What do I do with Abby and the Baby?

[PrettyKitty1]

Well as some of you know my cat Abby is extremely attached to me and sleeps with us in the bed. Abby cannot stand to be away from me and we know why. We have been through a lot with him so he is very needy and co-dependent. He is definitely not your typical cat but he is justified and I love him very much no matter what :-)

When my baby is born he will sleep in the room with us. Can the baby be affected by cat hair? How do I know if my baby has developed allergies from my cat's saliva? Has anyone dealt with having babies while kitty sleeps with them in the room?

What is the best thing to do in this situation?

[PrettyKitty1]

Thank you all!!!

[spirit3]

I get a weekly e-mailed newsletter from "about.com:cats" and this week's letter actually addresses this question! Try and get the newsletter-I saved mine so if you can't get it I'll read the article and tell you what it says. And congratulations, by the way!!

[Sarajmt]

I brought 2 babies home to 2 Golden Retrievers, and 3 cats.  We had no problems.  The only ones in danger were the pets!  The babies were either adored or ignored (by 1 cat).

No worries.  Keep your kitty.

Sara

[Maddie6]

Hi PK,
I'm catching up again and can't believe your baby will be here soon.  I was back east visiting family,(PA), and I could not believe how hot and the humidity.  My Mom's house has no A/C, and she wants nothing to do with it either!!

!You've had a lot of good advice above, and I think Abby will be just fine.  I can't wait til the baby arrives.  
Hugs,
Maddie

[dominosarah]

They are saying all that anti bacterial stuff isnt good for us.  My grandma used to say kids needed to eat a cup of dirt a day to stay healthy!!!!  LOL

[Jade59]

I've heard this too, ZQ.  I even know a family with 10 kids who grew up in the filthiest conditions you can imagine - just disgusting - and all those children rarely got sick and not a single one has any allergies, either.  Some of those kids now have kids of their own (all still live in the same house under even worse conditions now) and they're healthy, too.  

hahaha...you and me giving this sort of advice - kind of funny, huh? :)

[zodiacqueen]

PK, no....it's prescription only.  I don't know how your vet does.....BUT mine charged me $20+ for 2 freaking pills!!!  I decided to compare prices, and found that Walmart charged  about $17 for 30 pills!!!  Can you believe the huge price difference??????  I was quite the unthrilled camper w/ my vet.  That's what I call raping someone!  So, please make sure your vet doesn't screw you like this!

Also, something I've read about allergies and babies!  I've read that it's actually good to expose babies to some germs and allergens because it makes their immune systems stronger.  I guess they mean.....not to overdo sanitizing everything.  They are less prone to getting allergies that way.  Has anyone else heard of this?

[PrettyKitty1]

OMG thank you all so, so very much for all of this information. I will think of all of your advices and stories every day. They brought me comfort as I was reading so this thread is definitely helpful for me.

Thank you for the wishes guys. You have no idea how appreciative of this I am. THANK YOU!

ZQ, is that an over the counter medicine or not? I'm so glad you posted!!! thank you girl :-)

[dominosarah]

I am glad you posted this for PK to see!!!

[rockinhippy]

Hi PK,

Good luck with the birth...(best labour tip I was give was count to 60 as no contraction last longer...it worked wonders at keeping my mind occupied & off the pain, so I always pass it on)

I wouldn't worry about Abby, I was the same with my 2 old Cats, especially my feisty & very attached to me Polly.....but soon realised al the scare stories are just that...she ended up as second Mum to my (then) new baby, she was amazing, my Daughter would scream blue murder those first few weeks if I tried to put her down, couldn't wash or go to the loo, she wanted constant skin to skin...........once I put her down sleeping & ran to try & get a super fast shower....... I heard Polly howling.........ran to see what was going on, & found my Daughter Eden had woken crying...Polly was curled up next to her trying to calm her whilst she howled to get my attention.......I got the fright of my life, but soon ..Eden was happily gurgling away & Polly was actually looking after her

Also don't worry about allergies..........lots of surveys done, lot recently in our news, proving that Kids exposed to pets & germs from a young age actually have LESS allergies & better immune systems

good luck

[dominosarah]

I think Abby will be fine.  The only problem i see is with the babies toys!!  Abby and Dylan will think the toys are theirs!!!

We had "Baby Think it Over" here this last winter and Snickers laid by the baby and would bat at Cali if she got to close.  He also was the first one to jump in the baby seat and sit while the baby was being held!!!!  Go figure!!

I cant believe the time is almost here!!!  How exciting!!!

[polar1BFFisaMartian]

Hi
There's a lot of stories about what kitty will and will not do because of jealousy of a new baby.  Well girl listen only to the positive info you're getting and I read all of the entries, I loved the one of your husband bringing home something the baby wore in the hospital so he gets to know there's going to be a new addition to the family.  Please for the sake of all of your don't stress out, by worrying take one step at the time.  You know that they can be very surprising little creatures.  Enjoy your baby when the baby comes love both of them even though it's going to be hard time wise and  enjoy discovering the antics of both baby and kitty.

[zodiacqueen]

ZQ has arrived!  LOL

I think that it's great to have the appetite stimulant on hand.....just in case.  The med is called Cyproheptadine.  Damn.....that was a mouthful, hope I spelled it right!

BEST BEST BEST wishes to you PK, we all know you are gonna be an awesome momma.

[PrettyKitty1]

Jade,

Will do. ZQ has posted that medicine on here but I will probably send her a PM soon.

[Jade59]

You know, PK, I think Abby will be fine as long as he feels included.  Course he's not going to be right ON the baby, but near enough so he feels like he's a part of things.  And honey, this time, if he does stop eating, you're ready and know what to do.  

Just a thought, but ask ZQ what she gives Skunky to increase his appetite.  It's something that works well and you might want to have that on hand just in case, you know?  

(((Hugs)))...♥

[PrettyKitty1]

I know. That is another thing I am scared of. Abby streses with change. He has always been this way and the vet told me it was because IBD cats are usually this way. If my cat stops eating again it will stress ME out, and it won't be good for the baby either.

I'm hoping everything will be just like April describes: No problems at all. No allergies. No jealousy. No kitty trying to lay on top of baby in the hopes of trying to be protective of the baby.

I guess you all will know once/if I get there. *sigh*

Thank you for all the advice. I really appreciate it.

[Jade59]

PK, I think April's idea of your husband bringing something home from the hospital the baby wore or laid on and give to Abby and Dillan to sniff and get used to, is a great idea.  

It's good that Abby has a little extra weight on him, too, since he may react to this Big Change coming.  Abby is Abby and it's just a fact he stresses out with change.  

I think everything's going to be fine though :)

[April2]

I think the cats and the baby will be just fine. Try not to worry or stress about anything. Things usually have a way of working out. :) And who says you have to have a perfectly clean house anyway? Especially when you have a brand new baby! You should see our house! :P We've got diapers, wipes, clothes and blankets everywhere it seems. It's not dirty, just cluttered mainly. You just have to do the best you can do and get hubby to help you.
Just remember your first babies and try to be patient with them. Everyone should adjust within a few months. Can't wait till I hear the good news! :D

[LindaTX]

PK, the only thing that would add is I wouldn't leave Abby... or Dillan for that matter...alone with the baby for the first few months.  There's an old wives tale that a cat can suck the breath out of a baby. Maybe it started from a cat innocently smelling milk on a baby's mouth or just some curiousity it had about the helpless little baby. We've all seen cats take hold of something in a playful way and Abby might feel anxiety toward the baby because he is so close to you and protective of you.  When I mentioned my cat Smokey in the post above, it was different in that we had only had Smokey about 6 months and I did not have a special  bond with her, not like you have with Abby.  I would just be a little cautious in the beginning. Until the baby can defend himself, jk :)

[PrettyKitty1]

April,

You think breastfeeding may help prevent allergies?

Geez, this cat is so sync'd with me he gets bigger as I get bigger. Seriously, he looks like a huge stuffed teddy bear. I'm scared he'll end up diabetic. The heat has him pretty inactive. He just wants to sleep in cool areas. I brush him but he's got so much hair I don't think it helps much. He sweats a lot, the poor thing. I try to lower the AC as much as I possibly can but I can't honestly put it at 70. My electric bill would be huge. I'm putting ice in his water.....*sigh*

I will have to clean my room every day then. I'm not sure if I'll have the time to do that. My baby will sleep in his pack and play in our room just for the first few months. Then he will sleep in his room. For now, I am keeping that door locked so the cats get used to not going into the nursery. I just don't know how I will be able to keep Abby from wondering around the baby. Someone once said they had to get rid of one of her cats because she was laying on top of her baby!!!

I will give him plenty of attention. He always demands it any ways lol. I hope this will not turn into a problem with Abster and baby.

ZQ, ya know what happens when I shut my bedroom door? LOL Yep....exactly that! lol

[April2]

Try to give him plenty of attention after the baby comes home so he doesn't get too jealous and let him sniff the baby and his clothes, blankets, etc. so he gets used to his scent. You can have your husband bring something home from the hospital that they baby wore and let the cats sniff it.
It may be hard to keep the cats off your bed, I don't know. I don't think you'll have to worry about them jumping in the bassinett or the crib as they're usually a little intimidated by the baby lying there. At least, that's what's happened with me.

All of my kids have had allergies. My oldest boy was the worst. He had to have allergy shots for a couple of years when he was around 11 or 12. The allergy doctor knew he wouldn't give up his cat so he said to at least keep the cat from sleeping with him and out of his bedroom and to wash his hands after petting the cat.

We've noticed with Elijah that he does sneeze a lot so he may also have some allergies. I feel like we've always got cat hair all over the house no matter how much we vacuum!
Just do the best you can to keep his sleeping area free from the cats and hair and do watch him when he's around the cats. They probably will be a little curious about him when he first comes home but will probably eventually ignore him once they've gotten used to him.
Just try to give the cats attention too. I know it's awfully hard when you have a new baby because most of your focus will be on him.
I think it will all will work out fine and everyone will ajust and adapt. Can't wait to see your new little guy! :)

[Cassandrajane]

We had a cat that followedmy mum everywhere even to the shops, when my brother was born.... He slept outside my mums door, and then when m brother went into his own room, the cat slept outside my brothers door, basically guarding it. he got so protective of my brother and my mum, if my brother cried, my cat jumped on my mums bed to basically tell her.
So it might end up like that?

:) x

[zodiacqueen]

Hey PK, I hope you're doing well!!!  It's almost time....I bet you're so excited!

Anyway, the only advice that I would give you is to keep Noah's door shut and get one of those intercom thingys.  BUT, we all know how cats love closed doors!  LOL

[PrettyKitty1]

Thank you guys. Once the baby is here let's see how the situation should be handled. I think I may be getting ahead of myself :-)