LOL I would, but this particular forum was begun by a small group of us that'd met at another, larger forum. We didn't like the rules and the iron fist that one was ruled by so we began our own. The jerk I speak of is a friend of one of my favorite people from the original forum so he got invited in. If I gave out the URL just to start trouble, I'd lose actual friends I value - several I've met in real life, two of them flew from Scotland to Maryland for my wedding (and Theresa was actually a bridesmaid in it)... so I'd better not, though I'd love to see you all rip the jerk a new one.

LKPike - Samantha is one of the sweetest dogs you've ever seen. She is so loving, she wouldn't hurt a fly. I have absolutely no worries about bringing a child into the house around her. She's going to help me by being Nana (the nurse dog in Peter Pan)! She was fine (curious, but what dog wouldn't be?) when I brought Sushi and Kirin home. She was fine when we recently brought Maya and Kimi home. She'll want to see the baby. She'll be allowed to. I was brought up on a steady diet of dog hair and dog kisses. My kids will be too. Samantha may be a dog, but it doesn't mean she's any less important to me just because she isn't a human being.

Breastfeeding - This is what I said on that forum in response to their 'bashing' of me:
I agree - I never disputed the benefits breastmilk is said to have over formula. But so far, none of those benefits has been enough to outweigh the numerous personal reasons that I've chosen *not* to.

I was formula-fed. Palin was formula-fed. My best friend was formula-fed. I actually know more formula-fed people than breastfed. We're all healthy, normal, intelligent people. So I have absolutely no fear that feeding my child formula over my breastmilk will cause him/her irreparable damage.

Everyone has their opinions, but it is a fine line beween merely expressing one's opinion and telling someone else (in so many words) that a decision as personal as this, is wrong. Not pointing fingers. Just stating an opinion.
And to try and keep this topic on topic as much as possible (I really do apologize for the "hijack")... As for the cats - like LKPike said, a cat may scratch but ask the kid if they pulled it's tail or picked it up when it was trying to get away, and I bet the answer would be yes more often than not.