Many "Old Wives" tales still exist about cats, pregnancy and babies. There are those who will tell you once you are
pregnant that you should "get rid" of your cat. Cat shelters often take in cats cast out when the owner is expecting a first
baby or because the cat scratched the baby and is therefore "jealous and vicious". Many other couples or expectant
mums have had their pet cat(s) for many years before starting a family, but reject the cat once the baby is due. You
usually prepare for the birth of a baby once the pregnancy is confirmed; you should extend this preparation to your cat.
By getting the cat ready for the event several months in advance, your baby can enjoy growing up with animals.
Exposure to animals early on helps children to respect them and may even improve the immune system.
During my pregnancies it was suggested by several well meaning (but uneducated) people that with a baby on the way
we would have to get rid of the cats. People still believe the old wives tales about babies being smothered by cats. From
research I did on the internet I found out that this is in fact totally untrue. There are cases of parents accidentally
smothering their baby, but there are no reported cases of cats doing this (either on purpose or by accident). What has
been suggested is that some babies die of SIDS & it so happens that the cat is found in the crib with the dead child. This
is merely a coincidence. The cat was NOT the cause of the child's death.
However, it is wise to take some precautions. You can purchase a net to put over the crib so the cat can't sleep with the
baby. Another good suggestion is to replace the door to the baby's nursery with a screen door. This enables the cat to
see & smell the baby & not feel entirely left out, but it can't get into the bedroom.
Another urban legend is that cat's suck the baby's breath. Again, untrue. If a cat is found close to the baby's head it's
more likely due to the cat seeking some warmth. If the above suggestions are followed, this won't happen.
Make sure litter trays & food bowls are kept in an area the baby can't access, this is especially important when the child
starts crawling. A safety gate is recommended to prevent your child getting close to the litter tray.
Ensure your cat is regularly de-flead & de-wormed. Make sure the products you use on your cat are safe to use around
the baby. If you are worried about your cat scratching your baby, (which is highly unlikely), you can either regularly trim
your cat's claws (see trimming cat's claws), or use Soft Paws, which are plastic caps you glue over your cat's claws.
They are also a much kinder alternative to declawing.
Personally, I was more concerned about what my child might do to a cat. Certainly with the majority of my cats I believe
they would be scared of a baby and all the sounds that come from them. They have little interaction with small children,
choosing to vacate the premises when a child is visiting. It is unfair to offload what was once a family pet & valued
member of the family just because a baby is on the way. In my opinion pets can offer children so much. I wouldn't
encourage a young child to pick up a cat. Teach the child what is acceptable behaviour, for example how to gently pet
the cat. Ears, eyes, whiskers & the tail should not be pulled. Teach your child that the cat is a member of the family who
has feelings too, and it should be treated with kindness & respect.
Cats harbour disease
Well yes, cats sometimes do harbour disease but there are very few diseases of the cat that are zoonotic (transmissible
from cat to human). It is fairly rare to pick up a disease from a cat, personally I believe you (or your baby) are far more
likely to catch a disease from a human than a cat. It is recommended that you take your cat to the vet for a thorough
check up before your baby is born. Have the vet worm your cat & check it for Ringworm. Ensure you stick to a regular
worming & de-fleaing regime. Keeping your cat indoors and away from roaming cats is your safest way to keep your cat
disease & parasite free.
Toxoplasmosis: Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma Gondii. Many animals can get
Toxoplasmosis including sheep, cattle & pigs. Cats shed the parasitic cysts in their faeces & which then infect humans &
other animals. In healthy adults, Toxoplasmosis usually causes only mild symptoms. If a woman becomes infected during
her pregnancy it can have devastating affects on the unborn fetus. If you own a cat & are pregnant it is advisable to ask
your doctor to do a blood test to see if you have antibodies to Toxoplasmosis, which would indicate a past exposure to
the parasite. If you have been infected in the past, there is little to no risk of you passing it on to your unborn baby. If
you haven't had prior exposure it is advisable to have your partner clean litter trays during your pregnancy. If this is not
possible, use rubber gloves & try to avoid inhaling any dust from litter trays, it is advisable to wear a mask. It takes
between 24-48 hours for the cysts to become infective, so daily cleaning of the litter tray will almost entirely eliminate the
risk of infection. It is perfectly safe for pregnant women to co-exist with their family cat as long as these precautions are
taken.
Humans can also become infected by handling (and eating) raw or undercooked meat & vegetables. Ensure your meat
is thoroughly cooked & that you wash your hands & utensils after handling meat. There is a greater risk of you
becoming infected with Toxoplasmosis from raw & undercooked meat than there is from your cat, if kept indoors.
Ringworm: This is caused by a fungi, not a worm. It is more a nuisance than a danger. It can sometimes be hard to
eliminate from the environment, however with stringent cleaning & the use of anti-fungal creams it is can be cleared up.
Again, if your cat is indoors and has had the all clear from your vet, there is little chance of you or your baby catching
this.
Rabies: Rabies isn't a problem in Australia. Most (if not all) cats in countries with Rabies regularly vaccinate their
cats, it is very rare for a cat to catch Rabies.
Cat Scratch Disease: This is caused by a bacteria called Bartonella henselae. This is rarely a problem in people
with a healthy immune system, it is most often seen in immunocompromised people. Antibiotic treatment of you & your
cat usually clears up this infection.
Salmonella: Caused by a bacteria of the Salmonella genus. This is most commonly acquired via oral ingestion.
Cats are most likely to become infected after eating birds. As almost all pedigree cats are valued inside only family
members this is unlikely to happen.
If you still have any doubts about raising a baby with a cat in the house I would recommend you speak to both your vet &
your doctor who will be able to put your mind at ease.
I have been a cat breeder during three pregnancies, with my eldest now 21 years old. During my first pregnancy I spoke
to several mothers who all assured me they had quite safely managed to raise cats & kids together & had no problems
whatsoever. The people who warn you that cats & babies can't co-exist are always people who haven't actually
researched this matter. They just repeat urban legends.