One of the most common topics for discussion is whether it is possible to keep a cat in a house where there is a baby. Some are sure that the cat is almost a member of the family and there is nothing wrong with that. Others are categorically against such a neighborhood.
There is no single answer to the question of whether a cat is dangerous for a baby. It all depends on the nature of the pet, and the habits and rules of behavior with him in the family. Any pet is not only a joy but also a potential danger. Often it is either underestimated or exaggerated. Cats can be unpredictable and they may scratch or bite without notice.
Keeping Baby Safe from Cats at Home
Compliance with simple rules will make the habitation of the baby and the cat safe and comfortable. Keep the cat away from the children’s room and children’s toys. Keep baby feeding supplies out of the cat’s reach and cat food and utensils out of the baby’s reach. This will protect him from the risk of infection.
Animals that live in a house where there is a baby need careful care. It is necessary to cut the claws, bathe, and comb the cat’s hair. The resting place for the cat should also be dry and clean. Most diseases from pets are transmitted through direct contact, bites, and scratches. Never leave a small child alone with a cat.
How Dangerous are Cats to Babies
There are various positive and negative aspects of such a neighborhood as cats and small children. Positive emotions, love for animals, a sense of responsibility – this is only one side of the coin. But there is something else: hygiene, safety, and the possibility of contracting dangerous diseases and infections.
Bartonellosis
The bacteria are found in the saliva and under the claws of small kittens and young cats. They can cause various skin infections. The main symptom of the disease is that at the site of the bite, an external formation similar to an insect bite occurs. Bacteria can get under the baby’s delicate skin due to a scratch. The infection is also transmitted through saliva during a bite. The child may have swollen lymph nodes, a fever, and a skin rash.
Rabies
Any animal can be a carrier of the disease. The risk of being a carrier of the disease is much higher in cats because they prey on rodents that often carry rabies. At risk are cats picked up on the street. An animal is doomed if it has rabies. You can prevent the development of infection by vaccinating your cat.
Parasitic worms
This is a disease that is very often transmitted from cats. Their presence in the body may not be manifested. Worms live in the intestines. A cat can be infected with worms even if he has never left the house. Flies, beetles, and other insects carry helminths larvae.
Tetanus
Tetanus cells live in the soil, and from the claws, they can get into the wound. If the wound is thin and deep, oxygen does not get there. The tetanus cell can release the toxin in this case. That is why it is important to take care of the tetanus vaccination.
Danger while sleeping
The cat can lie down to sleep in the face of the child and this makes it difficult for the baby to breathe. There have been cases of children suffocating due to cats lying on their chests or close to their faces. In no case do not let the cat into the room where the baby sleeps. Supervise your child during sleep from time to time.
Allergy
Runny nose and nasal congestion, severe shortness of breath and cough, sneezing, tearing, and redness of the eyes are the main symptoms of cat allergy in children. There may be reddening of the skin in areas where there has been contacted with the cat’s saliva. You should make an appointment with a pediatric allergist if your baby has similar symptoms. The doctor will determine the cause of the allergy and prescribe an effective treatment.
The birth of a baby is not a reason to look for a new owner for a cat. Compliance with simple rules helps the animal get used to it and creates conditions for peaceful coexistence. It is necessary to properly organize the first meeting, establish a familiar life and follow basic safety rules.
The danger of Street or Abroad Cats to Babies
Cats in other countries can have various dangerous diseases. Keep your child away from cats if you are abroad or on vacation. You do not know about the health of the animal and cannot guarantee the safety of the child. Contact with stray animals can lead to various dangerous diseases. In addition to the problems that indoor cats can have, you can also face lichen, ticks, fleas, and various diseases.
Introducing Your Baby To a Cat
It is better to prepare a cat for the appearance of a baby in a family in advance. Get your crib and stroller ready before your baby is born. They should be declared a no-go area for cats. Teach her to the noise of rattles, and other unusual sounds. You need to take the cat to the veterinarian so as not to infect the baby with various infections.
Conduct an external cleaning of the cat from fleas, ticks, and worms, if necessary. Let the cat sniff the baby after arriving from the hospital. Make time for the cat and child to get to know each other. Let your pet get used to the baby’s scent. Be attentive to the cat so that she does not feel lonely and abandoned.
Baby and Cat Should Both be Fully Vaccinated
You need to visit the veterinarian regularly and do all preventive vaccinations for the cat. Cats are vaccinated for the first time at nine weeks of age. Domestic cats should also be vaccinated, even if they never go outside. Not all infections are transmitted only through contact between a sick and a healthy animal.
There are other ways an animal can pick up a virus or infection. There are diseases carried by insects. A cat can catch an infected bird or butterfly that has flown into the apartment. Vaccination will prevent dangerous diseases and infections.
It is equally important to vaccinate the baby on time. For example, the first vaccination against tetanus, which can be carried by a cat, is given at the age of 2 months.
First Few Month Cats Are Kept Apart from Babies
Newborns have weak immunity in the first months of life. Contact with a cat may be unsafe. Take care in advance of a comfortable place for the cat in the first months of the baby’s life to avoid this. Options can be different: you can leave the cat with parents, friends, or even in special hotels for cats.
Prepare the animal for new conditions gradually. Preparing your pet for new living conditions will help to avoid unnecessary stress. The cat can return home when the baby grows up. Such a neighborhood will only have a positive effect. Scientists say that children who have pets have stronger immunity and get sick less.
