Babies and Cats

**Freedom** · 05-13-2007, 08:40 AM

Hey, anyone with cats and a baby!

This guy and his wife have decided it is "not safe" to keep their cats now they have a new baby in the home! The cats are adorable, 3 year old brothers.
He posted on craigslist looking for a good home for the cats.

If he had said they don't have time, or anything like that, I wouldn't be bothering. But he says they heard too many bad things can happen with cats and infants!!

So if you have first hand experience, send him your thoughts! I already did.
AND I told him about PT and suggested he come on here to check.

Here is his email address:
[email protected]

Here is the craigslist post:
http://nh.craigslist.org/pet/329301233.html

**Pam** · 05-13-2007, 09:16 AM

I am sorry that person feels that way. When there is a baby in the house they require careful watching, no matter whether they live with cats or not. My daughter has a 5 year old and a 1 year old and she has two cats and a 90 lb. dog. There has never been a single incident where either of these children has had a problem with any of these pets. Believe me, us grandmoms can be very protective if need be.

I didn't read the post but will do so in a few minutes. My guess is that he has heard the old wives tale that a cat can suck the breath out of a baby.

Common sense is key with pets and kids not to mention being alert to any other possible danger in the home. I am going to attach a picture my daughter took of her kitty, Dandy, (short for Dandy Lion

) back when my 5 year old grandson was an infant. Dandy was the first pet in their household and my grandson to this day, adores little Dandy and they are great pals. She now sleeps in his twin bed.

**Catty1** · 05-13-2007, 09:40 AM

Somewhere on here is a great pic of a kitty being friendly with a new baby. Can't find it!

With all these Urban Legends, Bill, like the cat-baby one, you will have a heck of a time trying to verify WHO it happened to, WHEN, and being able to get that information backed up! In short - all smoke, and no facts.

I think this started up in households that might have had cats when SIDS was not known about yet.

The only problem might be that the cats get a bit jealous! But they are brothers so I think they will be fine!

Bill, I hope you look on here so you can see and read people's actual life experiences, and not go on something you 'heard'. You have a new beautiful baby, and want to protect him or her with your life.

But the kitties won't hurt your baby. Really.

hugs and I hope you have two furkids and a healthy wonderful new hoomin baby too!

**Catty1** · 05-13-2007, 10:14 AM

PICS from the net...

Check this link on Cats and Babies: http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...%3Den%26sa%3DG

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...%3Den%26sa%3DG

**Freedom** · 05-13-2007, 02:44 PM

I got an email reply from the craiglist folks. Part of the concern is that they have found the cats in the crib twice already. I don't know if the infant was in the crib at the time, or if the crib was empty.

I know folks on here have some ideas. And I DO realize it is Mother's Day. I suggested they check this link a few times to give people a chance to post.

**AdoreMyDogs** · 05-13-2007, 04:22 PM

It is too bad anyone would believe such nonsense about cats and infants

**Pawsitive Thinking** · 05-14-2007, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by Freedom

I got an email reply from the craiglist folks. Part of the concern is that they have found the cats in the crib twice already. I don't know if the infant was in the crib at the time, or if the crib was empty

So why don't they invest in a cat net that fits over the crib and stops unwanted visitors???

I've emailed the silly man too

**Freedom** · 05-14-2007, 08:07 AM

Bill & Denise - there are some more comments in this thread too. Starting with post #3:

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=127132

Have we convinced you to keep the sweet 3 and half year old brothers yet???

**AbbyMom** · 05-14-2007, 08:19 AM

Although I don't have kids, can I add a story about my coworker?

She had four cats when she had her first child. When she came back from maternity leave, I asked her how her cats & baby got along.

She said three of them didn't pay the baby any attention. But the fourth...a female...she felt it was her duty to help monitor the baby and "help."

For example, if my coworker would be washing the dishes and the baby would start crying, the cat would come in the kitchen and start meowing and meowing. (Translation: Can't you hear the baby cry? Hurry up!)

My coworker would always tell the cat...OK OK I'll be right there.

By the way, my coworker still has the four cats and another baby.

**Cataholic** · 05-14-2007, 03:19 PM

Buy a crib tent. Serves dual purposes...keeps the cats out while the baby is napping, AND, keeps the baby in once the baby gets adventuresome. Start with the tent now so that the baby gets accustomed to the tent. They sell for about 30 bucks.

**RICHARD** · 05-14-2007, 03:31 PM

I also heard some "cat myths" and the one where cats can "steal the breath" from a baby....

I finnaly figured out that a cat will sleep anywhere there is warmth, (i.e. on top of my fat arse.) -so if you have a small toddler in bed....

A cat of any weight might climb on top of a small child to get warm and smush them up...

I would invest in the tent and keep the cats.

**Cataholic** · 05-14-2007, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by RICHARD

I finnaly figured out that a cat will sleep anywhere there is warmth, (i.e. on top of my fat arse.) -so if you have a small toddler in bed....

Are you currently sleeping under a tent?

**Pam** · 05-14-2007, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by AbbyMom

For example, if my coworker would be washing the dishes and the baby would start crying, the cat would come in the kitchen and start meowing and meowing. (Translation: Can't you hear the baby cry? Hurry up!)

This reminds me of something that happened when my grandson (referred to in the post above) was very small. Dandy used to lay in the windowsill - - nothing new for a cat, but one day she apparently leaned too heavily on the screen and it popped out. My grandson was probably only 18 months old or so at the time and he went into the other room where my daughter was and said *Dee Dee* (that's what he called her) and got my daughter's attention so that she followed him into the living room. Dandy had apparently fallen out of the window (fortunately it was a ranch house and her fall was probably only about two feet

). The neat thing is that my grandson knew that this was not a good thing and his actions possibly saved her from getting lost or worse. She was his little buddy and he knew she was in trouble.

**Cataholic** · 05-15-2007, 10:55 AM

Pam, if I might share a story similar to yours....

I have two escape artists-Allie and Monte. Sometimes, Jonah is NOT very careful with the front door, and out the cats run. He immediately starts screaming about how it isn't safe outside, MOMMY, and he runs to pick the cats up. He will invariably get Allie in a headlock, and carry her towards the door. While funny, it isn't too great for Allie, I am sure. He couldn't pick up Monte for all the tea in China.

Jonah literally freaks out if the cats are outside. When they cry at the window when we are in the back yard, he gets so mad at them, "no crying, not safe outside, TATS (cats, jonah-speak)".