Cats and Babies: What to Consider for a Harmonious Coexistence
If you as a cat owner are expecting a new baby, you might be asking yourself whether a cat and baby can live together happily. Fortunately, under certain conditions they certainly can. In this article, we explain what you need to watch out for.
Cats and babies – the main points at a glance
- The cat should have the opportunity to get to know the new family member under supervision.
- To avoid problems, the cat and the baby must not be left alone together.
- Regular parasite prevention for cats is particularly important in a household with a baby.
- The cat should not be neglected in everyday life despite the new baby.
- Firm rules are essential in a household with a baby and a cat.
- Due to the risk of infection with toxoplasmosis, pregnant women should have their partner clean the litter box.
Let the cat get to know the baby
Cats are true creatures of habit that find it difficult to adapt to changes in their environment. It is therefore important that you give your four-legged friend the opportunity to get used to the little person who is moving into their home.
So don't just let your cat regularly sniff items like the changing table and the stroller, but also the baby.
As long as the four-legged friend is healthy and the encounters take place under your supervision, this is harmless for your baby and makes a decisive contribution to your cat being able to get used to the new situation.
Contact between cat and baby only under supervision
In general, you should not leave your cat and baby unattended. This also applies if you are absolutely sure that the four-legged friend knows how to behave and remains peaceful.
The cat may lie on the baby. Of course, the four-legged friend does not intend any harm by this. Depending on the breed, however, the cat can weigh twice as much as the newborn. Of course, this is anything but pleasant for the baby.
Conversely, it can also happen that the child, as soon as it is a little bigger, touches the cat roughly and pulls the animal's ears, for example. On the one hand, this is uncomfortable for the four-legged friend and, on the other hand, it is not uncommon for cats to defend themselves with their sharp claws.
Parasite prevention to protect cat and baby
Regular parasite prophylaxis is of course always important for cats. This is all the more true when a baby moves into the household. Intestinal parasites such as worms in particular represent a serious risk for small children.
By conscientiously taking care of prevention, you not only protect your cat, but also your baby from a parasite infestation and the associated consequences.
Don't neglect your cat
From now on, a large part of your attention will of course be devoted to your baby, which is perfectly fine. However, you should still make sure that you do not neglect your cat.
As a parent, continue to take time for your four-legged friend so that they don't feel neglected and become jealous of the baby. Limited as your time as young parents may be, you are still responsible for the well-being of your four-legged friend.
Rules are indispensable for everyday life with a cat and a baby
You surely know that cats have a mind of their own, which they often enforce to the chagrin of their human companions. Especially when you have a baby, however, it is important that you set clear boundaries for your four-legged friend and ensure that these are adhered to.
For example, the cot should be strictly off limits for the cat for hygienic reasons. Apart from that, it is advisable not to let the four-legged friend sleep in the same room as the baby.
Once your child is older and the interaction between child and four-legged friend works well, there is nothing wrong in principle with healthy and parasite-free cats staying in the child's room or even in their bed.
Why pregnant women should stay away from the litter box
Cats can be infected with toxoplasmosis. In most cases, the disease goes unnoticed. However, the infected four-legged friends excrete cysts from the parasites with their faeces. These then inevitably end up in the litter box, so that they can also be transmitted to humans during cleaning.
While the infection is usually completely harmless for healthy adults, toxoplasmosis can cause serious harm to the unborn child. Pregnant women should therefore refrain from cleaning the litter box if possible. If this is not possible, wearing disposable gloves and a face mask is strongly recommended to avoid unnecessary risks for the baby in the womb.
Cats and babies – our conclusion
As you can see, there is nothing wrong in principle with keeping a cat if you have a newborn in the household. As long as you follow a few rules and ensure good hygiene, nothing stands in the way of a relaxed life with cat and baby.
In many cases, the child and the cat even develop into a great team over time, which enjoys the time together and is almost inseparable.