Am I mad to get a kitten when pregnant?

[Jane7]

Next door's cat has kittens and we've been offered one and I'm dead keen, but should I be cautious. Has anyone else looked after a kitten during pregnancy?
I'm nearly 17 weeks and we'll be getting the kitten when I'm 21 weeks.
I'll get my DH to deal with the litter...

Thanks in advance for advice.

Don't do it. Reall;y don't do it. The last thing you will want is something ELSE waking you up and demanding to be fed!

Depends how much you want it and how much your DH will take on associated chores. We got a kitten and a puppy when I was 5 months pregnant, and then a second puppy when DS was almost 1 year old.

DH was very keen on the dogs, I'd always had cats, and you have to get them young together to stand the best chance of getting on. We had 2 older DDs so went for it as decided it was easier to train the first puppy and the kitten whilst there wasn't a baby around.

Having said that, DH and the DDs fed, and sorted out the inevitable mess, as I declared it a no-no.

It's worked out really well, although it's now a bit of a madhouse, and the cat is into catching baby rabbits and beheading them at the moment!

On the subject of cats waking you up, am I the only cat owner who shuts her cat downstairs at night?

She can get into the house through a cat flap, sleep on the sofa etc but no way I would let her come upstairs and wake me up!

I've got two kittens (8 months, so getting big now) and I would completely support the idea of getting two rather than one as they play together. Mine are housecats, due to stupid road being much busier outside our house than I realised when we moved, so they have a litter tray, which I have nominated as DHs responsibility. Given that they are indoors, I've never had to deal with presents and accidents are really rare and of the sicky variety as both of them were trained to use a tray at 8 weeks when I got them.

I'm not a fussy person with my cats (and I think that came from when I had DD which did change my attitude towards the cat I had then). But, I absolutely love having them around. I'm getting quite stressed at times, so it's nice to sit with them (when I can pin them down long enough - they're very much daddy's boys!).

They are an extra responsibility, but if you are a cat person - like me, you grew up around them - then it is lovely to have them around. But get two, keep them out of any bedrooms at night where the baby will sleep, and make sure DH is willing to do the clearing up.

I hope this helps

P.s. It also gets expensive at times - I nearly passed out when told how much the cattery charges for when I go on holiday; plus neutering, chipping, injections and getting all the equipment quickly adds up - this is one thing that I will find more difficult when I have the baby.

Icecube - we keep our cat downstairs at night - I wasn't prepared to take the risk with the baby upstairs. Dogs are also kept downstairs, although they do occasionally sneak up for 10 mins on a Sunday morning when we're reading the papers.

Hi Im really freaking out iv just found out I'm pregnant the rest did 1 to 2 week pregnant Iv got a 6 month old cat and I got a kitten a week before I got pregnant I had no idea o was pregnant im really scared and worried about the diese toxoplasmosis that I'm going to catch it or got it my cats are indoor cats my first app is on the 13 of June 2019 and couldn't get a earlier app please could someone help

@Oliviab1992 this is an 11 year old post. Even so I have two indoor cats. Just don't touch their bums or clean out their litter and you'll be fine. there is literally no need to panic at all.

Sorry I didn’t no how to do a thread as I’m new on this I did change the litter before I find out I was pregnant as I didn’t no but going off the test I would of only been a week I always wash my hands after changing but my partner is going to do that from now on have you been pregnant with a cat is it ok to pet them I’v never been through this before so for the long post

You are fine to pet cats. It's just best to get someone else to do their litter.

Having said this we have pet snakes who have a risk of salmonella. Due to their size it's a 2 'man' job but I just wear gloves and wash my hands very well.

There is no need for panic at all.

@Oliviab1992 also aswell as it being quite rare, it's also pretty impossible for indoor cats to get it in the first place (they catch it off prey)

@coral13 I'm 8 weeks pregnant and it's fine to pet them just stay away from their bum. Honestly the risk isn't as bad as it used to be made out to be. My doctor just said no touching their bum or their litter and it'll be fine.

Sorry meant for @Oliviab1992

Thank you @daisymay25 much appreciated xx

Thank you at @coral13

Kittens keep you up all night. You'd be finally trying to get to sleep in between looking after the baby and it would be waking you up! Nope. Nope. Nope. Get settled with your baby first.

Oh just seen this is an old zombie thread 🤦🏼‍♀️