Cats and babies – or the old smothering myth

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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
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    AZENA, yes, that’s what people say. You’ve just got to let them talk, but make sure the cat doesn't go into the bedroom. What can you even say to these idiots? I knew a woman who put her cat out on the street because of those old wives' tales. I think it’s lovely that the kitten purrs away next to the baby – they’ll grow up together. A doctor once told me that a little girl who lives with a cat becomes immune to toxoplasmosis later on.
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    Well, azena, your friends certainly have some extreme ways of doing things!

    I remember when I was pregnant at the same time as a friend of mine; she told me people were giving her a hard time because she has two cats. They kept saying, "You should rehome them now the baby’s coming, it won’t be good," and on and on... It’s pretty much the same kind of nonsense your friends are telling you.

    Your cat hasn’t done anything wrong; quite the opposite, he seems happy to me since he’s nuzzling your baby’s hand and purring too. There’s no way he’s going to smother the baby doing that – absolute rubbish o_O. I’ve always thought it was ridiculous to get rid of your cats just because you’re pregnant.

    Obviously, though, don't leave the cat alone with the baby in the nursery. I adopted a cat recently (back in August). At the start, he was quite frisky, so he’d occasionally swipe at my son or give him a little scratch, but nothing nasty. I’m still always on my guard, though – you never know. That said, unless I’m right there, my cat isn’t allowed in my son’s room. He only goes in when I do—when I’m getting my son up or putting him to bed—but that’s it; I take him out afterwards. He still tries to have a swipe at my 18-month-old sometimes, so I keep a close eye as it can happen so fast. Usually, when I leave the room, the cat follows me while my son is in his playpen.

    Cats and babies aren't incompatible, but you do have to be careful, just like with any animal ;) but honestly, your friends are talking nonsense o_O.

    What I’d say to people like that is that a cat isn't some bloodthirsty animal out to get a baby. It’s up to us as parents to be careful; the cat shouldn't have to suffer just because a baby is arriving. After all, they don't ask to be adopted into a family—people need to think before getting a pet, because the animal shouldn't have to bear the brunt of it. Not long ago, I saw an advert where a woman was pregnant and giving away her kitten who was barely 6 months old! Her reason, of course: "I’m pregnant and I’m not immune to toxoplasmosis."

    Translated from French

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