Should A Cat Be Near A Newborn Baby.

[dartagnon]

My daughter is expecting twins - due date 9th May - and she has a 2 year old tabby cat. I told her that she'd better get rid of the cat before the children are born, but she insists that everything will be okay .
Am I being overly cautious or not and I'd appreciate others opinions.
Thanks in anticipation

[ummmm]

Yeah...it's not like it's difficult to shut a door.

[Baldric]

If you can't take responsibility for a Cat, knowing where it is, not leaving it alone with a Baby, shutting it out of the room when Baby's sleeping, what the heck makes you think you're responsible enough to reproduce in the first place?

[Purple_Popple]

I know someone that had a dog from a puppy to an adult dog, lovely well behaved dog too...they met someone got married had a baby, rehomed poor dog...then got another dog 2 years later!!!!

[craft1948]

When I posted about cat nets in no way was I advocating getting rid of cats. I never even considered them to be a problem but was advised to get a cat net for the pram by the health visitor ( I assume she had reasons for suggesting this). We had a 5 year old dog when I had the daughter and he used to lay next to the pram and guard her.

[boxtops]

I would suggest cat nets too, I'm appalled at the suggestion of getting rid of the cat. A little vigilance is all that's needed, and then only when the babies are tiny. I feel sorry for the cat.

[tamborine]

Enough hard work with twin babes without extra disinfection of kitchen surfaces etc from prowling cat, let alone 2 toddlers grabbing cat as plaything. Imo kids before cats, g'dad can adopt cat.

[B00]

That attitude Tambo infuriates me.

Your pet is part of your family, your house it's it's home!

[catswhiskas]

I have to sy , posts like this make me so mad, getting rid of the cat just cos of the baby, personally I would get rid of the baby ! No seriously just common sense, I hope daughter stands her ground, and keeps the cat.

[China Doll]

Do people not have doors in their houses then? Or indeed eyes? Good grief.

[ummmm]

Plus if it's a cat that goes out they spend so much time outside or sleeping. Not stalking the work tops.

[ganesh]

"Cats are a real danger to young kids" Methyl! Never heard such nonsense. They are not 'wild' animals, they are domesticated and as long as you worm them and de-flea them there is no problem. I grew up with cats in the house and had cats when I had babies too. As long as you are sensible about not letting your cat sleep with a baby; there's more risks for babies from germs and household hazards than pets. If they sell 'cat nets' that's just money making and cashing in on parents paranoia!

[kawakiri]

I have two grandsons aged 4 and 1. At home they have two cats which were both around before both grandsons. And at our house there are two dogs (mini schnauzers) again both dogs around before the arrival of the children. We have had no problems at either house but we do make sure the children are never alone with the cats or dogs and any pet food or cat litter is not within reach.
The cats actually stay away from the children, one of the dogs does her best to avoid them. However the younger dog has realised that they may well be some dropped food available.
A little vigilance and common sense is all that's required.

[pastafreak]

"Extra disinfection of kitchen surface from prowling cat..."
Oh no...they mustn't be exposed to germs...and then wonder why we have a generation of molliecoddled toddlers ...arrgghh! And who let's their cats prowl all over the kitchen worktops?
This thread is a real eye opener.

[craft1948]

ganesh as my daughter is now 44 this 'paranoia' must have been around a long time..................

[boxtops]

I do accept that there have been stories (and I don't doubt this one) of cats getting in the cot or pram and suffocating the baby. However - as has been said, don't let the cat in the room where the baby is sleeping, unless you have a strong cat net. All this stuff about disinfection and germs is just way over the top - how the hell did we ever survive?

[sunny-dave]

A cat (or indeed dog) is for life - not just until it becomes mildly inconvenient ...

[ganesh]

agree totally sunny-dave, and craft- I never suggested it was just 'modern' paranoia.

[jomifl]

Pasta, cats will jump on worktops after they have buried their sh1t and they don't even was their hands. Disinfecting worktops before use if you have a cat us a sensible precaution. Do a course in microbiology, you may see things differently if you don't go blind
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-71558/Can-cats-pass-diseases-children.html
Even if Toxoplasmosis doesn't make you go blind it can cause lifelong health issues if not dealt with. Exposing your loved ones deliberately to infectious diseases doesn't always confer immunity and is irresponsible.

[ganesh]

Cleaning and disinfecting your worktops would be a sensible precaution regardless if you have a newborn baby, and something most people would do, especially if they have cuts that jump up on surfaces. Worming your cats AND dogs regularly would also be sensible. The issues you raise jomilf concern everyone at any age, and to get rid of your cat when you have a baby is ridiculous.

[tamborine]

This is unacceptible around newborn babes.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Health-and-Fitness/Question1322861.html