Cat ladies..

[AquaDementia]

I know there are several cat ladies on the board.
Just wondering how you plan on integrating the baby into your cat's life? Because afterall, our cats are our babies right now.

I am also getting my kitty's vaccines up to date next week, just to be on the safe side before the baby is born.

 

[Vickie]

I'm very interested in the responses to this question. We have two cats ourselves, one of which is very very spoiled (tends to think she's a baby herself ). Our cats are due another set of vaccines in May and we were going to speak to the vet than about the best way to introduce them to the baby and make them comfortable with having a baby in the house (neither are used to having children around!)

 

[Samantha675]

Here is a great article from the Humane Society about introducing your baby to your pet.

https://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/introducing_your_pet_and_new_baby.html

 

[Jenny]

When my son was born all I did was introduce them to him and they basically left him alone. They weren't upset or anything, didn't show any behavior changes at all. I had more trouble teaching Drake to not be rough with them though but he's finally learned to be gentle and not pull on their tails and they get along just fine now.

 

[DoobyJu]

How important is it that cats have regular vaccinations if they will be around babies??

My mother in law has 6 cats and we will be taking baby round on a regular basis.

None of her cats have ever been vaccinated (although only one of them has ever been poorly) and they range from 2 year sold to 15 years old.

She also has a not so nice dog which I am a little concerned about but that story is for another day!!

 

[Tam]

My cats were very curious at first, but it took no time at all for them to adapt and completely ignore Alfie.

I never kept them away, as I thought that would be a horrible thing to do and not help this situation of having a baby and cats, but I did ban them from all bedrooms and obviously they are not aloud on any of Alfie's clothes, blankets, or on the pram etc......they are as good as gold with him now, they will sit near and let him roll around and pull them about (they are very laid back, but I do obviously step in), although Alfie is very gentle to be fair.

We now have another 12 week old kitten (one of my Cats babies) and at times he is stuck like glue to Alfie, if Alfie is on one side of the room, so is he, if Alfie is on the sofa, so is he......it is really sweet actually.

I never had any problems when I had Jade either, as again I had a lovely cat who adapted very well, as long as you still give them attention (after which I always washed my hands) then they seem fine in my experience! x

 

[Tilly]

I don't live with my cats now (they're at my mums) but I really miss my little cat, she was my baby! :'( now shes mad with me for getting a new baby but she was very curious at first too, now she just ignores Bethanie or goes up for a quick sniff. Best to introduce them slowly and obviously be a bit careful, don't leave them alone as cats like the milk and can suffocate them. They should get on fine, until your baby is older and wants to play games with your cats tail!

 

[Moonpieash]

I have to get rid of my cats! I'm devistated. My Aunt was telling me horror stories about cats smothering babies and being atracted to the smell of milk and so on. I wouldn't be able to relax knowing my cats may be near the baby at any point. They also love to cuddle and sleep at my head and feet and I don't want them doing the same to my baby. I guess it's a big sacrifice.

 

[AquaDementia]

My cat absolutely hates milk, so I guess I have no worries on that front.

 

[Tam]

I have to get rid of my cats! I'm devistated. My Aunt was telling me horror stories about cats smothering babies and being atracted to the smell of milk and so on. I wouldn't be able to relax knowing my cats may be near the baby at any point. They also love to cuddle and sleep at my head and feet and I don't want them doing the same to my baby. I guess it's a big sacrifice.

If you don't leave them in the same room on thier own together then there wont be a problem, it is all about common sense. My cats were banned from my bedroom and every other bedroom whilst I was pregnant so they got used to it before Alfie arrived, and I never left my cats wondering around in the same room on their own whilst Alfie was about, there was always someone in the room with him. And the cats were not obsessed enough to get close enough to smell milk, they ran as soon as he moved. And as for sleeping why would a cat be a problem if you don't have them in your or your babies bedroom, and if downstairs, shut the cat outside the frontroom whilst they sleep. I have a 2yr old and a 1yr old who I look after and Alfie, and at the mo they are all having a nap in the lounge where I am, all of the cats are locked outside of this room......whether the babies are 1 day, wk, month or a year old, how are they going to be smothered, if the cats aren't in here?

I have heard horror stories too, but I also know about chinese whispers and exaggerations.

It is about rational thinking and common sense, that's all! If I had to, I would get rid of my cats in a second to protect my baby, but it really is not an issue.

Think hard before you decide to get rid hun, but ofcourse if it really worries you, then that is the right decision for you x

 

[Tam]

My cat absolutely hates milk, so I guess I have no worries on that front.

well that's handy!

 

[Linzi]

My cat lives with my mam and dad, hes very clingy with me though (because Im the only one who'll give him attention) so I dont know how he'll react. He was around when my little brother was born and all he did was wander over and sniff him occasionally, so Im sure he'll be fine

xxx

 

[Samantha675]

Google cats smother baby and it is all about it being an urban legend.

https://www.sthuberts.org/petpouri/articles/catmeetsbaby.asp

https://petcaretips.net/cat-litter-pregnancy-babies.html

As long as you use common sense and make sure the cat does not have access to the crib, it won't be a problem. Really there is a much greater chance of a baby being smothered by ANY soft bedding in the crib and even more so with co-sleeping.

 

[nikkybaby]

I actually got my kitten to get my dog used to the idea of not being the only one (she is very spoiled). I am not worried at all. Like tam said, its all about common sense

 

[Tezzy]

our cat Aber we got when rhys was 6 weeks old, hes never been that interested in rhys, never went in his moses basket and has never been in his cot. we never tried to keep him away though. hes great with rhys now and puts up with any amount of hair pulling and tail biting

 

[PitBullMommy]

I have 6 cats and I'm not worried at all. I am putting softpaws (www.softpaws.com) on them, just to be on the safe side, but that is more DH worrying. We are getting a crib tent (https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404625) to keep them out of the crib, since they've already claimed it as theirs. None of my cats have shots. They had their first set when they were kittens, but since they are all indoor ONLY cats, they aren't UTD on them. We plan to bring the baby home and let the cats smell them and go on our merry way. The less of a big deal you make about it, the less of a big deal it will be. Try bringing home a blanket or cap that the baby wears at the hospital before the baby comes home (obviously Daddy will have to do this) so they can get used to the smell. Set up the nursery before hand so they can get used to the furnishings and such. Have friends bring over their babies, etc. Good luck everyone!

 

[beanie]

Google cats smother baby and it is all about it being an urban legend.

yep, the majority of cats don't even like milk but prefer water. They might get attracted by the warmth of baby but to actually smother them is rare. Like Tam said its common sense.

even more so with co-sleeping.

this is a myth too, if done correctly there is no evidence to suggest co-sleeping is more dangerous

 

[Tilly]

My cat has always tried to jump in Bethanie's cot at my mums. As long as you're careful and check they're not in the room with your baby, you should be fine (we used to check and double check the room before closing the bedroom door).

 

[Samantha675]

yep, the majority of cats don't even like milk but prefer water. They might get attracted by the warmth of baby but to actually smother them is rare. Like Tam said its common sense.


this is a myth too, if done correctly there is no evidence to suggest co-sleeping is more dangerous

I just meant that I have heard of co-sleeping deaths, where as I have never heard of a cat smothering a baby.

 

[PitBullMommy]

DH and I were thinking of installing a screen door on the nursery, so we could hear and see in, but critters couldn't get in...