cats

[noura88]

I have a kitten im 15 weeks pregnant.
Everyone is telling me its dangerous to keep it but i dont wanna get rid of him. Any ideas ?

[nannonmarie21]

I have a cat! Everyone said to get rid of him but I can't do that either. Just don't clean out the litter box and after baby gets here just watch them alone together. That's what my doctors told me they said milk attracts them but my cat never had milk so he's not interested and we don't let him in any baby stuff early so he knows them spots are off limits. (: no need to get rid of the little guy.

[junebby2014]

I dont think so but in my situation i was never allergic to cats and now that im pregnant its horrible my whole body starts to break outs so i had to get rid of them

[GeekMom1213]

As long as you're not cleaning the litter box or otherwise coming in contact with cat feces there's no danger in keeping the cat. Toxoplasmosis isn't as common as people make it sound but it can be serious, but as long as you wash your hands regularly and don't deal with litter you'll be fine. Your pet is part of your family - I'd never get rid of my kitties.

[tinkerbella32]

If u had cats growing up u are prob immune to toxoplasmosis.just to be on the safe side dont go around in ur bare feet, dont clean out its litter tray, get someone else.if u are worried about it the docs or midwife can give u a blood test to check ur immunity to it. Dont get rid of it. When u have ur baby  just dont leave it in the room alone with baby. They tend to want to sleep on babys face cos its warm and therefore would smother the baby. Set a few rules with it so it knows where and what is off limits. Never be too trusting!

[noura88]

So i can pet it and cuddle no problem.and i do have help who change the litterbox and clean it daily. My husband is pressuring so bad. Im really attached to it i really dont know what to do :(

[Mushroombaby1]

I have 6 cats and I'm 20 +4. I will not be parting with any of them despite being told I should by idiots who think they know better. Whilst pregnant don't clear out litter trays due to risk of toxoplasmosis. I am training my cats by using baby crying cds and putting dolls in bouncy chairs and things so they understand not to go near those areas. Having a baby come in to the family doesn't mean you have to part with another member of it because my cats are family. Just retrain. Good luck :) x

[Emi10172013]

I kept both of my cats through both of my pregnancies and never had a problem :)

[alleycat81]

The big concern people tend to have with cats is smothering. The thing is is that it is like an urban legend or old wives tale or something. It apparently stems from centuries ago, I believe in Egypt, they believed that cats were the keeper of souls and if I remember correctly the cats could suck the soul out through the mouth of sick and dying people. They believed that souls did not attach to a person until birth therefore since their souls were newly attached a cat, a keeper of souls, could easily steal their soul. Thus the legend of cats smothering babies. If you research it there has never actually been a recorded case of a cat killing, or smothering a baby. The only thing you really have to worry about is toxoplasmosis while pregnant and then once babies born I would just watch out for weather the cat is skittish around baby which might end up in the cat scratching the little one. In my case I have two cats and they both just steer clear of her. Just thought you all moght find this interesting!

[courtney111310]

I have a cat that I sleep and cuddle with all night and day lol and when I do their litter box j just wear a mask or put a rag over my face so i dont smell it while im cleaning it

[KaliBrooke]

I have a cat. No one has said anything about getting rid of it to me. I even clean his litterbox too. Honestly, I think like other situations, it's takin out of concept. It's not like your rolling in his feces or playing in it like you would a sandbox. Lots of people have cats and there baby is fine. For the cuddling/smothering part I'm not sure. That would be my concern, but my cat doesn't cuddle...lol. We are just going to get him declawed before the baby comes. (:

[Kelseymichelle]

I have two cats and mostly I let my boyfriend clean the litterbox. I still do it when he gets lazy though! Just wash your hands really good and do your best not to get poop on you while cleaning! It's really only dangerous if you let the poop sit for days, it grows toxoplasmosis spores after 24 hours and also if the cat goes outdoors and indoors they are more likely to grow the toxoplasmosis in their poop. (That's what I read from the humane society website). I also read that if you have cats you have most likely already contracted the toxoplasmosis and are now immune to it (who knows if that is true though).

[Mushroombaby1]

Don't declaw your cat!!! That's so inhumane and cruel!!! If the cat ever became lost or something it wouldn't be able to defend itself or hunt for food, therefore it would die.Buy scratch posts or have its claws trimmed. Effective training is much better. How would u feel if I cut your hands off in case you scratched my baby?

[cfaux]

I have 4 cats and had them through my first pregnancy and now my son is a year old and I'm pregnant again. We just don't let the cats in his room but we have never had a single problem. Theyare gentle with each other.

[KaliBrooke]

MushroomBaby - Please don't talk to me like that. If you have a concern you could calmy state it to me in a non - attacking mannor or you could comment on my page or however that works. I'm a very understanding and nice person and would prefer you to talk to me in the same way.
Having said that, I love animals. And truthfully never thought about trimming the claws until now. So in a way thank you. Although, it would have been better received if it weren't thrown at me in a belittling way.

[newjulymommy]

They are mainly dangerous to small babies like new ones bc they like heat and they will feel the heat comming from the baby's mouth and nose from breathing and since the child is too small to move away cats can sit in their faces and suffocate them