely ridiculous and can’t continue especially not with a newborn. I’ve done my back in so much that I can’t even move today… I have hubby hoovering the house multiple times a day too and we’re not going ti have time to check him with a comb every time he wants to come in when we have a newborn.

I really just need some advice as to whether it’s completely unreasonable to re-home. There’s a lovely farm sanctuary near me that takes animals in and when they’re not rehoused they keep them to live on the farm… I feel like he would be happier as would we, but my guilt is really holding me back ..

I think it sounds a bit like pregnancy anxiety, the hormones make you fixate and worry about things and go a bit crazy! I completely get it, I'm a bit of a germ freak anyway, but there were some things I was over the top on while in later pregnancy with my first. I'm pregnant again and realise it's happening again a bit unless I catch it.

In reality, the baby is immobile for the first few months and on you, in bassinet, doing tummy time on their mat etc. The mat can be folded away and kept clean. The bassinet can be kept covered when not in use if you're feeling worried about it. The pigeons and one or two fleas will be no issue. Then you realise at 5-6 months when they are crawling around on the ground outside, in baby groups, taking toys from other children's mouths and putting it in their own etc that there's no point worrying about germs. They'll be crawling on grass on the park where pigeons have been and dogs have weed etc, and theres nothing you can do to keep them on their mat. They want to be off with the other children.

With benefit of hindsight and this being my second, I'm trying to be more rational and relaxed. My toddler at nursery is the biggest risk with bringing back germs.

I have a dog I love dearly and he's so lovely with my toddler, they really love each other. My friends with toddlers with cats have the same situation. It's healthy for children to be brought up with pets - better immunity etc

Just because you've only seen one or two fleas doesn't mean your house isn't infested.

OP, if you'd prefer to re-home, just do it. Don't let anyone on here make you feel guilty about it. You're having your 1st baby, that's enough to be mentally and physically dealing with.

Totally this! It's ridiculous!

I agree but re-home properly not advertising free to a good home or selling on where you don't know what's going to happen to the poor animal.

From your posts it looks like you’ve already made up your mind to re-home him. Just please make sure he goes somewhere reputable.

But from reading the posts don't you think the OP should approach the midwives for help with mental health and anxiety? The post is extreme, with the hours spent worrying and fixating and the state she is getting herself into. It doesn't sound at all healthy. And similar to a couple of my friends who did end up with post natal anxiety and depression, and needed CBT and medication for that.

I think if you knee jerk rehome you'll regret the decision, especially when you're feeling more rational and yourself. Maybe try to get some general CBT if you're able.

I don't think your reasons warrant rehoming the cat if I'm honest. You don't have to comb your cat every time they come in from outside for fleas. Bravecto is very effective but it's not just going to magically solve the problem overnight. As others have said if you have only treat your cat and not your house then you will see fleas in the environment.. because of the life cycle of the flea it may be a while until they're gone completely. I definitely recommend indorex as well - it worked for me years ago when we had a terrible infestation! It's so important you do something like this in the house or you are fighting a losing battle. You can spray the house and then go out for the afternoon, leaving it ventilated.

I know a PP said we treat animals like humans when they're not.. but in my opinion our pets are part of the family. When you take on an animal, you take on the responsibility of caring for them. The only valid reason I see for rehoming is if the child has severe allergies or there's any aggression there.

But only you can make the decision.

Which at the moment will take some work as most of the cat rehoming charities have waiting lists to take in.