Cat and newborn baby in the apartment

In many families in which cats also live, as soon as it becomes known about the upcoming addition to the family, the question arises: what to do with the pet now? Future parents begin to worry how the cat will react to the infant, whether it will become jealous, and whether the presence of an animal in the house is harmful to the baby’s health?

It happens that, without understanding all these issues, the owners place the cat with their friends or acquaintances, or simply throw them out into the street. But pussies and children can get along very well in the same apartment. And even be friends. You just need to follow some rules so that this friendship between a child and a cat brings only joy to both of them.

Preparation

Cats are quite tolerant of newborn children if you prepare them in advance for the arrival of a new member of the community that lives in this house or apartment. To do this, you need to take the following preventive measures
:

for a cat, one of the main stresses is noise, which is inevitably associated with the appearance of a newborn baby in the house, so you need to accustom the animal in advance to these loud sounds that a baby makes when inviting friends who have small children home;
accustom your pet to the sounds of a rattle, give the opportunity to smell those substances and objects that will be associated with the child: powder, baby cream, lotion, shampoo, cats receive almost half of the information through smell;
You need to talk with your pet about future changes, naming the name of the future child, if it has already been chosen.

For a pet, the appearance of a new family member, especially one of such small size, will always be a surprise to which he needs to get used to.

Rules to follow

The animal must be examined by a veterinarian. Then the pet must receive the necessary vaccinations and prevent worms. In the future, this procedure must be carried out regularly under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Maintain good hygiene. Remember that animals are potential sources and carriers of infectious diseases!
Always wash your hands after handling your pet.
Do not allow the animal to come into contact with the child’s things and toys. If this happens, wash your toys and wash your clothes. Moreover, close contact between the baby and the animal is unacceptable. Do not allow the animal to lick, sniff or touch the child. While the child is small, he cannot fully feel all the joy of communicating with an animal, but he will have time to become infected with some kind of infection. In the room where the child spends most of his time (sleeping, playing), it is forbidden to place cages with birds, animals and place dog and cat houses, as well as aquariums. Animals and the baby must live isolated from each other.
Be more careful about keeping your home clean. Wet cleaning is recommended to be carried out daily, and if the need arises (pollution in the apartment, an abundance of hair during the animal’s molting period), then more often. It is necessary to ventilate the room several times a day. It is advisable that there is no specific animal smell in the room: this will help reduce the risk of allergic reactions.
Never leave a small child alone with an animal. This is a potentially traumatic situation, because the behavior of both is unpredictable. A sudden cry or involuntary movement by a child can frighten the animal or cause it pain. While defending itself, the animal may bite and/or scratch the baby. In addition, an animal, such as a cat, can lie next to a sleeping child in such a way as to cause suffocation in the baby.

Whether or not to have an animal in the house is something everyone decides for themselves. But approach this important decision thoughtfully, taking into account all the positive and negative aspects.

Natalia Taishcheva, Ph.D. honey. Sciences, Assistant, Department of Hospital Pediatrics, Russian State Medical University

Treatment

If an allergy is detected, parents are obliged to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Do not self-medicate, be it with medications or harmless herbal infusions following your grandmother’s advice. Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor after identifying the allergen.

After the prescribed treatment, parents are obliged:

strictly follow all instructions and comply with assignments;
completely eliminate contact with the cat;
help boost the child's immunity.

Additional measures include:

do a general cleaning of the house using strong disinfectants. Wash all carpets, curtains and bedspreads. Particular attention should be paid to nooks and crannies that are rarely cleaned;
acquire an air ionization system, install an air conditioner;
regularly ventilate the room;
maintaining infant hygiene;
get rid of the cat.

The doctor prescribes antihistamines, drops for the eyes and nose, and ointments to eliminate rashes. All medications must be appropriate for the child’s age. It is impossible to completely get rid of allergies; only the symptoms are relieved and its bright manifestations are removed. Upon contact with an animal, it will still manifest itself, at any age of the person.

I am pregnant. Should I be afraid of toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can seriously impair fetal development. The feces of cats with an active Toxoplasma infection contain this parasite. For a pregnant woman to become infected with toxoplasmosis from a cat, the following must happen:

The cat must have an active infection. Cats can only become infected by eating raw meat and prey with this infection. An active infection may have no symptoms, but remember that it only lasts a few weeks and is then suppressed by the immune system.
A pregnant woman's mouth should contain feces from a cat with an active infection.

This means that getting an infection from a cat is extremely unlikely if the cat lives indoors, does not go outside, and eats canned or dried cat food. To be completely safe, the US Food Safety Inspectorate suggests pregnant women follow one very simple rule: “Do not clean your cat's litter box yourself.” Remember that there are other ways to get toxoplasmosis (not from cats), as well as other infections that can harm your baby (and they have nothing to do with cats!).

What diseases can a cat give to a child?

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease of humans and animals caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The causative agent is neither a virus, nor a bacteria, nor a helminth (worm). This is the simplest microorganism.

Many parasitic organisms develop with a change of host. This means that they do not live in the same organism all their lives. One stage of development can take place in one organism, and another in a completely different one. There may be two or more such hosts.

The definitive host of Toxoplasma is cats or other members of the feline family. The primary or final host of a parasite is the organism in which the adult stage of the parasite or the sexual stage of the protozoan lives and reproduces.

An intermediate host is an organism in which the larval stages of parasite development or the asexual generation of a protozoan occur. Intermediate hosts of toxoplasma can be humans, rodents, birds, and livestock.

Infection occurs from the primary host.

There are the following routes of human infection:

Toxoplasmosis can occur in acute, subacute, chronic, subclinical, inpatient (lack of symptoms and development of immunity) forms, as well as in the form of carriage.

In the vast majority of cases, this disease is asymptomatic in people with a normal immune response.

In the acute course of the disease, headache, weakness, fever, enlargement of lymph nodes, liver, and spleen are possible. Less commonly, a roseolous-papular rash (in the form of nodules and inflammatory spots) may occur.

As a rule, all adult cats that have been outside and eaten raw meat or mice have already had toxoplasmosis. A danger to a child is a primarily infected animal that has just become ill. And this is usually a kitten.

Toxoplasmosis is very dangerous for pregnant women. It can cause pregnancy failure and fetal death in the womb.

Also, due to severe damage to the nervous system, eyes, heart and other organs, newborn babies with congenital toxoplasmosis often die in the first day of life.

If a child infected in the womb survives, then in 100% of cases he is disabled with severe damage to the nervous system and paresis.

Due to the enormous danger of the disease, pregnant women undergo immunological tests when registering - serological reactions with determination of the titer of immunoglobulins of class G and M (IgM and IgG).

Class M immunoglobulins are produced during a fresh infection (that is, a person is currently infected with Toxoplasma). Class M immunoglobulins are detected in the blood two weeks after infection.

The lifespan of IgM is about six months. If there is no IgG, then such a woman does not have immunity from toxoplasmosis. And that means it needs treatment and careful monitoring.

IgG indicates a previous illness. That is, if IgG is detected in a pregnant woman, this means that the pregnant woman had contact with Toxoplasma in the past. Class G immunoglobulins provide long-lasting, stable immunity, which guarantees protection against recurrence of the disease.

As I already said, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis consists of carrying out serological reactions (enzyme immunoassay or immunofluorescence reaction). In this case, the blood is examined.

Blood sampling is carried out twice, with an interval of 2-3 weeks. This allows you to determine the increase in IgM and IgG titers.

Other methods for detecting toxoplasmosis:

Treatment of toxoplasmosis is carried out only by a specialist (infectious disease doctor, pediatrician, therapist). Parasitocidal drugs, for example, chloridine (Daraprim, Tindurine, Pirematamine), can be used.

Lichen

Feline lichen in a child is a rather serious contagious fungal disease, manifested by small spots with clear boundaries.

Fungi of the genus Microsporum and Trichophyton, which cause this disease, parasitize not only the skin of animals, but also infect humans.

Most often, lichen is carried by small kittens with weak immune systems. Thanks to such carriers, this type of fungus is popularly called cat lichen. The same disease may be referred to in medical literature under a different name – ringworm.

Fungal diseases can be transmitted to humans directly from a sick animal or through contaminated objects. Of course, when precautions are not followed.

Ringworm can affect any part of the body, but is most often localized on the neck, face, back, and forearm.

Feline ringworm appears as pink spots with clear boundaries. Often the border of the element is presented in the form of bubbles. The spots quickly increase in size and tend to merge if there are several of them. Characterized by itchy skin and peeling of the skin in the affected area.

When the scalp is affected, the hair in the lesions breaks off at a level of 0.5 cm from the base. Hence the name of the disease - ringworm. The affected area takes on the appearance of a shaved area of the head.

It is better for a person to start treatment after laboratory testing by a dermatologist.

Treatment of this disease is complex. Usually includes cutting the hair adjacent to the affected area, antifungal agents (topically and for oral administration), and restorative drugs (immunomodulators).

Cat scratch disease

This is an infectious disease that develops after being scratched or bitten by an infected cat. Felinosis, benign lymphoreticulosis, Mollaret granuloma, cat scratch disease - these are all names of the same disease.

The main causative agent of felinosis is the bacterium Bartonella henselae.

The main reservoir of infection is infected cats. The bacterium practically does not cause any pathological conditions in animals. But its toxins are dangerous for humans. Children and young people suffer from this disease more often.

The bacillus, getting on the skin at the site of a scratch or bite, subsequently enters the bloodstream. In this case, a primary inflammatory focus (suppuration in the form of an abscess) is formed at the site of damage. This is the result of the production of toxins by the microbe at the site of injury. The child’s condition at this stage does not suffer.

Cat and newborn in the house

When you return from the hospital with your baby, find a quiet opportunity to greet your cat. This will probably be difficult to do, since there may be numerous relatives, grandparents of the newborn baby, and other family members in the apartment. If your cat is not very keen on large groups of people, she may hide and hide. When everything calms down a little, the animal will appear before your eyes again. You should definitely find an opportunity to interact with your cat.

To help your cat get used to the newborn faster, you can leave a piece of a baby's diaper or some piece of baby clothing where the cat can explore it. If a cat, missing your presence in the house, follows you on your heels, including to the nursery, make sure that it does not jump into the crib of the newborn. There is a strange myth in the world that cats suck the air from the lungs of babies, although, of course, it has nothing to do with reality. The threat is that sometimes, in search of warmth, the cat may get too close to the baby's face, which will make breathing difficult for the newborn baby.

When your newborn is sleeping in his crib, close the nursery door, making sure the cat remains outside. If you don’t have a separate nursery, and you all, including the cat, live in a limited space, then you should take care of the canopy over the newborn’s crib

All these precautions allow you to avoid cat urination in the baby’s crib if the cat takes a great liking to the newborn and also tries to make sure that the owners do not forget about her. Some time will pass, your cat will get used to the new member of your family, and you will still be able to calmly enjoy the company of your furry friend.

Author of the article: Ilya Samokhvalov, “Moscow Medicine”

What are they afraid of?

Why does such a problem appear before the birth of a child: cats and newborn children. There are several reasons

possible allergy to cat fur; according to statistics, this pathology occurs quite rarely, but if such a situation arises, the animal can always be isolated;
a cat can become a spreader of infection, but only if it lives both at home and outside.

The last one is very significant. There is a common belief that cats should be allowed outside. But this is not so, because this is a domestic animal for which the territory that it controls is important, in this case, this is the area of the apartment or house. Side factors that encourage a cat to go outside can easily be overcome: by sterilization, at least of the cat, and drug intervention (sedative drops) for the cat.

If we can’t arrange a cat’s life, then why are we trying to have a child? Communication between a cat and a newborn is inevitable after the baby appears in the house. These creatures are very curious, and having become members of the family, they are also jealous, so you need to prepare your pet for the arrival of a new resident of the house.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of allergies is easy if there is a cat in the house. If you move to another room where there has never been a cat, the symptoms will disappear. But if you relocate a cat, then no. After all, allergens tend to remain on curtains, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedspreads and other household items.

Diagnostic methods used to confirm the diagnosis:

collection of urine and blood tests;
examination, medical history of the mother;
examination, taking the necessary scrapings;
differential diagnosis.

The cat and the small child are not the hunter and the prey

Can a cat harm a baby? For many parents this is a matter of particular concern. Therefore, when a baby appears in the house, the animal is isolated, or - even worse! - they get rid of him. Neither the first, nor even the second can be called a good solution, because a cat and a newborn can get along wonderfully under one roof

The main thing is to behave correctly and take precautions

How can four-legged pets harm a small child? Can cats choke children? Is this true? Horror stories about cats killing innocent babies are an echo of medieval superstitions, in which they appeared as a tool in the hands of the devil. In addition, this is reflected in a complete lack of understanding of cat nature. There is absolutely no reason for cats to attack a child. Yes, they are predators, but this does not mean that they can recognize a baby as prey. Cats hunt small birds and rodents, and newborn babies are not at all like them.

The kids do not look so formidable that cats could attack them in self-defense. On the contrary, the baby, rather, awakens the instinct of care and patronage than gives rise to aggression

Everything indicates that the cat feels that she is dealing with a young representative of the human race, and behaves very carefully towards him. This is not so surprising, since a small kitten and a newborn have similar proportions, move awkwardly and make similar “meowing” sounds.

All mammalian babies stimulate the initiation of protective instincts. Stories of children raised by animals are not legends, but documented facts.

Another thing is that some pets do things that their owners obviously won’t like - for example, cats can hiss at newborns, sleep with them in a warm crib or stroller, and constantly hang around. However, all this does not indicate aggression - rather, a defensive position or a manifestation of interest, or even sympathy, with a tiny creature.

Cats in a home with small children can only be dangerous because they are carriers of various diseases.

However, the likelihood that a child will become infected with something from an animal that does not leave the house and is under the constant supervision of veterinarians is reduced to almost zero. We are more likely to bring some microbes into the house ourselves than a cat that has little contact with the outside world. Therefore, if she does not leave the house, there is no need to worry about the child’s health. But if your cat walks on its own, then you should limit its contact with the newborn, take more care of hygiene and find room in your busy schedule for visits to the veterinarian.

Cat's relationship with newborn

Some expectant mothers worry that the cat will offend a small child. But more often than not, such fears are not at all confirmed when the baby appears. Even those furry pets who were not particularly fond of children before, at the birth of a baby, show care and affection towards him. Many people lie down in the baby’s crib, and when he cries, they run and call the young mother. They sometimes even begin to defend the child themselves if someone offends the child.

Cats are more relaxed about a newborn in the house. But they rarely show aggression. They clearly distinguish between children who simply came to visit and those who were born and are growing up before their eyes. They may scratch or be afraid of the first ones. They usually don’t do this with the latter.

Cats usually start scratching not a newborn baby, but an already grown one. Then it is more often a defense against it than an attack.

Security measures

At the same time, it is necessary to observe some precautions related, first of all, to keeping a cat and compliance with certain sanitary standards and other rules that will allow the animal and the child to coexist peacefully .

It is imperative to teach your child that after he has picked up a cat or stroked it, he must wash his hands, even if it is a completely domestic animal. We must remember that there are no completely sterile places in the house, but the cat walks and lies everywhere.

From a very early age, a child must be taught to be caring and affectionate towards animals. A cat can offend a small child only if he himself constantly shows aggression towards her. Therefore, from an early age it is necessary to accustom the child to :

Any aggression against a person on the part of a cat is a defensive reaction to the external manifestation of aggression on the part of a person. And even when it manifests itself, it is limited in nature, i.e. the cat may scratch or hiss, warning that it should not be angered further. But these are extreme measures taken by the animal. Usually, when there is a threat, a cat tries to avoid conflict and would rather hide somewhere or run away.

Source

What to do when the child grows up?

As your child grows up and becomes more mobile and active, you must remember to give the purr a place to rest from the toddler's antics. Make sure your cat is not cornered and can always find a safe place to sleep where your child cannot reach her. Heavy furniture and special shelves are perfect for preventing a curious baby from getting to your pet when he wants to be alone.

Children grow slowly, and cats usually adapt well to new environments. Teach your little one to respect their pets and not cause them discomfort or pain, and they should get along well. Your child will benefit from living with pets and gaining lifelong memories of a furry childhood friend.

How do you get along with children?

Such a pet will enjoy communicating with the baby.
Sphynxes are very good with children because they themselves do not grow up. Felinologists believe that cats of this breed are excellent nannies who will not only play, but also take care of the child. Together they will make an ideal tandem and give parents the opportunity to relax. For cats, the intrusiveness of children will only be a joy. But the exception is very young children under 1 year old. A newborn may suffer from excessive care and curiosity of the animal. There are often cases when an interested pet frightens the baby or damages the skin due to an attempt to lick. The special rough structure of the tongue is not dangerous for adults, but provokes irritation in children. The Sphynx is also good for families with children because of its lack of fur. The child’s play space will not have to be constantly vacuumed and tidied. Research by felinologists has found that a child who has contact with a cat from an early age learns faster, masters sensory skills, develops reaction and empathy. Thanks to the activity of the animal, the child will also get to his feet faster and will actively burn energy during joint games. Sphynx cats rarely cause allergies, but despite the lack of fur, it is better to first make sure that there is no negative reaction from the body. Enzymes released through the skin can cause rashes, redness, coughing and sinus congestion in sensitive people. Symptoms may be mistaken for a cold, so the doctor should be notified of the appearance of a pet.

Traditional methods and homeopathy

Herbal infusions and homeopathic preparations are not suitable for curing cat allergies, but they make a child’s life much easier by relieving the symptoms of the disease. If you notice an allergic reaction, use the following available recipes.

To relieve sore throat and cough

Motherwort. The dry grass is crushed, poured with boiling water in a ratio of 2:10, and infused. After filtering, gargle. Laryngeal swelling and cough will go away.
Chamomile. Flowers are infused in boiling water, 1 tablespoon per 200 milliliters. Drink as tea or gargle 4-5 times a day.

Against lacrimation, swelling of the eyelids, conjunctivitis

Chamomile flowers. Cotton pads are soaked in the infusion and the eyes are wiped in the morning, evening, and throughout the day.
Weak tea. The product is filtered. Dip a cotton pad into a container of tea and squeeze out excess liquid. Rub the eyes or make a compress for 1–2 minutes.

For nasal congestion, rhinitis

Aloe juice. Squeezed from washed leaves, diluted in half with boiled water. Instill 1 drop 3-4 times a day.
Bay leaf and linseed oil. Pour 20 bay leaves with oil and leave for 7 days. Place the product in your nose after waking up, at night.

Against itching, skin rashes

Infusion of bay leaf. Add to bath or use as lotion.
Aloe juice. Cut the leaf in half and apply to the site of inflammation. Redness will go away after 2-3 procedures.

To immunize the body

A mixture of herbs. Combine string, chamomile, licorice, valerian, and oregano in equal parts. Fill with water (300 milliliters), heat in a bathhouse. Strain. Give your child 1 teaspoon 3 times a day.
Peppermint. A decoction of 2 tablespoons of herbs is filtered and given to children to drink.

Homeopathy

Tablets and powders are produced based on natural ingredients. It is convenient to use homeopathic remedies to relieve the symptoms of allergies to cats because you do not need to boil or infuse the herbs. It is enough to take a tablet or dissolve the powder in water. The following drugs are suitable for children:

"Allergozan". Available in granule form. It is used for symptomatic treatment, seasonal and permanent maintenance of normal well-being. Used as an emergency way to get rid of a reaction to a cat.
"Sambucus". Effective for allergic rhinitis, bronchitis. The granules need to be absorbed.
"Phytocin DN". Ointment for the treatment of runny nose. Lubricate your baby's nasal passages before and after interacting with the kitten.
"Petroleum". Suitable for children with reduced immunity. Effective for the treatment of itching and urticaria.

Important! Keep in mind that alternative natural medicine is not suitable for all children. If the baby cannot tolerate herbs, sneezes during spring flowering, or breaks out in a rash after baths with added extracts, forget about traditional methods.

Preparation

for a cat, one of the main stresses is noise, which is inevitably associated with the appearance of a newborn baby in the house, so you need to accustom the animal in advance to these loud sounds that a baby makes when inviting friends who have small children home;
accustom your pet to the sounds of a rattle, give the opportunity to smell those substances and objects that will be associated with the child: powder, baby cream, lotion, shampoo, cats receive almost half of the information through smell;
You need to talk with your pet about future changes, naming the name of the future child, if it has already been chosen.

For a pet, the appearance of a new family member, especially one of such small size, will always be a surprise to which he needs to get used to.

Are cats dangerous for small children?

A well-trained and socialized cat is no more dangerous to your child than an older sibling of a similar age, and may even be less dangerous! However, just as you would not leave 2 small children together alone for a long time, the communication between a cat and a child needs your supervision. This also applies to sleep, since if a pet sleeps with a newborn, it can cause difficulty in the baby’s breathing, as can also be caused by poorly placed plush toys, towels, etc.

Even if your cat is aggressive, remember that a newborn is unlikely to cause aggression in your furry friend, since he is inactive and in the eyes of a purr does not pose a particular danger. However, in order to be completely sure that unpleasant incidents will not occur, it is best to consult with an animal psychologist before the child arrives at home.

Remember: Tens of millions of children are growing up under the same roof as cats all over the world! As recent studies have proven, children who grew up under the same roof with cats are healthier and less likely to suffer from allergies than children who did not have animals.

Hypoallergenic cat breeds

If your child is allergic to cats and really wants to have an animal, then you can try to get a pet. Choose Murka based on the following safe criteria:

Get a cat, not a cat. In females the protein is less aggressive.
Buy a newborn kitten. Their protein production is weak, the child will have time to adapt to the allergen.
Prepare to have your animal spayed and neutered. After surgery, protein is produced in minimal quantities.
Choose light-haired animals. In black and brown cats, the squirrels are much more aggressive.

It is worth mentioning separately about hypoallergenic cat breeds. There is none of them. Among all existing species, we can distinguish those that were bred by breeders with an emphasis on the fact of provoking a negative reaction in the hosts.

They have completely absent or short hair, protein is secreted less actively, and their character is docile. That is, it is important how the animal looks and behaves in everyday life.

Pay attention to the following breeds:

Canadian and Don Sphynx. The famous naked cat.
Peterbald. There is a velor version, very short-haired and hairless. Either is considered safe for allergy sufferers.
Lykoi. Often confused with sphinxes. Representatives of this breed have very short hair.
Abyssinian, Bengal, Burmese, Savannah, Toyger. An incredibly beautiful breed with short hair, bred by crossing with wild relatives.
Oriental. A cat with large ears, distinguished by its elasticity and dexterity.
Angora. The breed was bred in Turkey. Color ranges from snow-white to black. Light shades are suitable for allergy sufferers. The cat hardly sheds.
Cornish Rex, Devon Rex. They love to bathe, they can be washed every week, minimizing the spread of the allergen throughout the apartment.
Javanese. A cross between the Siamese and Abyssinian breeds. They do a great job cleaning their fur coats themselves. Ready to lick fur around the clock.

For lovers of animals with long hair, we can recommend breeds with increased accuracy. They actively produce protein, but quickly lick it off without having time to scatter throughout the house.

Burmese, or temple. Brought from Indochina, where it lived in the dwellings of clergy. There is no undercoat.
Neva Masquerade. Sheds heavily (twice a year), suitable for neat and lazy owners. If you brush and wash your paws regularly, you won’t suffer much from allergies.
Balinese. The coat is similar to rabbit fur, there is no undercoat.

Very important! People with allergies should not have a Scottish or British Fold cat. They are considered the most allergenic. Dandruff and antigen settle in the thick undercoat. The Scotsman is not distinguished by increased accuracy or desire to lick himself.

Check weighing

To ensure that kittens are getting enough food and are gaining weight well, you should weigh them daily in the first week of life and at least twice a week for the first month - we recommend keeping a weight gain diary. It is convenient to use electronic kitchen scales for weighing.

The weekly increase should be about 100 grams. By the age of two weeks, healthy kittens should certainly double their original weight. Contact a professional if you suspect your kittens are not gaining weight well. Signs of malnutrition can also include constant squeaking, restlessness, and poor sleep.

What to do when a newborn appears in the house with a cat?

The animal does not view the baby as a troublemaker and competitor, as would happen if we brought another member of the feline family into the house. However, having a newborn cat can cause some stress. However, it is associated not so much with the presence of a child, but with the hustle and bustle that usually accompanies his appearance in the family.

Can cats be jealous of a small child? And how! However, we can help the pet get used to the new situation faster.

First of all, we do not need to immediately and completely isolate the animal from the child. This way it will be convinced that this crying lump is just a small person who does not pose any threat to it. In addition, the crying of a newborn can awaken the cat's protective instinct, because this is a danger signal. In this case, the pet will try to hurry up with help, as he would do in the case of his own offspring. In such a situation, the obstacle of closed doors will cause him additional stress and anxiety. When the child arrives home, give the cat the opportunity to smell and even touch him, if he has such a desire. The reaction of animals to a new family member, of course, greatly depends on their temperament. Some cats initially keep a short distance, others immediately occupy the crib. But surely they will all be interested in the newcomer, because feline curiosity is a proverb! However, no matter how lively the cat’s interest in the newborn baby may be, it is better to carefully suppress it and not allow her to have physical contact with him.

A cat has no place in a child's bed. Although your attention is absorbed by the offspring, always remember that the cat was until now the favorite of the whole family, and now suddenly finds itself relegated to the background. He is not human, and it is difficult for him to understand why he was suddenly expelled and not allowed to enter the room where the child now sleeps

And the more he was spoiled before, the worse it is for him to endure the new situation. Therefore, continue to show the animal the same sympathy, show interest in it and spend some time. Let it be present during everyday child care, sitting somewhere in a corner, watching your manipulations. If you find time to pet the cat and say kind words to it, it will have no reason to envy and jealousy of the child (just don’t forget after such contacts wash your hands). The relationship between a happy animal and the baby will be positive. And after a while you will be able to see that cats and small children can become good friends.

Many mothers are afraid that their baby will be allergic to cats. This is actually a very controversial issue. No one can determine with certainty in advance whether the presence of such a pet in the house will have a negative impact on the baby’s health.

Some doctors believe that the risk of allergies is even lower in those children who have always had animals at home. This is explained by the fact that the newborn’s immunity initially fights against an external agent (germs from cat fur, for example), which is what it is intended for. This is a kind of immunity training. If a child finds himself in an environment that is too clean, then his body begins to look for “strangers” within itself, which, in essence, is an allergy.

Therefore, it is not worth getting rid of a cat because of such fears even before the birth of the child. It is better to see how the baby’s body will react to the presence of an animal. If later suspicions arise that the baby is allergic to a cat, then it will be possible to take an allergen test and find out for sure.

British cats, pregnancy, children.

Our British cat is named Tesla, after the famous scientist. He has been living in our family for two years. During this time, a second child appeared in the family. In my review, I want to talk about the relationship between a cat and children, and in general about the nuances of keeping an animal at home that we encountered.

We bought a cat at the age of 2 months, for five thousand rubles, with documents. We agreed with the breeders that the cat is not for breeding; this is also written in the documents. I bought the cat just for fun, I liked the color, and I never needed the documents, they are still lying somewhere in the far corner of the house.

This color is called marbled because of the characteristic stripes. On the forehead of purebred marbled Britons, stripes form the letter M, on the shoulders there is a pattern in the form of a butterfly. A more detailed description of the breed can be read below.

The head is round and with well-developed cheeks, wide at the cheekbones, which emphasize its round shape. The neck is short and thick. The nose is short, wide, straight. In profile, the round forehead turns into a short, straight nose (the transition should not be very obvious, but noticeable). The chin is strong and level. The nose and chin are vertical.
The ears are small, rounded, low and wide set.
The eyes are large, round, wide open, set wide apart. Usually a very bright orange color. Point cats have blue eyes. Chinchillas range from blue, lavender, to emerald green.
The body is squat, cobby-type, the back is straight and short. The chest is wide. Shoulders are broad and massive
Legs and paws - the legs are short, thick, the paws are round, strong, dense.
The tail is thick, of medium length, rounded at the end, wide at the base.
The coat is short, thick, shiny, dense, fine texture, non-lying, with a thick undercoat. A coat that is too soft and/or too long and/or close-lying is a fault.
The British Fold breed does not exist. There is a "British Shorthair (longhair)" and a Scottish Fold.

This is the first cat in our family. The cat quickly took root, he was very active, at first we thought that Tesla would destroy our apartment, he ran around the house all day long and jumped everywhere. Once he jumped from the balcony, from the third floor, they took him to the veterinarian, thank God everything worked out, then he hit his eye on the corner, during the jump, they barely saved his eye. The cat was accustomed to the litter box right away, but he finally got used to the scratching post only after a couple of months, during which time he tore up the wallpaper and some furniture.

Nutrition

Until a year they fed Tesla Royal Canin for British kittens, then Royal Canin for British kittens. For the last few months, there has been a catastrophic lack of money, since I am on maternity leave. We give hypoallergenic food Our brand and our meat food. Dry food is normal food for cats, if it is of high quality; there is absolutely no time to cook for the cat yourself. We tried to give the cat dry Whiskas, but he immediately developed an allergy to it, the smell of feces was terrible. So, if you have a British cat, it is advisable to buy special food at a pet store or make it yourself, the recipe for a balanced food is quite complex, it can be found on the Internet.

Castration

At 8-9 months, the cat’s urine began to smell very strongly, not a single litter masked this smell, and one urination was enough for the whole apartment to smell. We decided to castrate the cat. When we brought him to the doctor, it turned out that our cat had cryptorchid. Cryptorchidism is a condition where the testicles are out of place. In our case, both testicles were in the abdominal cavity; if we had not performed the operation, the cat could have developed cancer. After castration, the smell of urine almost completely disappeared and now we change the litter in the tray every 3-4 days. We use regular pine filler. After castration, the cat stopped growing and always weighs about 4.5 kg. Although the operation may not be related to growth, I cannot say for sure. In general, the average weight of an adult Briton is about 6 kg, while that of a cat is 4-5 kg.

Wool

Another problem we encountered was fur; in the spring the cat began to shed hair and there was fur everywhere. The British have a medium-long coat, but as a rule it is very thick, densely packed, and a lot of it falls out when shedding. Good food and vitamins did not help us. My husband generally hates dust and fur, so at the beginning we bought different brushes and a vacuum cleaner. They scratched and vacuumed every day, but this didn’t really help. The husband began to lash out at the cat, the mother-in-law came and added fuel to the fire. I solved the problem simply - I took it to a groomer (animal hairdresser) and cut the cat like a lion. We didn’t feel any fur at home at all - for two months, then we cut it again, such a service costs 1000 rubles, but you can learn how to cut it yourself.

Cat and pregnancy

The fact is that at the time the cat moulted, I was pregnant and my relatives began to whisper to me that I needed to get rid of the animal, as if it might infect me and the child with something. I was categorically against it. The fact is that cats can infect humans with toxoplasmosis. For an ordinary person, this disease is not dangerous, but for a fetus during pregnancy it poses a mortal threat. Domestic cats can become infected with toxoplasmosis through raw meat, so it is best to feed them store-bought cat food if you are pregnant. A test for the presence of toxoplasmosis can be taken at any clinic, even at a regular provincial antenatal clinic. Such an analysis will show not only the presence/absence of toxoplasma, but also whether you have had this disease before or not. It turned out that I had already suffered from this disease a long time ago, and since re-infection is not possible, I could no longer infect the fetus. In general, the cat turned out to be safe for the fetus, the fur disappeared after the haircut and my relatives stopped harassing Tesla. By the way, toxoplasmosis is deadly, not only for the fetus, but also for HIV-positive people.

Cat and children.

By the time the cat appeared, I already had one child - 4 years old. Tesla turned out to be a good friend for him, they still play, they even tell us that our eldest son and the cat are somewhat similar. At the time the cat appeared, my son had a stutter, he was afraid of animals, but he became friends with the cat and over time, our stuttering went away. Of course, we were treated with medication, went to a neurologist, worked with specialists, but I think the cat also contributed to his son’s treatment. Then I had my second baby. At first we were afraid that the cat might scare him and become jealous, but Tesla treated the child well and watched him carefully from the first days. He loved to lie down next to him when the child was lying on the sofa, he tried to lick the baby, but I stopped it. When the child grew up, the cat began to bring him toys. Kiss was the first word the baby said. When the child crawled, another problem appeared; he began to climb towards the litter box and the cat’s bowl. You have to close the toilet and put the bowls out of reach of the child, most often on the windowsill. It’s good that the cat screams when he wants to go to the toilet, but he still shit near the toilet a couple of times when we forgot about him. The child is still small, a little over a year old, sometimes he bullies the cat, but Tesla quickly calms him down, waves him off with his big furry paw, but never lets out his claws. The cat loves children very much, follows them around, especially the youngest. This is despite the fact that they sometimes like to beat him up. This is our mustachioed nanny.

Relationship between cat and baby. As soon as a baby appears in your home, your attention completely switches to him. If a cat already lives in your house, then it is very difficult to immediately understand the pet’s attitude towards the new family member. At first, you need to make sure that the cat does not stay with the child without the presence of adults and does not enter his room.

However, you should introduce your pet to the baby in the first days of his life. To do this, you can let the cat sniff the baby’s things so that she can make sure that the child does not pose any threat. It doesn’t hurt to visit a veterinarian to rule out fungal and other diseases in the cat that could pose a danger to the child’s developing immunity. This is also useful for determining whether your baby is allergic to cat hair. Nowadays, allergies in children are very common, and in this case, most likely, you will have to get rid of the animal.

During the period when the child begins to crawl, it is necessary to ensure that attempts to play do not seem to the cat to be a manifestation of aggression, and she does not attack your child. Parents of children of this age often complain that the child was scratched.

Cat and older children

As soon as children grow up to the age when they can independently control their behavior, it is necessary to explain to them that the animal also deserves respect and careful treatment. The cat litter box and food area should be off-limits for the child. Children should not be left alone with animals.

It is worth noting that communicating with a furry friend at an early age is very beneficial. If you don’t have a cat yet, and you are just planning to adopt one, then it is best to take a small kitten. This way they will grow, develop and look after each other together. Such communication will help the baby become more independent. Over time, he will understand that animals must be treated with great care.

It is very important to explain to your child that a cat is not a toy. Very often, children torture cats by dragging them from corner to corner, dressing them in doll clothes, or playing for too long. In this case, the animal may show aggression and adults must prevent this.

The dangers that cats keep within themselves

Domestic cats can also spread dangerous diseases. By eating raw fish and meat, hunting flies, and walking near outdoor shoes, cats can contract helminthiasis (worms) and so on. In cats, this disease is asymptomatic, but the risk of spreading this disease to people, and especially children, is quite high. To avoid this situation, parents must carry out worm prevention at least 2 times a year.

The animal can also become infected with toxoplasmosis, which is extremely dangerous, especially during pregnancy. An expectant mother can become infected with toxoplasmosis while cleaning the cat's litter box. This disease in itself is not dangerous for the mother, but can have a detrimental effect on the development of the fetus.

The next disease, which is not life-threatening, but quite unpleasant, is ringworm. Infection occurs through direct contact with a sick cat. In case of infection, a person develops scaly spots that have a round shape. To prevent you and your child from becoming infected with this disease, your pet should be vaccinated.

The most dangerous disease carried by cats is feline rabies. This disease is caused by a neurovirus, which is transmitted through a bite with saliva. The disease is incurable and if symptoms are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Cats can also cause a disease called cat scratch. This disease is infectious, and it occurs when bacteria enter the baby’s injured skin. The disease is spread by cats whose bacteria are located in the oral cavity. By licking your paws, the infection gets to your claws. Infection of a baby can occur when a cat bites or scratches it. At the site of the bite or scratch, a spot appears, and then a blister, which subsequently bursts and forms an ulcer. Next, the lymph nodes become enlarged and the temperature rises. Treatment takes place at home with plenty of fluids and antipyretics.

It is worth noting that cats can be carriers of other diseases, such as salmonellosis or chlamydia. If your pet shows any signs of illness, it is better not to approach the animal and protect it from contact with children.

Don't worry if

But in these cases, on the contrary, there is no reason for concern. All that is required on your part is patience and feeding.

The cat has slight bleeding from the genitals. Gradually their volume should decrease and disappear within 2-3 weeks.
The kitten has only one eye open. This is considered a variant of the norm; the eyes open gradually and not always at the same time.
The cat lies down on the kittens. In this way she tries to warm them up. Don't interfere, just try to maintain the optimal temperature in the room.
The mother decided to move the kittens to another place, taking them by the withers. Don’t interfere with her, just make sure that the new “home” is as comfortable as possible, far from noise and people, and that the cat herself feels good.

Elena Shlykova

Preparing a cat for the arrival of a newborn in the house

Some cats are like little old maids who hate any changes. If your cat has a similar personality, she may need to be prepared gradually for the arrival of a newborn in the house. Otherwise, she may experience real stress when a baby appears in the house, and his appearance will be accompanied by new objects and a variety of sounds characteristic of a baby.

To relieve your cat of the stress associated with the arrival of a newborn, you need to do the following:

You can tape the babies' cries and play them from time to time so that the cat can acclimatize and get used to the new sounds.
Wash your hands with baby lotion before you play with your cat. Your cat may associate a new smell with a positive attitude, which will make her feel less anxious.
Place children's furniture in the apartment as soon as possible so that the cat has a few weeks during which she can explore new furnishings and get used to them.
you should also take care of some safety of the children's furniture, because if the cat finds it comfortable, the animal will definitely try to sleep in the children's bed.

You can cover the surfaces of children's furniture with cardboard and place double-sided tape on top to make the cat uncomfortable on the sticky surface.

If the cat litter box was also located not far from the room that is now planned to be a nursery, it is worth moving it to a more suitable location. You can move the toilet a few tens of centimeters a day until it is where it will now stand, and in the old place you can put a chest of drawers, a nightstand or some other thing so that the cat is not tempted to relieve itself where it did this is earlier. You should also consider a new place for your cat to play, as well as her usual care and feeding routine.

All changes also need to be carried out gradually, over about two months, so that the animal gets used to the new place and the new mode of communication with it. Perhaps, instead of the young mother, someone else from the family will take care of the cat. Your cat should also get used to the change of owner and caregiver.

What to do when a newborn appears in the house with a cat?

A cat has no place in a child's bed. Although your attention is absorbed by the offspring, always remember that the cat was until now the favorite of the whole family, and now it suddenly finds itself relegated to the background. He is not human, and it is difficult for him to understand why he was suddenly expelled and not allowed to enter the room where the child now sleeps

It is unlikely that you will get a kitten when you have a newborn in the house. But it often happens that a cat is already present in the house when the family is preparing for the arrival of the baby. Even during pregnancy, the expectant mother begins to be frightened by the fact that the animal has no place next to the baby, that its fur can cause an allergic reaction in the child, and the cat itself is a carrier of almost all existing diseases. Is it so dangerous to have a pet in your apartment that you have to part with a family member?

How might a cat react to a baby?

Most cat owners did not report any problems when introducing their pet to a newborn. These animals are very cautious by nature and will timidly and carefully look closely at the new resident. Having realized that there is no danger from the child, they, as a rule, become indifferent and move on with their lives calmly. Very rarely, cats begin to get jealous and mischief - a cat may begin to urinate on the child’s things and crib, as if marking, declaring that this territory originally belongs to him, and little strangers do not belong here. In this case, you will have to think about how to limit the animal’s access to the room where the newborn is, and continue to monitor the pet and correct its behavior.

Set up a place for him in another room and spend time with him there more often so that he does not feel abandoned, and if you live in a one-room apartment, the cat can temporarily live in the hallway or in the kitchen.

But even if an infant and a cat met without problems, try not to leave the animal alone with the child. After all, a newborn often does not control his movements and can cause pain to the cat, in which case the pet will undoubtedly consider it necessary to protect itself and injure the baby.

If you have a cat in the house and you are expecting a new addition, do not listen to advisers who say that an animal in the house only causes harm and needs to be gotten rid of. If your baby does not have allergies, and your pet cat or cat reacts well to the arrival of a new family member, such a neighborhood will only bring benefits. It has been noticed that children who have pets are more adapted and intellectually developed; they grow up to be kind, caring, attentive and responsible.