Cat and newborn baby in the apartment

When you get a kitten, you expect it to grow up to be a big, friendly and affectionate pet. In most cases, this happens until the cat is the only object of admiration, but as soon as newborn babies appear in the house, they may forget about the pets a little, which can cause a lot of dissatisfaction on the part of your pet, and even have a negative impact on its character .

This is due to the fact that small children, for small children, are often given more attention than for pets, and it is clear that the cat does not like this at all, since she is used to being in charge and does not want to share her owner with anyone.

In some cases, the owners themselves suspect their cat that it may pose some kind of danger to their newborn child and therefore independently try to separate two such seemingly incompatible concepts as a child and a cat. Very often, in this case, they may even try to throw the pet out into the street, but this should not be done, since under favorable circumstances you can configure the pet to the fact that a small child is the main person in your life and he has no choice but to accept this and to measure up to the second place of honor. In most cases, a cat and a newborn get along quite well, especially if everything is clearly explained to the animal, without at all infringing on it or alienating it from the new little bundle. Some cat breeds are generally considered excellent nannies who can not only look after the baby, but also, if necessary, calm him down when he cries.

Preparation

Cats are quite tolerant of newborn children if you prepare them in advance for the arrival of a new member of the community that lives in this house or apartment. To do this, you need to take the following preventive measures
:

for a cat, one of the main stresses is noise, which is inevitably associated with the appearance of a newborn baby in the house, so you need to accustom the animal in advance to these loud sounds that a baby makes when inviting friends who have small children home;
accustom your pet to the sounds of a rattle, give the opportunity to smell those substances and objects that will be associated with the child: powder, baby cream, lotion, shampoo, cats receive almost half of the information through smell;
You need to talk with your pet about future changes, naming the name of the future child, if it has already been chosen.

For a pet, the appearance of a new family member, especially one of such small size, will always be a surprise to which he needs to get used to.

Other types of pets and their danger to the baby

It is better to keep pet parrots away from the nursery, at least in the first years of the child's life. Birds can lead to a variety of chlamydia-related diseases. The most common among them is psittacosis , which causes a dry cough, fever and even pneumonia.

Small rodents in the house can cause a baby to become infected with scabies . The disease, which manifests itself as severe itching, is transmitted by direct contact through the bites of scabies mites. Like cats and dogs, hamsters can cause helminthiasis.

Rules to follow

The animal must be examined by a veterinarian. Then the pet must receive the necessary vaccinations and prevent worms. In the future, this procedure must be carried out regularly under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Maintain good hygiene. Remember that animals are potential sources and carriers of infectious diseases!
Always wash your hands after handling your pet.
Do not allow the animal to come into contact with the child’s things and toys. If this happens, wash your toys and wash your clothes. Moreover, close contact between the baby and the animal is unacceptable. Do not allow the animal to lick, sniff or touch the child. While the child is small, he cannot fully feel all the joy of communicating with an animal, but he will have time to become infected with some kind of infection. In the room where the child spends most of his time (sleeping, playing), it is forbidden to place cages with birds, animals and place dog and cat houses, as well as aquariums. Animals and the baby must live isolated from each other.
Be more careful about keeping your home clean. Wet cleaning is recommended to be carried out daily, and if the need arises (pollution in the apartment, an abundance of hair during the animal’s molting period), then more often. It is necessary to ventilate the room several times a day. It is advisable that there is no specific animal smell in the room: this will help reduce the risk of allergic reactions.
Never leave a small child alone with an animal. This is a potentially traumatic situation, because the behavior of both is unpredictable. A sudden cry or involuntary movement by a child can frighten the animal or cause it pain. While defending itself, the animal may bite and/or scratch the baby. In addition, an animal, such as a cat, can lie next to a sleeping child in such a way as to cause suffocation in the baby.

Whether or not to have an animal in the house is something everyone decides for themselves. But approach this important decision thoughtfully, taking into account all the positive and negative aspects.

Natalia Taishcheva, Ph.D. honey. Sciences, Assistant, Department of Hospital Pediatrics, Russian State Medical University

Security measures

So that the pussy and the child can coexist without problems in the same home, it is worth observing some safety measures. A cat is an animal, so it can touch or lick the baby, it can accidentally scratch it, so you should never leave the baby alone with the kitty. One of the adults should always monitor their communication and play.

Cat health

It is also worth taking care of the animal’s health in advance. After giving birth, you will have almost all of your time devoted to the baby, so even before the baby is born, you need to take your cat to the veterinarian for an examination. She also needs to get all her vaccinations and get rid of fleas and worms. All these necessary measures will protect the baby and will benefit the animal itself.

If you intended to spay or neuter the animal, this operation must also be performed before the birth of the baby. This will solve your pet’s sexual behavioral problems. In addition, a sterilized cat is calmer, more affectionate and obedient.

Nail trimming

Since a cat can inadvertently scratch an infant, it is necessary to accustom the cat to trimming its claws. You just need to do this in advance, even before the baby arrives. Otherwise, the cat will associate this trouble with the birth of the baby and show negative emotions towards it. If your kitty is too shy or irritable, then all these behavioral problems also need to be addressed in advance, before the arrival of the newborn baby.

You will also need to think about how to prevent the animal from getting bored when all your attention is occupied by the child. So buy her more cat toys, a scratching post or a special cat slide. And one more mandatory rule - the child and the animal should not have common toys.

Prohibit conflict

Time flies quickly, and before you know it, the times will pass when a newborn child had to be protected from a cat, and the time will come when a grown-up baby will begin to pull the kitty’s whiskers and tail, and will show an active desire to get to know the funny fluffy. At this time, the pussy may show wariness, and in some situations, aggressiveness towards the child. Therefore, adults should constantly ensure that no conflict situations arise between the child and the animal.

As soon as the child begins to grow up, he needs to be taught how to properly communicate with animals. In addition, as soon as the baby begins to crawl, and a little later, walk, all cat objects should be removed away. The cat should get used to the fact that feeding occurs by the hour, and then the bowl of food is removed. The cat litter box should be out of reach of the child, but in a place where the animal can easily reach the litter box.

I am pregnant. Should I be afraid of toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can seriously impair fetal development. The feces of cats with an active Toxoplasma infection contain this parasite. For a pregnant woman to become infected with toxoplasmosis from a cat, the following must happen:

The cat must have an active infection. Cats can only become infected by eating raw meat and prey with this infection. An active infection may have no symptoms, but remember that it only lasts a few weeks and is then suppressed by the immune system.
A pregnant woman's mouth should contain feces from a cat with an active infection.

This means that getting an infection from a cat is extremely unlikely if the cat lives indoors, does not go outside, and eats canned or dried cat food. To be completely safe, the US Food Safety Inspectorate suggests pregnant women follow one very simple rule: “Do not clean your cat's litter box yourself.” Remember that there are other ways to get toxoplasmosis (not from cats), as well as other infections that can harm your baby (and they have nothing to do with cats!).

What scares us

In fact, our worries are not groundless, but before you decide to say goodbye to your beloved animal, read the article to the end.

Our very first fear is pain. Some animals, especially cats, due to the characteristics of hunters, can be carriers of various kinds of diseases.

The main thing is not to be alarmed, this mainly applies to those cats who were picked up from the street, who constantly walk anywhere, they collect all the bacteria when catching rats, through dirty soil, from other animals, and also from eating raw meat. Those who only have cats at home and have vaccinations are not in danger, except that allergies or the bad character of the animal will be the biggest problem.

If you hear the words of relatives, friends, or read rumors that having an animal, especially cats, during your pregnancy and especially after childbirth is dangerous due to toxoplasmosis, then first let’s figure out what it is...

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease, its development is associated with the entry of the Toxoplasma parasite into the blood. Most often, the disease passes without symptoms. And one of the reasons for infection may be communication with infected animals. In turn, the animal becomes infected either through other infected people (rats, street cats), or through feeding on raw meat or eggs.

But if you have the idea that you can only become infected through animals, this is wrong. A person is also at risk by eating raw or poorly processed foods, dealing with dirty soil, and birds. This is a reason to conclude that the problem will not only lie with the animal. As a rule, you can become infected from a cat only in the first 2-3 weeks of the disease.

As for animals that are not allowed outside, the risk of infection is very small, and it depends on what the pet is fed and whether it is allowed to communicate with other animals at close range.

In addition to Toxoplasmosis, manifestations of the presence of harmful bacteria in a cat are possible, such as lichen, cat scratch disease, and helminthiases. These are fairly common diseases.

As for allergies , everything is a little more complicated. Here you can’t change the cat’s diet, and you can’t lock him at home with lots of vaccinations. A child either has an allergy or does not. And you should not believe the words of breeders that there are non-allergenic breeds, this is used as a marketing ploy. The allergy may not manifest itself upon first contact, this is worth knowing.

And this is the case when you can justify your decision to find another home for the cat, but not to get rid of it or take it away, but to find a good owner. Yes, the second requires time, which will decrease with the advent of a child, but by throwing cats anywhere, you betray him, thereby destroying his faith in love. In addition, as you know, cats get used not to people, but to their place of residence, and this will be a huge stress for him. It will be the most difficult for domesticated cats to adapt to the street; they do not catch rats, do not know how to hide from bad weather, do not know what a car is and whether they should be afraid of it. And spending a little time for the sake of a happy life for a child is quite possible.

Animals in the house where the baby is born, in principle, have a positive effect on the environment. Dangerous moments are minimized if the cat is healthy and has no allergies. Most often, in this case, worries arise in those whose pet has a bad character. But for this there is no reason to look for another home for him. After all, there are many places that even send trainers to your home and can help curb the bad behavior of your four-legged friend.

Thus, if your furry pet is domesticated, does not wander anywhere, is calm and you constantly give it all the necessary medications, then it is unlikely that this will have a bad effect on your child (only if the baby is not allergic). Quite the opposite is positive. And making their coexistence pleasant is quite possible.

Cat and newborn in the house

When you return from the hospital with your baby, find a quiet opportunity to greet your cat. This will probably be difficult to do, since there may be numerous relatives, grandparents of the newborn baby, and other family members in the apartment. If your cat is not very keen on large groups of people, she may hide and hide. When everything calms down a little, the animal will appear before your eyes again. You should definitely find an opportunity to interact with your cat.

To help your cat get used to the newborn faster, you can leave a piece of a baby's diaper or some piece of baby clothing where the cat can explore it. If a cat, missing your presence in the house, follows you on your heels, including to the nursery, make sure that it does not jump into the crib of the newborn. There is a strange myth in the world that cats suck the air from the lungs of babies, although, of course, it has nothing to do with reality. The threat is that sometimes, in search of warmth, the cat may get too close to the baby's face, which will make breathing difficult for the newborn baby.

When your newborn is sleeping in his crib, close the nursery door, making sure the cat remains outside. If you don’t have a separate nursery, and you all, including the cat, live in a limited space, then you should take care of the canopy over the newborn’s crib

All these precautions allow you to avoid cat urination in the baby’s crib if the cat takes a great liking to the newborn and also tries to make sure that the owners do not forget about her. Some time will pass, your cat will get used to the new member of your family, and you will still be able to calmly enjoy the company of your furry friend.

Author of the article: Ilya Samokhvalov, “Moscow Medicine”

What diseases can a cat carry or cause?

The most important argument against the presence of a cat in the house is the likelihood of contracting toxoplasmosis from them. Indeed, according to veterinarians, almost 100% of cats are carriers of this parasitic disease, and people who come into contact with animals usually become infected with it. But toxoplasma can harm a child only if the woman has never touched a cat before pregnancy. Even if your baby gets infected, this disease does not cause any harm to him, not at all - it will only help strengthen his immunity.

Outdoor cats and cats can get sick with various types of lichen and infect a child, and they can also carry particles of soil containing worm eggs on their paws and fur. Owners of pets who walk on their own should limit their access to the room with the baby, clean the house more often and monitor the pet’s health.

If among the baby's relatives there are people who suffer from allergies, then it is possible that your newborn will also suffer from this disease, and not necessarily in the same form. That is, if you have a reaction to the flowering of poplars or to strawberry extract in cookies, then your child can breathe calmly in June, happily eat grandma’s berry beds, but cannot tolerate the presence of “woolen” pets in the apartment. As a rule, you can immediately understand that a baby is allergic to animals - his body will show this by the onset of lacrimation, redness of the eyes, sneezing and coughing. If the diagnosis is confirmed, you will have to give the cat into good hands - the health of the baby should undoubtedly be more important to you, despite the pity for the innocent animal.

What are they afraid of?

Why does such a problem appear before the birth of a child: cats and newborn children. There are several reasons

possible allergy to cat fur; according to statistics, this pathology occurs quite rarely, but if such a situation arises, the animal can always be isolated;
a cat can become a spreader of infection, but only if it lives both at home and outside.

The last one is very significant. There is a common belief that cats should be allowed outside. But this is not so, because this is a domestic animal for which the territory that it controls is important, in this case, this is the area of the apartment or house. Side factors that encourage a cat to go outside can easily be overcome: by sterilization, at least of the cat, and drug intervention (sedative drops) for the cat.

If we can’t arrange a cat’s life, then why are we trying to have a child? Communication between a cat and a newborn is inevitable after the baby appears in the house. These creatures are very curious, and having become members of the family, they are also jealous, so you need to prepare your pet for the arrival of a new resident of the house.

If there are a lot of cats

Of course, many people purposefully have cats at home, most often buying famous breeds for divorce. But many simply pick up kittens thrown away by someone or even adult cats that, by the will of fate, ended up on the street. As a rule, this entire flock gets along peacefully with each other.

And he perceives a person as an external strong animal that feeds, cares and caresses. The appearance of a new living creature, which is not much smaller in size than the cats themselves, raises almost no questions for them; on the contrary, animals must immediately be taught not to do the following :

do not jump into the crib, stroller, table where the baby is swaddled;
do not interfere with the owners during feeding;
train the cat not to enter the room where the child is.

It is quite possible to establish this relationship between cats and cats, since this animal is smart and understands its place in the house. Having become accustomed to these basic rules, cats react completely calmly to newborn children.

The cat and the small child are not the hunter and the prey

Can a cat harm a baby? For many parents this is a matter of particular concern. Therefore, when a baby appears in the house, the animal is isolated, or - even worse! - they get rid of him. Neither the first, nor even the second can be called a good solution, because a cat and a newborn can get along wonderfully under one roof

The main thing is to behave correctly and take precautions

How can four-legged pets harm a small child? Can cats choke children? Is this true? Horror stories about cats killing innocent babies are an echo of medieval superstitions, in which they appeared as a tool in the hands of the devil. In addition, this is reflected in a complete lack of understanding of cat nature. There is absolutely no reason for cats to attack a child. Yes, they are predators, but this does not mean that they can recognize a baby as prey. Cats hunt small birds and rodents, and newborn babies are not at all like them.

The kids do not look so formidable that cats could attack them in self-defense. On the contrary, the baby, rather, awakens the instinct of care and patronage than gives rise to aggression

Everything indicates that the cat feels that she is dealing with a young representative of the human race, and behaves very carefully towards him. This is not so surprising, since a small kitten and a newborn have similar proportions, move awkwardly and make similar “meowing” sounds.

All mammalian babies stimulate the initiation of protective instincts. Stories of children raised by animals are not legends, but documented facts.

Another thing is that some pets do things that their owners obviously won’t like - for example, cats can hiss at newborns, sleep with them in a warm crib or stroller, and constantly hang around. However, all this does not indicate aggression - rather, a defensive position or a manifestation of interest, or even sympathy, with a tiny creature.

Cats in a home with small children can only be dangerous because they are carriers of various diseases.

However, the likelihood that a child will become infected with something from an animal that does not leave the house and is under the constant supervision of veterinarians is reduced to almost zero. We are more likely to bring some microbes into the house ourselves than a cat that has little contact with the outside world. Therefore, if she does not leave the house, there is no need to worry about the child’s health. But if your cat walks on its own, then you should limit its contact with the newborn, take more care of hygiene and find room in your busy schedule for visits to the veterinarian.

What diseases can a cat give to a child?

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease of humans and animals caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The causative agent is neither a virus, nor a bacteria, nor a helminth (worm). This is the simplest microorganism.

Many parasitic organisms develop with a change of host. This means that they do not live in the same organism all their lives. One stage of development can take place in one organism, and another in a completely different one. There may be two or more such hosts.

The definitive host of Toxoplasma is cats or other members of the feline family. The primary or final host of a parasite is the organism in which the adult stage of the parasite or the sexual stage of the protozoan lives and reproduces.

An intermediate host is an organism in which the larval stages of parasite development or the asexual generation of a protozoan occur. Intermediate hosts of toxoplasma can be humans, rodents, birds, and livestock.

Infection occurs from the primary host.

There are the following routes of human infection:

Toxoplasmosis can occur in acute, subacute, chronic, subclinical, inpatient (lack of symptoms and development of immunity) forms, as well as in the form of carriage.

In the vast majority of cases, this disease is asymptomatic in people with a normal immune response.

In the acute course of the disease, headache, weakness, fever, enlargement of lymph nodes, liver, and spleen are possible. Less commonly, a roseolous-papular rash (in the form of nodules and inflammatory spots) may occur.

As a rule, all adult cats that have been outside and eaten raw meat or mice have already had toxoplasmosis. A danger to a child is a primarily infected animal that has just become ill. And this is usually a kitten.

Toxoplasmosis is very dangerous for pregnant women. It can cause pregnancy failure and fetal death in the womb.

Also, due to severe damage to the nervous system, eyes, heart and other organs, newborn babies with congenital toxoplasmosis often die in the first day of life.

If a child infected in the womb survives, then in 100% of cases he is disabled with severe damage to the nervous system and paresis.

Due to the enormous danger of the disease, pregnant women undergo immunological tests when registering - serological reactions with determination of the titer of immunoglobulins of class G and M (IgM and IgG).

Class M immunoglobulins are produced during a fresh infection (that is, a person is currently infected with Toxoplasma). Class M immunoglobulins are detected in the blood two weeks after infection.

The lifespan of IgM is about six months. If there is no IgG, then such a woman does not have immunity from toxoplasmosis. And that means it needs treatment and careful monitoring.

IgG indicates a previous illness. That is, if IgG is detected in a pregnant woman, this means that the pregnant woman had contact with Toxoplasma in the past. Class G immunoglobulins provide long-lasting, stable immunity, which guarantees protection against recurrence of the disease.

As I already said, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis consists of carrying out serological reactions (enzyme immunoassay or immunofluorescence reaction). In this case, the blood is examined.

Blood sampling is carried out twice, with an interval of 2-3 weeks. This allows you to determine the increase in IgM and IgG titers.

Other methods for detecting toxoplasmosis:

Treatment of toxoplasmosis is carried out only by a specialist (infectious disease doctor, pediatrician, therapist). Parasitocidal drugs, for example, chloridine (Daraprim, Tindurine, Pirematamine), can be used.

Lichen

Feline lichen in a child is a rather serious contagious fungal disease, manifested by small spots with clear boundaries.

Fungi of the genus Microsporum and Trichophyton, which cause this disease, parasitize not only the skin of animals, but also infect humans.

Most often, lichen is carried by small kittens with weak immune systems. Thanks to such carriers, this type of fungus is popularly called cat lichen. The same disease may be referred to in medical literature under a different name – ringworm.

Fungal diseases can be transmitted to humans directly from a sick animal or through contaminated objects. Of course, when precautions are not followed.

Ringworm can affect any part of the body, but is most often localized on the neck, face, back, and forearm.

Feline ringworm appears as pink spots with clear boundaries. Often the border of the element is presented in the form of bubbles. The spots quickly increase in size and tend to merge if there are several of them. Characterized by itchy skin and peeling of the skin in the affected area.

When the scalp is affected, the hair in the lesions breaks off at a level of 0.5 cm from the base. Hence the name of the disease - ringworm. The affected area takes on the appearance of a shaved area of the head.

It is better for a person to start treatment after laboratory testing by a dermatologist.

Treatment of this disease is complex. Usually includes cutting the hair adjacent to the affected area, antifungal agents (topically and for oral administration), and restorative drugs (immunomodulators).

Cat scratch disease

This is an infectious disease that develops after being scratched or bitten by an infected cat. Felinosis, benign lymphoreticulosis, Mollaret granuloma, cat scratch disease - these are all names of the same disease.

The main causative agent of felinosis is the bacterium Bartonella henselae.

The main reservoir of infection is infected cats. The bacterium practically does not cause any pathological conditions in animals. But its toxins are dangerous for humans. Children and young people suffer from this disease more often.

The bacillus, getting on the skin at the site of a scratch or bite, subsequently enters the bloodstream. In this case, a primary inflammatory focus (suppuration in the form of an abscess) is formed at the site of damage. This is the result of the production of toxins by the microbe at the site of injury. The child’s condition at this stage does not suffer.

Then the pathogen enters the lymph nodes located closest to the gate of infection through the lymph flow. An inflammatory process develops there. Lymph nodes increase in size, become denser and painful. Most often this occurs with elevated temperature.

When the pathogen enters the bloodstream, the infection affects many target organs. The lymph nodes, spleen and liver become enlarged, and skin rashes appear. The heart muscle may be affected and the disease myocarditis develops.

All this is accompanied by weakness, general malaise, loss of appetite, sweating, and rapid heartbeat.

Often the affected lymph nodes suppurate. Also, not only regional lymph nodes, but also distant groups of lymph nodes can be involved in the process.

Typically, diagnosing this disease is not difficult. It is easy to notice with the naked eye. Parents themselves are able to notice inflammation at the site of the cat scratch and subsequent enlargement of the nearest lymph node.

In most cases, this disease heals spontaneously. But it happens that it is impossible to do without intervention from doctors.

Antibacterial therapy is prescribed. In case of severe lymphadenitis, anti-inflammatory treatment using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is prescribed.

Helminthiasis

A child can become infected with some helminths (worms) from cats. I won’t go into detail on this. Just keep in mind that you need to monitor the cat’s health, and children who have contact with cats need to regularly prevent helminthic diseases.

Allergy

Allergy to wool is not a completely accurate concept. Since an allergic reaction in a person does not occur to the fur itself, but to the desquamated epidermis of the skin with the secretion of the skin glands of the animal.

These allergens are extremely small, so they are easily picked up in the air and can be transported over long distances.

In connection with the above, it becomes clear that there are no non-allergenic cat breeds. If you hear such statements, then this is just a marketing ploy.

Yes, hairless cats are less allergenic. Their epidermis also sloughs off, but it is not retained by the hair. Therefore, with thorough regular cleaning, allergens are more likely to be removed more quickly. But it is impossible to completely exclude their effect.

Allergy to wool most often manifests itself as nasal congestion, sneezing, prolonged runny nose, watery eyes and itchy eyes. Children often experience periodic obstructive symptoms (dry paroxysmal cough, shortness of breath), temporary asthmatic attack (attack of suffocation).

The allergy may not appear immediately upon first contact with the animal. Allergy symptoms can take weeks or even months to develop.

Moreover, allergies to cats most often develop in children prone to allergic diseases. For example, with a burdened history of allergies, when the child’s parents themselves are allergic. Or if the child has an allergic reaction to something other than cats. If you have such a child, think 100 times whether it is worth keeping a cat in the house.

Cat's relationship with newborn

Some expectant mothers worry that the cat will offend a small child. But more often than not, such fears are not at all confirmed when the baby appears. Even those furry pets who were not particularly fond of children before, at the birth of a baby, show care and affection towards him. Many people lie down in the baby’s crib, and when he cries, they run and call the young mother. They sometimes even begin to defend the child themselves if someone offends the child.

Cats are more relaxed about a newborn in the house. But they rarely show aggression. They clearly distinguish between children who simply came to visit and those who were born and are growing up before their eyes. They may scratch or be afraid of the first ones. They usually don’t do this with the latter.

Cats usually start scratching not a newborn baby, but an already grown one. Then it is more often a defense against it than an attack.

Is it worth getting a cat if there is a small child in the house?

Many parents are concerned about the issue of small children and pets living together. For example, cats. There can be many reasons for worry. A cat can infect a child with something. Your child may be allergic to cat fur. If a cat is used to being the “mistress” of the house, then it is unknown how its behavior may change with the appearance of a baby in the house.

Some people, on the eve of the arrival of a small family member, plan to get rid of their pet (donate it, give it away, sell it, take it to the village, and so on).

Some people condemn this approach. All people are different. Just like four-legged pets are different. Therefore, there is no need to rush to condemn anyone.

Today we will discuss possible dangers in the coexistence of small children and cats. Let's talk about in what cases there is a reason for a pet to look for another home, and in what cases there is no reason.

We will also dwell on aspects of raising a pet that will help a cat and a small child coexist peacefully.

What to do when the child grows up?

As your child grows up and becomes more mobile and active, you must remember to give the purr a place to rest from the toddler's antics. Make sure your cat is not cornered and can always find a safe place to sleep where your child cannot reach her. Heavy furniture and special shelves are perfect for preventing a curious baby from getting to your pet when he wants to be alone.

Children grow slowly, and cats usually adapt well to new environments. Teach your little one to respect their pets and not cause them discomfort or pain, and they should get along well. Your child will benefit from living with pets and gaining lifelong memories of a furry childhood friend.

How do you get along with children?

Such a pet will enjoy communicating with the baby.
Sphynxes are very good with children because they themselves do not grow up. Felinologists believe that cats of this breed are excellent nannies who will not only play, but also take care of the child. Together they will make an ideal tandem and give parents the opportunity to relax. For cats, the intrusiveness of children will only be a joy. But the exception is very young children under 1 year old. A newborn may suffer from excessive care and curiosity of the animal. There are often cases when an interested pet frightens the baby or damages the skin due to an attempt to lick. The special rough structure of the tongue is not dangerous for adults, but provokes irritation in children. The Sphynx is also good for families with children because of its lack of fur. The child’s play space will not have to be constantly vacuumed and tidied. Research by felinologists has found that a child who has contact with a cat from an early age learns faster, masters sensory skills, develops reaction and empathy. Thanks to the activity of the animal, the child will also get to his feet faster and will actively burn energy during joint games. Sphynx cats rarely cause allergies, but despite the lack of fur, it is better to first make sure that there is no negative reaction from the body. Enzymes released through the skin can cause rashes, redness, coughing and sinus congestion in sensitive people. Symptoms may be mistaken for a cold, so the doctor should be notified of the appearance of a pet.

Preparation

for a cat, one of the main stresses is noise, which is inevitably associated with the appearance of a newborn baby in the house, so you need to accustom the animal in advance to these loud sounds that a baby makes when inviting friends who have small children home;
accustom your pet to the sounds of a rattle, give the opportunity to smell those substances and objects that will be associated with the child: powder, baby cream, lotion, shampoo, cats receive almost half of the information through smell;
You need to talk with your pet about future changes, naming the name of the future child, if it has already been chosen.

For a pet, the appearance of a new family member, especially one of such small size, will always be a surprise to which he needs to get used to.

Are cats dangerous for small children?

A well-trained and socialized cat is no more dangerous to your child than an older sibling of a similar age, and may even be less dangerous! However, just as you would not leave 2 small children together alone for a long time, the communication between a cat and a child needs your supervision. This also applies to sleep, since if a pet sleeps with a newborn, it can cause difficulty in the baby’s breathing, as can also be caused by poorly placed plush toys, towels, etc.

Even if your cat is aggressive, remember that a newborn is unlikely to cause aggression in your furry friend, since he is inactive and in the eyes of a purr does not pose a particular danger. However, in order to be completely sure that unpleasant incidents will not occur, it is best to consult with an animal psychologist before the child arrives at home.

Remember: Tens of millions of children are growing up under the same roof as cats all over the world! As recent studies have proven, children who grew up under the same roof with cats are healthier and less likely to suffer from allergies than children who did not have animals.

Check weighing

To ensure that kittens are getting enough food and are gaining weight well, you should weigh them daily in the first week of life and at least twice a week for the first month - we recommend keeping a weight gain diary. It is convenient to use electronic kitchen scales for weighing.

The weekly increase should be about 100 grams. By the age of two weeks, healthy kittens should certainly double their original weight. Contact a professional if you suspect your kittens are not gaining weight well. Signs of malnutrition can also include constant squeaking, restlessness, and poor sleep.

What to do when a newborn appears in the house with a cat?

The animal does not view the baby as a troublemaker and competitor, as would happen if we brought another member of the feline family into the house. However, having a newborn cat can cause some stress. However, it is associated not so much with the presence of a child, but with the hustle and bustle that usually accompanies his appearance in the family.

Can cats be jealous of a small child? And how! However, we can help the pet get used to the new situation faster.

First of all, we do not need to immediately and completely isolate the animal from the child. This way it will be convinced that this crying lump is just a small person who does not pose any threat to it. In addition, the crying of a newborn can awaken the cat's protective instinct, because this is a danger signal. In this case, the pet will try to hurry up with help, as he would do in the case of his own offspring. In such a situation, the obstacle of closed doors will cause him additional stress and anxiety. When the child arrives home, give the cat the opportunity to smell and even touch him, if he has such a desire. The reaction of animals to a new family member, of course, greatly depends on their temperament. Some cats initially keep a short distance, others immediately occupy the crib. But surely they will all be interested in the newcomer, because feline curiosity is a proverb! However, no matter how lively the cat’s interest in the newborn baby may be, it is better to carefully suppress it and not allow her to have physical contact with him.

A cat has no place in a child's bed. Although your attention is absorbed by the offspring, always remember that the cat was until now the favorite of the whole family, and now suddenly finds itself relegated to the background. He is not human, and it is difficult for him to understand why he was suddenly expelled and not allowed to enter the room where the child now sleeps

And the more he was spoiled before, the worse it is for him to endure the new situation. Therefore, continue to show the animal the same sympathy, show interest in it and spend some time. Let it be present during everyday child care, sitting somewhere in a corner, watching your manipulations. If you find time to pet the cat and say kind words to it, it will have no reason to envy and jealousy of the child (just don’t forget after such contacts wash your hands). The relationship between a happy animal and the baby will be positive. And after a while you will be able to see that cats and small children can become good friends.

Many mothers are afraid that their baby will be allergic to cats. This is actually a very controversial issue. No one can determine with certainty in advance whether the presence of such a pet in the house will have a negative impact on the baby’s health.

Some doctors believe that the risk of allergies is even lower in those children who have always had animals at home. This is explained by the fact that the newborn’s immunity initially fights against an external agent (germs from cat fur, for example), which is what it is intended for. This is a kind of immunity training. If a child finds himself in an environment that is too clean, then his body begins to look for “strangers” within itself, which, in essence, is an allergy.

Therefore, it is not worth getting rid of a cat because of such fears even before the birth of the child. It is better to see how the baby’s body will react to the presence of an animal. If later suspicions arise that the baby is allergic to a cat, then it will be possible to take an allergen test and find out for sure.

How might a cat react to a baby?

Most cat owners did not report any problems when introducing their pet to a newborn. These animals are very cautious by nature and will timidly and carefully look closely at the new resident. Having realized that there is no danger from the child, they, as a rule, become indifferent and move on with their lives calmly. Very rarely, cats begin to get jealous and mischief - a cat may begin to urinate on the child’s things and crib, as if marking, declaring that this territory originally belongs to him, and little strangers do not belong here. In this case, you will have to think about how to limit the animal’s access to the room where the newborn is, and continue to monitor the pet and correct its behavior.

Set up a place for him in another room and spend time with him there more often so that he does not feel abandoned, and if you live in a one-room apartment, the cat can temporarily live in the hallway or in the kitchen.

But even if an infant and a cat met without problems, try not to leave the animal alone with the child. After all, a newborn often does not control his movements and can cause pain to the cat, in which case the pet will undoubtedly consider it necessary to protect itself and injure the baby.

If you have a cat in the house and you are expecting a new addition, do not listen to advisers who say that an animal in the house only causes harm and needs to be gotten rid of. If your baby does not have allergies, and your pet cat or cat reacts well to the arrival of a new family member, such a neighborhood will only bring benefits. It has been noticed that children who have pets are more adapted and intellectually developed; they grow up to be kind, caring, attentive and responsible.

Source

Don't worry if

But in these cases, on the contrary, there is no reason for concern. All that is required on your part is patience and feeding.

The cat has slight bleeding from the genitals. Gradually their volume should decrease and disappear within 2-3 weeks.
The kitten has only one eye open. This is considered a variant of the norm; the eyes open gradually and not always at the same time.
The cat lies down on the kittens. In this way she tries to warm them up. Don't interfere, just try to maintain the optimal temperature in the room.
The mother decided to move the kittens to another place, taking them by the withers. Don’t interfere with her, just make sure that the new “home” is as comfortable as possible, far from noise and people, and that the cat herself feels good.

Elena Shlykova

Preparing a cat for the arrival of a newborn in the house

Some cats are like little old maids who hate any changes. If your cat has a similar personality, she may need to be prepared gradually for the arrival of a newborn in the house. Otherwise, she may experience real stress when a baby appears in the house, and his appearance will be accompanied by new objects and a variety of sounds characteristic of a baby.

To relieve your cat of the stress associated with the arrival of a newborn, you need to do the following:

You can tape the babies' cries and play them from time to time so that the cat can acclimatize and get used to the new sounds.
Wash your hands with baby lotion before you play with your cat. Your cat may associate a new smell with a positive attitude, which will make her feel less anxious.
Place children's furniture in the apartment as soon as possible so that the cat has a few weeks during which she can explore new furnishings and get used to them.
you should also take care of some safety of the children's furniture, because if the cat finds it comfortable, the animal will definitely try to sleep in the children's bed.

You can cover the surfaces of children's furniture with cardboard and place double-sided tape on top to make the cat uncomfortable on the sticky surface.

If the cat litter box was also located not far from the room that is now planned to be a nursery, it is worth moving it to a more suitable location. You can move the toilet a few tens of centimeters a day until it is where it will now stand, and in the old place you can put a chest of drawers, a nightstand or some other thing so that the cat is not tempted to relieve itself where it did this is earlier. You should also consider a new place for your cat to play, as well as her usual care and feeding routine.

All changes also need to be carried out gradually, over about two months, so that the animal gets used to the new place and the new mode of communication with it. Perhaps, instead of the young mother, someone else from the family will take care of the cat. Your cat should also get used to the change of owner and caregiver.

To be or not to be…

Few people decide to buy a cat when a newborn child has just appeared in the house. There's enough trouble as it is. Yes, and ensuring cleanliness during this period is extremely important. But if the cat has been in the house for a long time, then getting rid of it simply because a child has appeared in the house is not entirely correct.

If the cat is domestic, that is, it does not walk outside, it has a calm disposition, it is vaccinated and regularly receives antihelminthic medications, then the danger in a child and an animal living together is minimal. Unless, of course, the child is from the category of allergy sufferers.

But if your pet is used to walking wherever he wants (including in the trash), then such an animal can be dangerous for the baby. And it doesn’t matter at all whether the cat has close contact with the baby.

There are also pets with a tough temperament (they guard the house worse than dogs), vindictive, unpredictable or aggressive. In such cases, you need to seriously think about whether it is worth keeping such an animal in the same house as a small child.

Of course, you can contact a specialist who can help raise your pet and suggest how to behave with such an animal. But, as a rule, people with a small child do not have time to do this.

There are many examples of cats becoming a child’s best friend. But for this, adults must properly organize their communication.

When meeting for the first time, the pet should be given the opportunity to sniff the baby and make sure that there is no danger for him.

A small sketch from personal experience...

My husband and I, having arrived from the maternity hospital a year and a half ago with our youngest child, tried our best to drive the cat away from the baby (you never know). They were not allowed to meet...

The cat, meanwhile, carefully studied the situation. When I first took the child to the bathroom to wash, the cat came running after me with lightning speed. He climbed onto the washing machine and ended up at the baby’s head. At first I was afraid of such a manifestation of interest, but I could not do anything - all my hands were busy.

And the cat just “noisily” sniffed Vanya, exhaled loudly and calmly went down to the floor. So he realized for himself that there was nothing dangerous in this “little bag”.

We immediately explained to the cat that he could not climb into the crib. And these boundaries need to be set clearly and immediately.

But we didn’t succeed with the ironing board, on which children’s clothes were ironed (The cat was drawn to the ironed warm place, from where everything in the room was clearly visible. We had to immediately fold it and put it away, even if ironing was interrupted, and not finished.

It is important to remember that the animal and the child should not have common toys. And the child needs to be explained that a cat is not a toy, that animals are our small and defenseless friends who need our care. It is very difficult to do this, but if you try hard, it is possible.

For example, from a very young age, our son very willingly went with adults to feed the cat. He also realized very early that the cat scratches the toilet door (so that it will be opened for him) when he wants to go to the litter box. Now my one and a half year old son goes and opens the door for the cat.

Even when Vanya was potty training, the argument that the cat goes to his own potty was the most convincing for him.

I agree with the statement that children living with animals in the house develop better psycho-emotionally. My son began to imitate the cat’s meow very early. And one of the first phrases my son used was: “blue-blue meow-meow.” That is, I love meow-meow. At the same time, he hugged him.

The cat, of course, defended himself from all attacks and squeezes of the child. Therefore, they should not be left alone at any age. Even if, at first glance, it seems that they are best friends and seem to be unable to harm each other.

The cat should have its own place and personal space. Otherwise, your pet's behavior may change for the worse. In this way he can attract attention to himself, take revenge for something that he considers an infringement of his rights.

A cat appeared in our family as a gift from dad to his eldest daughter. She is a cat lover. Already in kindergarten they called her “kitten mother.”

I treat animals fairly, and I don’t particularly pamper the cat with too much attention. Therefore, with the birth of the child, the cat did not feel that he received any less tenderness and caresses from me. Otherwise there could be difficulties, jealousy of the cat towards the child.

The only thing that upset me was that the cat woke up the baby very often. The cat behaves like a complete master in the house. He doesn't like closed doors to any of the rooms. He wanted to go into a closed room - he would meow and scratch and beg.

This is because the cat appeared in our house long before the baby was born. No one presented him with any other rules of conduct then.

But all these difficulties are not a disaster. Through trial and error, we established a life together for a cat and two children. We wish the same for you.

With the correct and reasonable approach of parents to small children, a healthy domestic cat in the house cannot harm anything. Whereas a cat can have a positive impact on the development of a child.

Emotional contact with animals is beneficial for the baby’s nervous system. And in the correct example of adults, that we are responsible for those we have tamed is a very good educational moment. Let our children grow up caring and gentle!

Practicing pediatrician and twice-mother Elena Borisova-Tsarenok told you about the peculiarities of living together between a cat and a small child.

Source

What to do when a newborn appears in the house with a cat?

A cat has no place in a child's bed. Although your attention is absorbed by the offspring, always remember that the cat was until now the favorite of the whole family, and now it suddenly finds itself relegated to the background. He is not human, and it is difficult for him to understand why he was suddenly expelled and not allowed to enter the room where the child now sleeps

It is unlikely that you will get a kitten when you have a newborn in the house. But it often happens that a cat is already present in the house when the family is preparing for the arrival of the baby. Even during pregnancy, the expectant mother begins to be frightened by the fact that the animal has no place next to the baby, that its fur can cause an allergic reaction in the child, and the cat itself is a carrier of almost all existing diseases. Is it so dangerous to have a pet in your apartment that you have to part with a family member?

Is a dog in the house a source of worms?

The most common concern on the part of dog owners is the possibility of their infant becoming infected with worms . Panic begins among the baby's relatives when he puts dog toys in his mouth and actively hugs and kisses the animal. It is important to understand that only a small number of worms living in a dog's body can survive in the child's body and cause any damage to him. To protect your baby from those helminths that may pose a threat to him, it is enough to regularly give your pet anthelmintics and have your baby’s stool tested.

A much greater danger for infants and older children is the bite of an unfamiliar dog, which can infect the baby with rabies . A child who has been bitten should thoroughly wash the injury site with a concentrated soap solution and take the victim to a doctor as quickly as possible. The pediatrician will prescribe a course of rabies vaccination, which will last only a few days using high-quality modern drugs. Remember that rabies cannot be cured and the disease invariably leads to the death of the infected person. Therefore, it is so important to get the first vaccination as soon as possible after an animal bite. It is also advisable to monitor the condition of the dog that bit the baby for ten days. If the animal behaves normally, plays actively and eats well, there is no need to worry about possible rabies infection.