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June 2012 Moms
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Cats

ZilelabelleZilelabelle member
in June 2012 Moms
Am currently angry at the pediatric hospitalist that came to my prenatal group last night. Someone asked her about how to deal with siblings being germy and touching the newborn and the hospitalist said not to worry, if you are breast feeding you should pass on antibodies to the baby to help keep them safe. So I asked, what about cats? Is it the same? And she freaked out and said that under no circumstances should I allow my cats near the baby for at least two months! Then she proceeded to preach about not letting them sleep on him (duh) and never leave them alone with him, keep toys out of the crib (duh and more duh!) by the end of her tirade I felt like she thought I was the most incompetent baby caretaker in the history of life, ever. I hope she isn't working on the day I give birth. I mean honestly, the cats live in the house, just like a sibling, their germs and stuff will be everywhere and all over me, is my baby really going to keel over if I let a cat sniff him once or twice? I really am a very cautious person and have probably read more than I should about baby care and safety. But that lady's reaction just got to me. Gah! Still angry... Thanks for letting me rant. Gonna go hug a cat.
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Re: Cats

  • ToBeMMGToBeMMG member
    how ridiculous!!!!!!!! the baby (and the cats) will be fine! you are nicer than me! my rescue oriented a** would have given her an earfull!!!! lol
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  • ZilelabelleZilelabelle member
    Rescue people are the best! All of our fur babies are rescues. We also foster mama cats and their babies when we can, but haven't since getting pg - DH refuses to scoop that much poop alone. I look forward to being able to do that again someday :)
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  • dragossoul84dragossoul84 member
    Send her to my house she will flip out we have five cats and five dogs. As long as your a responsible pet owner it shouldnt matter
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  • cchill01cchill01 member

    That's crazy.  I think there are a lot of cat-haters out there.  Sounds like you found one. 

    My cats were fine with the baby and eventually we all happily took naps together (with them on my feet, DD by my head).  We watched closely at first, but it was quickly apparent that they wanted nothing to do with the screaming being we brought into the house.  They also seemed to instinctively know their place in the family structure and that they'd been demoted.

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  • MammaG27MammaG27
    Thats awful! Ive had many people ask me about my cat and if im worried once the baby comes.  Of course Im going to be careful.........but some people are a bit much!!! 
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  • snicksnacksnicksnack member
    I have two cats and when DD was three weeks old she accidently got scratched I fliped out more than her pedi.  Never once was I told to keep the cats away for fear of illiness. 
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  • Davesgrl2011Davesgrl2011 member

    I grew up with cats and so will my children, as I love my cats probably more than I love most of the people in my family lol.  Obviously I will keep an eye on how baby and cats mesh, for both their sakes, but I expect the cats to show some curiousity towards the baby when we first bring him home, and they will have supervised getting to know you sessions, the same as if I had other children. 

    I don't know where people get the idea that cats and dogs are germy or disease ridden animals.  I know that birds and reptiles can carry nasty things, but with washing your hands and keeping those animals clean solves that problem.  Fur-bearing animals are actually very clean.  I have pictures of me stuffing my cats tail into my mouth when I was a baby, and I survived (how happy the cat was, IDK!) 

    I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from educating her and then walking out.  Good for you for keeping your cool!  Now go hug your kitty!

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  • KrissyMissKrissyMiss

    How stupid! Some people just are not animal lovers. I'm sure you will be 100% responsible and not allow your fur babies to sleep on and smother your LO; that wasn't what you were asking about.

    I had a doctor in the past who suggested that I get rid of my two cats (I had had them for 6 years at that point and had grown up with cats my whole life) because I started having problems breathing. Turned out the basement apartment I was living in had black mold, and as soon as I left that place I no longer needed to use the inhaler she prescribed me. Thank God I didn't abandon my fur babies!

    Unfortunately not everyone is capable of understanding the value and love that animals can bring into our lives.

    ETA: I did not abandon my fur babies, but I sure as $hit ditched that doctor.

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  • ZilelabelleZilelabelle member
    imageKrissyMiss:

    ETA: I did not abandon my fur babies, but I sure as $hit ditched that doctor.

    Go you! 

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  • Crescent683Crescent683

    you will be exposed to any germs your cats carry that are transmittable to humans and therefore will make antibodies and pass them along in your breastmilk. Its the same concept as with sibs. I asked my pedi this question and luckily got a much more rational response.

    My pedis only qualification was to keep sterilized bottles (I plan on having to pump after returning to work) out of the cats reach. Hug your cat and I'll hug my two...

    If it makes you feel any better I've been asked what I'm going to do WHEN DD becomes allergic to cats...she's not even born yet and I'm not giving away my animals because you think she'll be allergic.

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  • thebokitheboki member
    I'm angry just reading about it.  And BTW, both of my cats have sniffed the baby (and promptly ran away).
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