Cat, baby, hygiene etc

[CatandBaby]

Does anyone have tips for how to deal with a cat and a rapidly-becoming-more-mobile baby? Dd is 5 months. So far she does all her tummy time upstairs in what once was the study - we can keep the door shut and the cat out. Soon though she'll need a bigger play mat in the living room and of course she'll soon start crawling (I can't quite believe time had moved so fast ). Due to the lay out of the house the cat can't be kept out of the living room.. I guess we'll put away the play mat when she's not using it but the cat is bound to sit on it at some point.. is wiping it down once a day enough? do we need to mop the floor every day too? Sorry if these are silly questions (first time mum). Any other tips for dealing with cats & babies also appreciated. Thanks!

Cats on play mats etc wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2188610-the-more-pets-you-meet-as-a-baby-the-lower-your-risk-of-allergies/
Over the next 6 months your baby will put a lot of things in their mouth, in the nicest way I think cat hair will be the least of your worries

Tend to agree with other posters - really no need to worry too much. That's also a very interesting New Scientist article.

My only red line when our two children were little was keeping them away from the litter tray.

I’d be more concerned about providing the cat with a high up tower so they can escape grabby little hands. Babies are strong little things.

I mop the kitchen floor daily anyway but I’ve got a spray mop and it takes seconds.

Thanks all, that's reassuring, and an interesting article..
@Fluffycloudland77 - don't worry he has a cat tree and access to the bedrooms so plenty of places to retreat to when it all gets too much

There will be so many things that the cat will touch before the baby, stairs, chairs, sofas, cushions etc etc that unless you clingfilm one or both of them ( not recommended) they will be sharing germs.

Once your baby is more mobile you will have more hazards to watch out for than the cat so save your energy and enjoy them both.

I definitely wouldn't be worried about her being on the mat after the cat has sat on it. It'll be good for immune system!

I thought you were going to say you were worried about her getting to the cat litter tray ir food. My oldest ended up with fistfuls of cat food and litter the odd time