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Cats and Babies

There is no reason whatsoever why you need to get rid of your feline friend if you are become pregnant or if you have babies or small children.

There are many myths out there about cats and babies and the number one myth might be cats sucking the breath out of babies. Cats and kittens DO NOT suck the breath from babies. Cats may approach babies and sniff them, they may even lick them but they don't suck the breath from them.

Common sense is the best attitude when dealing with babies. Babies and young children should not be left unsupervised with any pet. No matter how improbable, unlikely scenarios can always happen.

Cats and babies have lived in harmony for thousands of years. Why should your cat and your baby be any different?

Many young couples own a cat long before they start a family and it must be emphasised that their responsibilities towards the kitten they provided with a home do not disappear just because a baby is about to arrive.

Introducing a new baby into a household where one or more cats have lived in peace and contentment means that life is going to change for everybody, including the cats.

Fears of jealousy, scratching or the transference of disease produce doubts about keeping a pet, but it doesn't have to be this way. How your cat will welcome a newcomer into his home will depend on the sort of cat you have and the way your attitude towards him changes.

During the early days with your new baby, you may even find your cat a great comfort to you. Later on he might prove to be an unexpected help when it comes to amusing and interesting your growing child.

Your growing child will have the benefit of learning from you how to treat your cat - with love, respect and gentleness, and this is a vital lesson for the rest of his life. Your cat will be very grateful to you for not ousting him from his home, but allowing him to share your new joy and your new baby.

Before the baby arrives

* Ignore the scare stories that some people will enjoy telling you - disasters they have heard about are only noteworthy because they are so rare.

* As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, get all the information you can from your doctor and health visitor about any risks to your unborn baby from organisms known to be carried by cats and take any precautions advised by them.

* Do your part by making sure your cat is in good health. Have him examined by your vet. Be meticulous about grooming, de-worming, de-fleaing and keep booster vaccinations up to date.

* If you have neglected to have your cat neutered, take him to the vet without delay. Not only does a neutered cat make a better pet, you avoid any additional risks of disease being brought home by a wandering un-neutered cat.

* With at least 6 months to prepare, start a new cat routine - if you need to - so that it will have become familiar to him, and to you, long before your baby arrives.

* As you introduce large items of baby equipment and nursery furniture into the house, let your cat investigate and sniff them, but do not allow him to get inside the cot, pram or bath. Make it clear to him the inside such items is expressly forbidden and do this well before your tiny baby is born.

* Provide yourself with a cot and/or pram net - but remember when it comes to using it that it must be kept taught or it will become an inviting hammock for a sleeping cat. Fit a net to the pram when the hood is up so that no marauding cat can get nearer than the apron.

Popular myths and misconceptions about cats and babies:

One popular myth is that cats smother babies. No cat will intentionally set out to harm any baby and most cats will want absolutely nothing to do with a baby. However, there is a possible - but slight - risk that a cat will want to sleep where a baby is because all cats like to sleep where they will be warm and cosy. A baby (tucked-up in soft, warm blankets) may seem to be an attractive sleeping companion. By making sure that the cat cannot jump into a cot or pram you will be eliminating this risk.

Another myth is that cats cause asthma. Cats are not the cause of asthma, however, cat hair - or rather the minute particles on the cat's fur and skin - can be allergens. Contact between cat and child will not cause the child to develop asthma, but if the child is asthmatic (or allergic), contact with these allergens may trigger a reaction.

There is plenty of medical evidence that early contact with common allergens, such as cat hair, can actually protect a child from developing allergies and asthma. Therefore, you could be doing your child a disservice by getting rid of your cat.

New routines

* If your cat has had free access to all parts of your house, start putting the area you intend to use as a nursery out of bounds, so that he learns to keep away long before the baby arrives. Beware the overcurious, determined cat who would scratch at a closed door to get in.

* Reduce the amount of time you spend petting your cat, especially if he has become used to the permanent occupancy of your lap. You won't have the time after the baby arrives to give your cat the attention he may be used to.

* Wear protective gloves and possibly a plastic apron when dealing with litter trays and remember to wash your hands carefully afterwards. Alternatively, ask someone to clean the tray for you.

* Get into the habit of cleaning away any uneaten cat food left lying about. It will attract flies and, later on, toddlers. Select a place for your cat's food and water bowls that is as far away as possible from the areas you intend using for preparing the baby's food. This also applies to your cat's litter tray.

Cats like routine and they don't like change. So, by establishing new routines well before the baby arrives, your cat should have less disruption to cope with once the baby is in the house.

After the happy event

It's never too early to learn about cats and it is important to achieve a growing confidence with animals, based on respect, kindness, love and understanding. This is the foundation for a true and lasting friendship between your child and your pet.

Your baby will be about 3 months old before he really notices the cat. However, the cat will have noticed your baby from the day you arrived with him. Your cat will be aware that there is an unfamiliar being in the house. Of course he's going to be curious about the newcomer, so don't panic when he sniffs the baby, or when he hangs around the pram as if on guard.

Not all cats are baby-lovers, however, so don't be offended if your cat takes himself off and seems less enchanted with your new son or daughter than you are. The cat will be very wary of the newcomer until he has got used to the situation.

A few dos and don'ts

Keep the nursery door closed when the baby is sleeping in his cot and, just before closing the door, check that there isn't a cat hiding under the bed or behind a cupboard. Similarly, make sure that any open window is cat-proof. You may trust your own cat but an open window is an invitation to a strange cat passing by. Having sealed off the nursery, rely on a baby alarm system to know when the baby cries.

Keep all the baby's feeding utensils out of the reach of a wandering cat by using a covered sterilising unit. Wipe up immediately any spilt milk or baby food so that the cat is not tempted to do it for you.

Keep baby and cat foods well separated and keep all animal medicines, flea powders, etc separate from medicines intended for the human members of the family. Bottles and packets are sometimes remarkably similar and mistakes have been known to happen.

Set aside part of each day to make a fuss of the cat. Allow for the fact that you are going to be busier and, at times, irritable. It is too easy to take it all out on the cat when you've had a trying time, or to neglect him altogether.

Try to keep calm when things get on top of you. Remember that when you get overtired, anxious and easily upset, both baby and cat will react by becoming tense and upset themselves.

Don't leave a new-born baby alone with a cat. . . not even one you've known and trusted for years.

Don't suddenly make your cat feel that he has lost your love. Your partner can help by paying greater attention to the cat while you are busy with the baby.

Don't forget that some cats are attracted to wool - and eat it! They might be particularly attracted to shawls and blankets.

The toddler stage

From their earliest days, children should be taught to be gentle and kind with animals and to recognise them as being different from the cuddly toys they are allowed to chew, squeeze and throw out of the pram.

Babies learn by example. If you treat your cat with love, respect and gentleness, it is more likely that your children will grow up to do the same.

As soon as your baby can understand, point out that cats become frightened when he shouts, makes sudden movements or grasps at ears or tail.

Cats become particularly frightened if cornered and it is a kindness to provide them with easy escape routes or a safe haven where the cat can take refuge once your baby starts to crawl. High windowsills and cupboard tops enable your pet to be part of the scene, but feel safer.

Most cats will put up with a certain amount of "loving" and pulling about. They will usually try to run away if they have had enough. It is important, however, to teach a child not to touch a cat that is sleeping or eating - and, of course, that tail pulling is not allowed.

Later on, you can progress to teaching you toddler cat language so that he can interpret for himself the swishing tail, ruffled fur, purring, hissing and rubbing against the legs. Continue to be careful about hygiene. Once your baby starts to crawl, it is even more important to put the cat's food bowl where he can find it but the baby can't - after all, you wouldn't want your baby eating Whiskas. Similarly, keep the baby's plates and dishes out of the way of an inquisitive cat.

Keep litter trays out of reach of a toddler and keep the potty in the lavatory where the cat is less likely to find it and be attracted.

Teach your toddler to wash his hands after playing with the cat and before eating. Pretty soon it will all become part of normal training.

When junior reaches the toddler stage, you need to keep cat food and litter well out of reach. Make sure that Puss can get to his food, but junior can't reach it. If junior does manage to sample Whiskas don't panic, just make sure the food bowl is placed well out of reach next time. As toddlers, Claire and Emily both tried Whiskas and were none-the-worse for the experience - it's the parents who suffer most.

Children and cat litter trays do not mix. If you can put the tray in a room or closet accessed by a cat flap, this is ideal. Likewise, make sure the potty is out of the cat's reach as even a desexed cat (male or female) may attempt to spray it to cover your baby's scent.

Once your baby becomes aware of the cat, start teaching him how to interact gently with it e.g. not pull the cat about, grab its tail or disturb a sleeping cat. Provide Puss with a refuge on a bookshelf or windowsill. Most cats retreat to a safe place rather than scratch or bite their owner's boisterous 'kitten'. Teach junior how to interpret cat-talk (this can be great fun); hissing or tail swishing means 'leave me alone', but purring and head butting means "carry on, I like this". As long as junior learns to respect Puss and not to pester him, they should get along just fine. Make sure junior learns to wash hands before mealtimes.

For every several hundred people who have raised cats and babies side-by-side, or who have grown up with cats, there will be one person who claims horror stories.

The cats want to sniff the new arrival to establish who s/he is. Cats' have scent glands around their cheeks so they may try to sniff the baby's face. Having satisfied their curiosity they are not attacking him, nor are they trying to lie on the child's face! If possible, let the cat(s) satisfy their curiosity - that way they will pay much less attention to the baby in future. Some cats even try to clean spilt milk/vomit from the baby's face - either attracted to the milk or treating your baby as an over-sized kitten.

Introduced carefully and taught to respect each other, should result in a happy cat and well-adjusted youngster who will remain companions for many years.

Cats and new babies can co-exist together quite happily but your child's safety has to be of utmost importance. NEVER leave a baby or young child alone with any pet, cat included.

Cats and humans have lived together for thousands of years but it is important to remember that they are still wild animals and their behaviour cannot be predicted with 100% accuracy. A cat should never be permitted into the same room a baby/young child is sleeping and proper safety precautions should be taken to ensure the cat doesn't have access to the baby's room.

If proper safety precautions are taken to ensure your cat and baby/young child are only together under adult supervision your cat and child will be able to quite happily cohabit together and hopefully once the child grows older will form a long and lasting bond.