Today, shelters are still visited by tearful mothers-to-be with cats in tow,
having made their appointments after well-meaning relatives or old-school
obstetricians have convinced them that keeping a cat risks the health and
well-being of their unborn child. Don't succumb to these old wives' tales.
Knowing the facts will help provide ways to safeguard both fetus and feline.
The parasitic infection toxoplasmosis is perhaps a pregnant catkeeper's greatest fear. It can result in miscarriage, stillbirth or such birth defects as blindness, deafness, hydrocephalus or epilepsy. Since cats can become infected with the parasite by eating small mammals or birds, it is best to keep your cat indoors. Now is not a good time to befriend strays, as they may already be infected.
Toxoplasmosis cysts are shed in the feces of infected animals. Since cats often
use gardens as litter boxes, wear gloves when gardening and when you are washing
raw vegetables and fruits, handling raw meat or scrubbing food prep surfaces.
You should also avoid rubbing your eyes until your hands have been washed. And
do not eat or feed your cat raw or undercooked meat. To prevent any cysts that
are passed in the feces from becoming infectious, scoop fecal matter at least
twice a day. Better yet, use your "delicate condition" to get your mate to
handle the dirt detail.
Some cats resemble little old maids who cannot tolerate change. These are the
cats most likely to be affected by a new baby, so use the entire pregnancy to
slowly prepare them. Play tapes of baby noises to acclimate your cat to the new
sounds he's about to hear, or rub baby lotion on your hands before engaging in a
pleasant activity with him to create positive associations with baby odors. Set
up nursery furniture as soon as possible, and allow him several weeks to
investigate before you select surfaces to declare off limits—such as the
changing table and crib—so that he can see there's nothing scary here. However,
don't make it so comfortable that he'll want to nap on them. Then, at least one
month before the baby arrives, make the surfaces unwelcoming. Cut sheets of
cardboard to the size of the furniture surfaces and cover one side with
double-sided adhesive/masking tape. Cats tend to avoid sticky surfaces, and by
the end of the month, he should steer clear of these sites.
If the litter box has been kept in the soon-to-be nursery, begin several months
ahead of time to move it a few inches a day to its new location. If the
transition is made too quickly, your cat may return to soil in his old spot.
Covering that area with a solid object like a diaper pail or dresser may deter
him.
Finally, any cat care routines that will be shifted from new mother to mate after the baby arrives should actually be switched one to two months before the birth. These might include feedings, grooming, play sessions and sleep partners/locations. If these were always shared activities, the change will make little difference to the cat. If not, the cat will need time to adjust to the style and skills of the new caregiver.
When you first arrive home from the hospital, peacefully greet your cat in a quiet room without interruption. Once you've had a few minutes to reconnect, let in everyone else—mate, baby, grandparents, baby nurse and assorted well-wishers. Unless your cat is extremely social, he will flee the hoopla and go into hiding. Once things settle down, he will come tiptoeing back.
Place a used receiving blanket or piece of infantwear in a quiet area where the
cat can investigate it. When nursing, allow the cat to approach and check things
out. If he follows you into the nursery at naptime, make sure he doesn't jump
into the crib. While there's certainly no truth to the myth that cats suck the
air out of babies' lungs, a newborn does not have the capacity to turn over or
even move her head at first. A heat-seeking cat who chooses to cuddle up close
to the baby's face could make it difficult for the child to breathe. Close the
door to the nursery when the baby is napping. If there is no door to close,
either install a temporary screen door or place a crib tent over the crib to
keep the cat out. These precautions also prevent the cat from urinating in the
crib, something he may try if extremely stressed.
With the baby safely at rest, now's the perfect time to grab a catnap with your
favorite feline.
Jacque Lynn Schultz, CPDT ASPCA Companion Animal Programs Advisor
National Shelter Outreach