Cat nets

[2catsand1rabbit]

Hi, didn't know where the post this but I have 2 cats, one who loves snuggling up to people (prob warm babies too).

Has anyone used a cat net? They don't look tough enough as if they'd keep my cats off the baby.

Also, does anyone have any tips on keeping the cats away? Should I put the baby to sleep in the moses basket in a bedroom with the door shut and buy a baby monitor?

[prettybird]

I might have the one that I never used still kicking around somewhere. If I can find it, I'll CAT you (the acronym somehow seeks extra appropriate! )

[Andlou]

Our two siamese are generally shut in the kitchen overnight (unless we've been out all day and they've missed out on the normal attention!) so they won't be able to disturb the baby at night. It's just day-time naps I'm worried about - there are too many people who seem to have experienced it to take a risk. Anyone out there still trying to off-load their cat net?

Then that would just leave us with the problem of toy theft - one of ours keeps stealing cuddly toys (and food) from the neighbours' children and bringing them in to us like dead mice! It's going to be a struggle to teach him to lay off our own toys

[prettybird]

I owuld agree with shutting the door at night. Much as we love the fact that the cats sleep with us, we didn't let them while ds was a newborn.

[mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime]

My Uncle almost died as a baby from a cat sitting on his face. So it is not far fetched.
All cats are different. Some run a mile from babies (like our cat!)but some like to snuggle in beds and moses baskets, prams. Only advice I can say is to go with your gut instinct! Shut babies door at night.

[prettybird]

The cats I refer to are Siamese. Like yours, they are very good at getting themsleves under covers (never put their claws out except the wee half claw that is used on your bare shoulder to insist that you lift the covers and make it easy for them! )

I ended up never using the cat net as the cats showed no interest in beign anywhere near ds. We did keep them out of our room at night while ds was sleeping in there with us - even though he was in the cot beside us.

I even used to out ds to sleep underneath his baby gym and the cats still wouldn't go near him. However, we didn't have current even more snuggly cat at the time.

I suggest yuo watch them and see how they react and then decide whether you need a cat net. They work by going over the top of the whole cot - so even a determined Siamese might have problems: he/she would have to somehow get under the elastic top and still jump up into the cot. (But come to think of it.onve of ours used to go to sleep in the undereneath of one of the cats cradel things that hang on a radiator)

[Andlou]

My baby is due a month today and we have two siamese cats, about a year old. I've always lived with cats (three when I was little) so I'm not too worried (in fact a bit worried they will be freaked out by the baby and leave home!) but DH didn't grow up with cats and is worried that they will want to sleep in the moses basket with her. But they are very snuggly cats and like to sleep in our bed and will go to some lengths to pull back the covers - how do cat nets work? Will they be strong enough to keep a determined siamese out? Also they don't seem to say what size they are

[harpomarx]

joeymac - you ebayed the cats????!!!

[thomasina1]

Me too - we've had our cat for 6 years and when I was tested a few months ago I didn't have the antibodies for toxoplasmosis hence our cat probably doesn't carry it. But I am still using this as an excuse to get DH to change the litter!

I have got a net from a friend and plan to use it on the moses basket/pram when baby isn't in it. I think he is likely to scarper when baby is around given his behaviour around my niece!

[LackaDAISYcal]

that's interesting spicemonster. I had both myself and my cat tested when I was pregnant with my DS (lol talk about pfb syndrome, but I lived alone with her in a flat so not cleaning the litter tray wasn't an option) and I had managed to get to the age of 33 without getting it, inspite of living amongst cats and other animals all my life. the cat who was a stray with dubious heritage was clear as well. Vet said it isn't all that common in the UK cat population.

[Joeymac]

I bought cot and pram nets but total waste of money as cats both went totally weird when first baby came so later ebayed them.

The cat that always followed me everywhere stopped speaking to me and almost had a breakdown for about 6 weeks and then she came around and started trying to get back on my knee whilst I was feeding etc. They didn't go anywhere near him when he was sleeping although I never risked it and always closed doors behind me as I never totally trusted them as they did like to sleep in empty car seats and buggies when he wasn't about.

What was weird was the other one who went for any stranger who tried to touch her never ever went to swipe him however much he tried to stroke her - she would just quickly run away - it's like she instinctively knew he was my baby and totally respected that so I never worried that they would go for him.

[spicemonster]

Most people with cats have already had toxo - it's generally only people who have never had a cat in the past who are at risk. (This was explained to me by a French GP where they do toxo testing in pregnancy as a matter of course).

I changed cat litter throughout my pregnancy but wore gloves and washed my hands after to be on the safe side and had no problems.

I also have a cat net (boxed) going spare if anyone wants it. Like most others, my cats scarper when the baby goes anywhere near them!

[LackaDAISYcal]

not touching cat's litter boxes is to do with the fact that cats can be carriers of toxoplasmosis, rather than dubious fumes given off by the litter . same reason you should use gloves for gardening as toxo can be in the soil.

[mrsboogie]

it's true about the cat litter - I think you are supposed to avoid it for months before even getting pregnant also. I have always used this as an excuse never to touch ours

[LackaDAISYcal]

you've already had the advice, but just thought I'd add my tuppence worth.

We have had cats all my life and I can quite honestly say I've never met a cat that actually wanted to snuggle up with the baby, although my cat used to lie full length on the pillow when I was first BFing DS! sure they have all been interested in cots or moses baskets and prams as somwehere to sleep, but they always,, ime give the baby themself a very wide berth. The whole "smell the milk and suffocate the baby" is an old wives tale.

Getting the cat used to not being allowed upstairs before the baby arrives might be useful as well.

[pollyblue]

I have 5 cats and got a cat net when dd was born. Bought her home from the hospital and didn't see the cats for dust! And mine all are very lazy lap-cats, given half the chance. One puss would curl up in the (empty) cat seat if he could, but they all instinctively kept away from dd. We've got a door at the bottom of our stairs so can stop the cats going up to the bedrooms, but when dd was in her moses basket downstairs none of them came near her.

star6 is right about not handling at litter in pregnancy (that's what our DHs are for! ). But over all, research shows that children who grow up in households with pets tend to have stronger resistance to allergies etc. So there are pros and cons.

[star6]

I am 32 weeks and I want a cat but dh says no way because cats smother babies in their sleep. He showed me a few articles of instances of this happening and that scared me enough. I'm sure they are very wary and scared of babies, but I'm not willing to take any chances if it is a possibility.
Also you shouldn't be really near cat litter in pregnancy (breathing in the fumes from it if you live in a small space or wherever litter is stored and definitely shouldn't handle it - this advice I've heard from many).

[Ate]

It isn't a myth!!

Both of my cats have curled up on top of two of my three children when babies. The first was several years ago, the second incident happened a few months ago, when DD3 was 8 weeks old. In the process he also gave her a tic (despite regular tic/flea treatments).

The cat responsible second time round now lives elsewhere, he's a slow learner (drinks from the loo despite years of remonstration!) and I couldn't take the risk.

On both occasions I had left the room for seconds before returning (thankfully) and in that time they had made themselves comfortable on top of sleeping babies.

It obviously isn't the case that all cats behave in this way! Some will though and there is a potential risk. In the case of my (now rehomed) cat, a net would have been little or no deterrent. He could open the hefty patio doors with one paw when so inclined! Cordoning wouldn't have been an option as the other one (cat) can open any door with a handle (rather than a knob), which all of mine have.

[SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore]

my cat wasnt afraid of dd1 untill she learned to crawl but equally had no interest in jumping into her cot with her. it did like to try and 'clean' her while i was feeding her or cuddling her. one of my cats would rest on the end of her pram where she could see him, but never ever actually in the pram or on the baby.

after dd1 learned to crawl and grab they stayed well away. and with dd2 they have learned that baby's like to pull tails. they do like sitting under the high chair though.

i never used my cat net. ever. despite mils protests after dd2. there was just no need to

[penona]

I am with harpo, the biggest problem with our cats and babies is keeping the cats out of the cot/pram/highchair when the babies aren't in them. They don't seem terribly interested in the babies in bed.
We did use a cat net but it was a total nightmare, and the cat sat on it until it sunk onto the bed anyway. Shut door is the best method!

Oh and our two cats have always been very intrigued by the DTs and love to play with them. When they cry in the night one of the cats will sit outside the door until I go in!! (And if they cry in the day will also go and sit near them and rub their heads etc. V cute)

[harpomarx]

useful to keep cat out of pram when baby not in it, ime. That's about it.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Cat nets are pants. Not only do they not work, you spend a dogs age trying to get the blood things off because the baby is crying. If the cat jumped on the net, it sags so not only does the baby get a cat on the head but a bloody great netty thing too.

The cat will be terrified of your little one believe me.

[thomasina1]

I think we are going for the shut door approach but thought we would start trying this a good few weeks before the birth... the idea being that then the cat won't associate this with the arrival of the baby. Who knows if it will work though!

[FruitynNutty]

MY friend said to me today when I announced my pregnancy "What are you going to do with the cat?" I just looked at her with my mouth wide open and said "What do you think I'm going to do? get rid of our beloved pet? Are you mad?"
Some people are so neurotic, I don't mean you 2cats I mean my friend!. There was probably one story of a cat sitting on a baby's head and it's been blown out of proportion. Of course the cat will be wary of the baby. If worried, close the door or use a cat net if it will put your mind a rest

[2catsand1rabbit]

Ok, think I'll save my money. A shut door and baby monitor seems effective!

[prettybird]

Said cat is however, brilliant with ds who is now (just about) 8.