Cats suffocating babies...

melzer14 · March 2010

Someone the other day told me that I should get rid of my cat because they will lay next to the baby and "steal it's breath" and when they smell the milk on the babies breath try to get it and suffocate the baby. Well I love my cat so of course I looked it up....

snopes.com, you are my hero....

https://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/catsuck.asp

We already decided that when the baby is here we aren't going to let him sleep our room just because he does like to snuggle and get RIGHT in your face....but get rid of him? No

Had anyone else ever heard this??

nopegoat · March 2010

I have heard of it but I think it is really ridiculous! If you are worried about it though or just have a really curious cat I believe they sell nets that go over the crib to keep the cat out! I know my cat is going to be way to afraid to go anywhere near the baby... she stays under the bed or in her kitty condo most of the time!

lraymeremtp · March 2010

My grandmother is TERRIFIED of cats, and therefore is convinced that cats are evil and premeditate the killing if infants by "stealing their breath." I roll my eyes and refuse to even comment anymore. She doesn't even have a legitimate reason for being scared of cats, she says, "I just am." Hmmmpphh...

mrskilbride · March 2010

I've heard that and since we bought the crib and put it in our room, the cat will NOT stay out of it. I'm hoping when LO arrives the cat will be freaked out and won't want to be near the baby but if we see kitty try to get in the crib, we'll get one of those mesh covers you can fit over the top of your crib. Not that the cat will suffocate the baby so much but I really don't want cat hair etc all in the crib, yuk!

TheSkimmy · March 2010

My 2 cats have never gotten close enough to DS to even see that he is breathing. They are cuddlers but most cats want to be far away from things that make that much noise.

Dobie_Mama · March 2010

A lot of people say that. It's ridiculous. If people are really worried they can always get a crib tent.

mysticporter · March 2010

I've heard the old wives tales, they're ridiculous. That said, since the baby isn't supposed to have anything soft in bed, and the kitties are fond of sleeping in smaller spaces/with warm things, we used a crib tent over the pack 'n play until DD was about 8 months. We didn't bother getting one for the crib she went into after that because by that point the kitties had demonstrated they had no interest in sleeping in her bed whether she was in it or not.

uagirl · March 2010

It's ridiculous. I have 4 cats, and I don't worry at all about them coming close to LO. The HATE loud noises, so I fully expect them to spend the first few weeks hiding under my bed.

bloverly · March 2010

Yup! Ridiculous old wives tale. Just like my supervisor told me not to lift my arms above my head because it'll wrap the baby's cord around his neck. Ha. I just smiled and nodded.

LadyDelilah · March 2010

I was told about it, and our cat is like 25 years old, he cant jump onto the bed by himself let alone in a cradle or a crib... Im not personally worried about my cat but we have a dog thats not that child friendly we may have to be making a decision about her in a minute here

bstrangely · March 2010

i intend to keep our cats because they defend babies from trolls.

stephen king told me so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_cFNbrPLx4

designer_wifey · March 2010

I've heard this and always thought it was ridiculous. I will be keeping our cats out of the nursery and our room. I will also try to give them just as much love and attention as I did before. I've already pre-warned DH that he may have to step up in that department, (he secretly loves the cats, but acts like a big tough guy), and he may have to start giving them more attention too.

BlueRidgeMama · March 2010

That is ridiculous. However, I hate cats and am allergic to them so it's not my problem.

ReneeDerek04 · March 2010

It's an Italian superstition, according to my family. Some people think the cats jump into the crib to "steal the baby's breath", or because of the smell of milk on the baby, etc. It's all just another way to scare the crap out of pregnant women, though I have to admit some of the old wives tales are so pointless they are actually funny.

CAMbaby10 · March 2010

I have heard of it but as an old wives tale. We are definitely not getting rid of our cat. He won't be sleeping on top of the baby anyways.

meshaliu · March 2010

bstrangely:
i intend to keep our cats because they defend babies from trolls.
stephen king told me so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_cFNbrPLx4

Ha! My stepmom gave me the stealing babies breath thing and I told her "No, cats kill the trolls that steal baby's breath. Haven't you seen the documentry Cat's Eye?" She didn't get it. I'm sending her the DVD for her birthday.

melzer14 · March 2010

bstrangely:
i intend to keep our cats because they defend babies from trolls.
stephen king told me so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_cFNbrPLx4

hahahahaha!! I love it!

kjr · March 2010

mrskilbride:

I've heard that and since we bought the crib and put it in our room, the cat will NOT stay out of it. I'm hoping when LO arrives the cat will be freaked out and won't want to be near the baby but if we see kitty try to get in the crib, we'll get one of those mesh covers you can fit over the top of your crib. Not that the cat will suffocate the baby so much but I really don't want cat hair etc all in the crib, yuk!

My cat loved getting in the boys' cribs and bassinetts before they were born. Once they came home she had NO interest in them whatsoever. I haven't seen her go near their cribs at all since I had them.

bstrangely · March 2010

meshaliu:
bstrangely:
i intend to keep our cats because they defend babies from trolls.
stephen king told me so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_cFNbrPLx4

Ha! My stepmom gave me the stealing babies breath thing and I told her "No, cats kill the trolls that steal baby's breath. Haven't you seen the documentry Cat's Eye?" She didn't get it. I'm sending her the DVD for her birthday.

that is fantastic!

bride2bsoon · March 2010

When I brought home my bassinet the first thing that happened were the cats jumping in! I guess they have been my babies for the past 10 years. I bought some of the sticky tape that prevents them from scratching and put it inside on a piece of cardboard. Hopefully they will learn not to like it. I plan to try the same when I finally get the crib up.

happy-honey · March 2010

mrskilbride:

I've heard that and since we bought the crib and put it in our room, the cat will NOT stay out of it. I'm hoping when LO arrives the cat will be freaked out and won't want to be near the baby but if we see kitty try to get in the crib, we'll get one of those mesh covers you can fit over the top of your crib. Not that the cat will suffocate the baby so much but I really don't want cat hair etc all in the crib, yuk!

Don't worry the cat will be gone when the baby arrives. Our cats seldom are with our DD without one of us being involved. They don't trust her.

islandvet · March 2010

I love your comment...so funny!! I have 5 cats, and I'm just going to keep the door closed.

BlondeBeachBride08 · March 2010

total old wives tale. I feel so badly for all of the kitties who are discarded because of this.

coledvm · March 2010

designer_wifey:
I've heard this and always thought it was ridiculous. I will be keeping our cats out of the nursery and our room. I will also try to give them just as much love and attention as I did before. I've already pre-warned DH that he may have to step up in that department, (he secretly loves the cats, but acts like a big tough guy), and he may have to start giving them more attention too.

I love this, my DH is the same way, used claim that he HATED our 2 cats, but he loves it when they sit on him instead of me!

I am pretty sure one cat will be oblivious and the other will hide for the first few weeks (he runs under the bed at any loud noises) even though he is a huge cuddler. All the old wives tales make me laugh!

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