Ear Mites

Cats And Infants

Congratulations! You're pregnant- or perhaps you've just received your bundle of joy. What do you do about the cat? There are perhaps more myths surrounding cats and babies than any other animal/human relationship. How many times have you heard "Cats steal baby's breath"? (They don't!)

Perhaps you've been told to get rid of the family cat because "they carry so many contagious diseases. " Cats are not the "Typhoid Marys" of infectious diseases that you may have been led to believe. It is far more likely that your new baby will catch its first cold from your best friend than it will contract an illness from your cat.

"But I would never give up my cat!" you say. "But shouldn't I de-claw that cat as soon as possible?" NO! Nothing could be farther from the truth. De-clawing is actually amputation of the last third of the cat's toes; it does not make your pet safer around children. In fact, it may turn the cat into a stress biter and inappropriate urinator!

But what can you do to insure the safety and happiness of everyone in your home? There are some precautions you can take, both before the baby is born and after the baby has arrived, and they are all simple to do.

Before The Baby Is Born

The one disease you do need to be aware of and take precautions against is Toxoplasmosis. It is actually a fairly common disease and many people are already immune to it. The organism that causes Toxoplasmosis is sometimes found in cat feces and it is also common in raw meats, as well as gardening soil. If you are not already immune the precautions to take are simple. If you are pregnant, you must take every precaution available! If you get this disease during your first trimester, it can produce cysts in the brain of the fetus which can lead to mental retardation, developmental abnormalities or miscarriage.

What To Do About Toxoplasmosis

The mother-to-be should be tested for Toxoplasmosis. If the titer is negative, take the following steps:

1. Have all your cats tested for Toxoplasmosis.

2. If your cats are indoor/outdoor cats, consider creating an outdoor enclosure for them rather than letting them run free. Since most cats become carriers of Toxoplasmosis by killing and eating live prey (birds, mice, etc. ), their risk of exposure is greatly reduced. In addition, your cat will have a longer, healthier life.

3. Mothers-to-be: have someone else change the kitty litter. If this is not possible, always wear rubber gloves (the disposable ones are preferred). Be sure to discard the entire litter once a day. For this reason, you only need to use about an inch of litter in the box at each time.

4. Wear rubber gloves and protective clothing when gardening. It is now believed that gardening is the primary source of exposure for most people.

Who Is Your Cat?

Is your cat neutered or spayed?

Have your cat neutered or spayed, if you have not done so already. Altered animals make better family pets. Children do not need to witness "the miracle of birth" at the animals expense. Not only will your animal live a longer, healthier life but you will be helping to stop the pet overpopulation problem. Un-neutered males sensing a female in heat will often go to extremes to escape, including jumping out (sometimes through) windows in a desperate effort to find the female and acting aggressive toward anyone that might be in their way. They often spray a foul-smelling urine to mark their territory. Some will even masturbate and exhibit mounting behaviors on pillows and children. Neutered animals tend to be less territorial and less aggressive. Un-spayed females also can exhibit a high level of sexual frustration, crying, howling and pacing. In many cases their heat periods can last for several weeks causing a lot of unwelcome males to gather, howl and fight under your window every night.

Does your cat chase fingers and toes? Are you ambushed from under the bed?

If so, you have a cat with what is called high "prey dive". You may think it is fun when your cat chases your toes under the sheets, but remember a baby's skin is very fragile. A pounce that might amuse you, would send your new one crying not laughing. Purchase or make several interactive toys. My favorites are catnip mice tied to the end of a strong thick string, or one of the commercially available toys that have string dangling from a rod or pole. Engage the cat in a rousing game of "Pounce the mouse" up to 30 minutes before feeding. If your cat goes for your fingers or toes, the game is OVER! Get up and walk away. If your cat is persistent, hiss loudly (think "cat") before you leave. Wait a moment, then return, resuming the game. Remember, never, ever hit or swat your cat - not with your hands, not with a newspaper, not with anything! It will destroy your relationship with the cat, and it could lead to a serious aggression problem.

Does your cat jump into your lap every time you sit down? Do you have a non-stop purring machine following you everywhere?

Start a little separation management. When your baby arrives your cat might experience anxiety behavior, often interpreted as jealousy. Place the cat beside you while you pet it, not in your lap (I know. . . what lap!!) and give kitty a treat. Repeat the procedure, pet and pay attention to the cat only when the cat is beside you, not on you. After all, your lap will soon be holding a baby!

Is your home prepared for the baby and the cat?

Cats are very sensitive to their environment. Does your cat run and hide every time a visitor comes over? Some cats stress easier than others. To minimize the stress the cat may feel, it is best to prepare the home in advance of the new arrival. The earlier the better.

When you set up the nursery, let the cat explore and investigate the new furniture and equipment, while at the same time training the cat to avoid the surfaces to be used by the baby. What! Train my cat?!? How? It's actually very simple - you make the environment self correcting.

The Set-ups:

1. Double-stick tape or contact paper (sticky side up) makes an excellent deterrent. Place it on the surfaces you want the cat to avoid, such as the bassinet and crib mattress, the top of the changing table, the playpen and the carriage.

2. Other deterrents that work well are balloons blown up tightly and placed under well fitted sheets in cribs, bassinets or carriages. The loud "pop" startles the cat, and the sheet protects them from being hurt.

3. One of the most successful set-ups involves using strips of 6'' wide cardboard and placing pennies or pebbles inside empty soda cans. If you don't want the cat to jump up on the changing table, for example, build a false ledge extending 2-3 inches over the side with the cardboard and place the soda cans on top of the cardboard near the inside edge. When the cat tried to jump up, SURPRISE! They will hit the false cardboard ledge, and the noisy but harmless cans tumble to the ground.

It is also advisable if you have a nursery with a closing door to have a baby monitor installed so you can close the cat out of the room if necessary. Some people prefer to install screen doors, so that they can still hear the baby. For people without a separate room for a nursery, or who can't bear the thought of a closed door, a tight fitting mosquito netting over the bassinet or crib works well.

Cats have an excellent sense of smell. If you use a perfume scented bath powder, you can substitute baby powder and try using baby lotion for your moisturizer. In this way you cat can get used to the scent before the baby arrives.

Get into the habit of feeding the cat two to three meals a day, and clearing away what the cat hasn't eaten after 20-30 minutes. Leaving it down attracts crawling babies and toddlers as well as insects.

As you can see, it will be best to do most of these set-ups before the baby arrives! Done with consistency they are extremely effective without destroying your relationship with the cat.

After The Baby Arrives

When you bring the baby home, have a person in the family that the cat is least attached to carry the baby into the house. It may be the new mother, it may not; that is fine. Greet the cat alone without the baby at first. Talk to him, let him smell the receiving blanket to become familiar with the scent of the newcomer. Do not force this on the cat, some cats just aren't interested in hellos!

(If you are having a home birth, please do not let the cat in the room. Neither of you need the added stress. Then proceed with the introduction described above).

Not all cats love babies. Do not be surprised if Kitty goes into hiding after the baby arrives. Some cats simply ignore the baby altogether. In both cases, allow the cat time to realize that everything is all right. Do not try to pull your cat out of hiding or force a relationship that the cat -or the baby- isn't ready for. No matter what your cat's reaction is, however, find time every day to spend with just the cat. It may be simply five minutes of quiet talk, or a grooming session, but it is necessary to maintain the relationship between you and your pet.

Keep the baby's food, medicine, and your cats things in very separate places. Bottles and packaging can look remarkably familiar. I personally know of a woman who once baby powdered her cat to get rid of fleas (luckily she didn't flea powder her baby!).

Keep your cat fully up to date on all shots and medical examinations. "De-worming" and "de-fleaing" should go without saying, but sometimes in all the excitement, these dates can get missed. Make sure you use a flea product that is safe for infants. And get rid of that flea collar! It is a toxic ring of insecticide and they are of little use, if any, to flea control.

Be vigilant about keeping the litter box clean and accessible to the cat. Installing a cat door in the room where the litter box is kept will not only help if your cat feels stressed, but can also help assure that baby's first sand castle will be at the beach. Make sure there are various levels in each room that the cat is allowed to jump up on or crawl under. To you it may be a window sill, the top of the refrigerator, the back of a closet or a carpet covered shelf. To your cat, it's a sanctuary. Your cat will need places and time away from all the excitement - just like you will.

Cats and kids can be a magical combination. Growing up with animals can give our children some of the most positive lessons life has to offer - from self-respect and self-control to sharing, caring and the experience of unconditional love. With careful planning, training and awareness, magic can happen.

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Cats And Infants

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The cattery shelter offers feline freedom - Corpus Christi Caller