Pregnancy, children and cats

Pregnancy is one of the most wonderful moments in a woman's life. And many questions and difficulties can arise if you have a cat.

But with understanding and planning, you can overcome them all and still enjoy your cat's company. After all, pregnant women, babies, and felines have coexisted peacefully for centuries.

Many people still believe that pregnant women should not have contact with cats. And many people still believe that domestic cats can make a pregnant woman and her baby sick. Where is the truth?

It's true that cats can transmit toxoplasmosis, which is fatal to the fetus. But it is also true that not all cats are carriers and can infect humans. This is one of the reasons why thousands of cats are abandoned or surrendered to shelters every year when their human parents decide to have a baby. This is a very unfair situation that is mainly based on a lack of information or myths about pregnancy and cats.

Myth 1. A cat can infect a pregnant woman with toxoplasmosis

A cat can become infected with toxoplasmosis if it eats prey, raw or undercooked meat with the parasite, or by coming into contact with contaminated soil. Many pregnant women think that they need to give their cats away during pregnancy because toxoplasmosis is dangerous to the fetus.

But before making this decision, it is important to understand the disease. The ways of infection for humans are the same as for cats, and you may have already been exposed to toxoplasmosis. The parasite can be found in raw and undercooked meat or in unwashed produce or fresh vegetables and berries "straight from the garden." However, you may already have a natural immunity to the parasite. The immune system of generally healthy people keeps parasites dormant to give us lifelong immunity. As a result, a pregnant woman will not transmit toxoplasmosis to her unborn child.
Your doctor can check if you are in this group of immune people. If you are, you don't have to worry about infecting your baby during pregnancy.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends several additional measures to help protect you from toxoplasmosis:

• Keep your cat indoors and do not let it outdoors
• Do not clean the litter box without gloves during pregnancy
• Clean the litter box after each use. The parasite becomes contagious only 3-5 days after it is excreted in cat feces. Wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the litter box.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat
• Thoroughly wash all surfaces and utensils that come into contact with raw meat.
• Wear gloves when working outdoors

Myth 2. Cats can suffocate babies

There are two common ideas explaining why your cat may lie down next to your baby: cats love milk and are attracted to the smell of baby's milk breath and cats like to snuggle in warm places. There are very few reports of infant deaths caused by cats, because this story has become so common?

One case 300 years ago may have given this tale all it needed to reach its current level of fear. In the Annual Register, a publication that records the year's interesting events, there is an entry dated January 25, 1791: "An eighteen-month-old child was found dead near Plymouth; and on investigation by the coroner (an official who determines the cause of death in unexplained circumstances) it appeared that the child died as a result of a cat taking its breath, causing suffocation."
For a long time, cats were considered to be witches' names, so if parents (or even coroners) found a dead infant with a cat nearby, the cat was automatically blamed for the incident.

However, we now know that healthy babies can die for no known reason, a phenomenon known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Myth 3. Cats cause abortions

It is not known where this "theory" or myth about cats making women infertile came from. Living with these pets does not affect a woman's fertility or pregnancy. It does not matter whether the cat has lived at home all its life or was adopted as an adult from a shelter. There is no scientific evidence that cats can cause abortions. And if not, veterinarians would not be able to become mothers

Myth 4. Cat hair and dander are dangerous

Allergic reactions or asthma caused by cat hair can occur at any stage of life, but they occur in only 10% of the population. Some common symptoms are sneezing or hives. If a woman is allergic to cat hair, she can take additional measures while expecting a baby, such as not allowing the cat to climb on the bed, ventilating the room, or vacuuming carpets and sofas more often. However, if she hasn't had any symptoms of allergies before, the likelihood of them occurring is minimal.

Myth 5. Cats are aggressive and can injure a pregnant woman

Some people say that cats are "aggressive" and cause misfortune. These statements are based on ignorance of cats... Yes, people may say that cats are very emotional animals that show their feelings through their claws and teeth. But nothing indicates that they are aggressive towards pregnant women. In this situation, they are even less jealous than dogs.

Why it is important to introduce cats to a child

Remember that your cat was in your home first. If your cat hasn't had contact with babies, toddlers, or small children, but only adults, put yourself in the cat's shoes. To a cat, this little person may be a tiny creature from Mars. The baby smells different, sounds strange with a high-pitched voice, and although the baby is small and closer to the cat's level, it moves erratically, which can be disturbing to felines. From your cat's perspective, the baby is a loud, threatening, and distracting intruder. As a result, your cat may go into stranger danger mode and hide or take a defensive stance or try to hit the scary little alien to make it go away. To avoid these scenarios, you'll need a plan that needs to start long before you bring your baby home

Let your cat explore changes in the house

Prepare your cat a few months before your baby arrives. Start with baby decorations. Realize that cats like the status quo, so they become sensitive to any changes in the home. Make gradual changes to your home. Allow your cat to explore the new things you bring into the space so that she doesn't feel left out or nervous. But keep in mind that your cat will likely want to explore new furniture or objects. You may even find your cat sleeping in the bassinet or playing with a new baby toy. During the time you can't care for your cat in the new room, close the door to keep your cat out of the room.

Protect the baby's mattress. Even before the baby arrives, make the cradle or bassinet unattractive to your cat by placing objects on the mattress that will scare your cat away. Place a few containers of coins that make noise, add a small mat protector with the convex side up, or cover the bed with a net.

Accustom your cat to baby cries

Record the sound of a baby crying so that your cat has a warning of what to expect. Cats use sounds to communicate, and baby cries are similar to kitten cries, so it can be uncomfortable for cats to hear. If your cat is calmly exploring the sound, reward her with reassuring praise. If your cat gets upset by the noise, start again, but first start playing a favorite game together before you turn on the recording. This way, your cat will associate a good time with baby cries.

Prepare your cat for new smells. Cats communicate with scents.

There are several ways to introduce new scents to your cat's world in a stress-free way.

• Start applying baby powder or lotion to their hands a few weeks in advance. This way, your cat will associate these scents with someone they already know and love.
• Bring home something that your baby will use, such as a blanket, and let your cat smell it to familiarize himself with it.
• Pet the cat with a pair of baby socks or place them in the cat's litter box before the baby is born. Put these socks on your baby when he or she is discharged from the hospital. Your child will smell like your cat, and your cat will identify your child as a family member from the start.

Shower your cat with praise

When you bring home your baby, you will undoubtedly be exhausted, but you still have work to do with the baby and the cat. Calmly bring the baby and the cat together. Let the cat sniff your baby's foot. Try to do this while your child is wearing a cat-scented sock so that your cat can see that there is nothing to be afraid of. Be sure to constantly praise your cat when she is behaving confidently and calmly. Once your cat realizes that gentle handling of the baby leads to praise, everything should go smoothly between them. Call your cat when you feed the baby, offering treats in the same room. In this way, the cat will associate positive things with the baby's presence.

Respect your cat's space

As your child grows, teach your child to respect the cat. But from the very beginning, create a separate shelter where the cat can get away from a fast crawling child and the baby's grip on his paws. Mutual respect and cautious familiarity develop into a loving bond as your child grows up with a happy cat. And this purring relationship will last a lifetime.

Avoid too many changes. If possible, try to maintain the cat's usual lifestyle. A predictable daily routine reduces your cat's stress and prevents many problems. Ask others to help with cat care, and make sure your cat is fed, brushed, and entertained as usual. However, don't overdo it by giving your cat extra attention to compensate for the baby's arrival. Once the baby is in the house, it will be impossible to maintain a high level of attention. Reach out to family and friends to help your cat feel like a valued member of the family. Everyone in your family can help your cat and baby be safe, happy, and live together peacefully.