A bit of a rant this morning: some friends came over to see my 4-month-old last night. I was holding my son when my kitten (5 months old) hopped onto the sofa and started rubbing against his little hand, purring away. And then – shock horror! My friends started judging: "Are you really letting the cats get near the baby? Why don't you put them outside? They'll smother him in his sleep!"
I already had so many comments like that during my pregnancy. "That kind of myth is dangerous!" I told them. I'm not going to get rid of my cats just because doctors in the past used to blame their own professional failings on our poor little four-legged friends!
I'd love to know if you've had these kinds of remarks too, and if so, what did you say to all these idiots?
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
That is so true!!! When you adopt a cat (or any other pet for that matter), you've got to realise that this sort of thing is bound to happen sooner or later.
I’m in a hurry too, Melly!!! It’s been nearly two years now since I came off contraception—nothing at all—and still nothing... No baby! You stop thinking about it after a while, but I’ve got friends giving birth left, right, and centre at the moment, so it makes me think about it again and it breaks my heart a bit :s
It’ll happen, Melly ;) don’t worry.
Ohhh yes, it makes you do and say some weird things! Not to mention the dreams and especially the constant nightmares!
lol I was alright during my pregnancy, I wasn't too much of a pain, the hormones didn't really change me and plus no morning sickness, lucky me ;) lol but at two and a half months pregnant I had a bit of a scare so I was anxious for the rest of my pregnancy. So I reckon my son will be my first and last because for me it was an absolute nightmare, at every scan I wanted to run out of the waiting room for fear they’d tell me my baby wasn’t doing well. Talk about being an optimist :s
Yeah, I think growing up with animals is great, and azena you're right, if it's not 'healthy' to have pets at home then it's not healthy to take kids out to play in the park either, because yeah they get dirty and put all sorts of things in their mouths that are probably way muckier than being around animals. People and their 'science' really make me laugh (^^,) Actually, it reminds me of my boyfriend’s ex who sent a social worker round to our house acting like the perfect mum, saying "it's not healthy for N...... to live surrounded by all these animals", as if we had a zoo at home. Anyway, all that to say people make me smile – like a friend of mine, not long after I got Berlioz (she knew I’d got him from the rescue), she told me to be careful when he gave my son a little scratch, so he didn't catch anything since she knew he had cat flu. I told her "don't worry, my son won't catch a thing, a little scratch isn't going to kill him."
Ugh, honestly, people telling you what to do is just infuriating (well, I personally hate being told how to live my life)... Giving up your pet just because you’re pregnant is beyond stupid...
To be honest, friend or not, I’d tell the first person who told me to get rid of my cat if I got pregnant exactly where to go...
I remember when my brother was born, we had a young cat... They grew up together, and the cat even slept in the bed with my brother. We were terrified the first time it happened, but Felix always just curled up at my brother's feet. Those two became the best of friends; Felix never scratched us, not even my brother, despite how rough he could be as a toddler...
It just goes to show... Obviously, we still always kept an eye on things when my brother was small and with the cat, but there really was never any trouble at all. That Felix was an absolute sweetheart...
Lol Melly :D you’re right, pregnancy hormones definitely make you do and say some weird things :D (I remember right at the start I had a proper meltdown at my fella because the lady at the chippy gave me a meatball in tomato sauce instead of gravy, lmao! I can laugh about it now but at the time I actually scared myself a bit. I’m much more calm and collected now than I was back then.)
Mind you, there are still some topics that get on my nerves just as much as ever :)
I’ve nearly left some really nasty comments on ads for cats being rehomed by people who are giving them away just because they’re pregnant! You’re much more likely to catch toxo from eating raw meat or unwashed veg than you are from a cat!
Anyway, if you love your pets it's simple enough—just wear gloves or get your partner to do the litter tray!
LOL Anaisyl XD Well, I know all about feeling sick, I’ll be fine lol (I suffer from migraines) but mmm, the rest sounds so good! I’m really excited! XD
LMAO melly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well you’ll see, you’ll go from bursts of joy to pure rage, through to sadness and a proper crying fit, all in the space of 5 minutes lol!!! I’m exaggerating, but not that much ;)
Not forgetting that awful nausea and being sick!! Bleuuuuurrrggghhh!
Yeah I bet azena, I’m usually pretty "chill" so people don't usually bother pulling their punches with me, but when I lose my rag, I really lose it!!!! lol
You're spot on, Azena... If anyone ever tried telling me to give up my cat, they'd certainly get a piece of my mind!
Actually, the other day a couple of my partner's friends came round (I'd never met them before) and they were absolutely vile to Liquorice. Well, that's the first and last time they're ever setting foot in my house.
That's what this forum is for anyway, we're all used to a good old rant on here lol
I didn't really get many comments during my pregnancy (everyone was too terrified I’d chuck a plate at them!) but now they’re coming thick and fast... so a bit of a rant does wonders :)
