Cats and Pregnancy?

I'm pregnant and my baby is due Feb. 13th. A few days ago my husband and I adopted a couple of cats. They are both fixed and have had all their shots. When I told my mother about the cats, she freaked out, and gave me a lecture on everything from how a cat will steal a baby's breath while it's asleep to how they could give the baby and my 4 year old son leukemia. These sound like old wives tales to me.





Is there anything I SHOULD be legitimately worried about when the baby comes?

Cats and Pregnancy?
Ah, the age old wives tale of the cat and the babies breath. Trust me, wives tale. Classic.





The only thing I can say is that the cats will not be fully settled by the time the baby comes.





Watch your 4 year old, and remind him about pulling tails and what not (you probably already have that covered). Just teach respect for a fellow creature.





I grew up with cats, and I'm fine (and leukemia free, thank you very much). The only thing I would be overly worried about is your kids telling the cat their secrets instead of you :)





Oh yes, and try to keep them as inside cats, they live longer, and will not drag the outside in. I would also keep the cats out of the baby's room for the first while, as they may track litter from the litter box into his/her room.





Enjoy the adventure!
Reply:You don't have anything to worry about I had the same concern when my first child came. my suggestion on this would be just make sure the cats don't get into the baby bed at any time. Make sure they have their toys and not playing with the baby, This has nothing to do with the milk it has more to do withthe claws. Also if you see any allergic reactions appearing in you child you may have to get rid of cats becasue of the dander.
Reply:do not go NEAR the litter box and you will be okay! also limit the chances to get scratched...(litter box, cats claws) they touch germs and staph in their box. it could harm a pregnancy if you catch the disease. (not luekemia, but staph)





get one of those automatic litter boxes (walmart about 75.00) they work and your husband will only have to change the emptying box once a week.





other than that, enjoy them....when the baby comes, just make sure they are not in his room while napping/sleeping (because of scratches not sleep issues!. of course, it was once thought of as the cat causing infants to quit breathing (sids) but that has been dismissed. a baby quits breathing because certain babies mechanisms aren't mature enough to "alarm them" into breathing again. it doesn't even have anything to do with sleeping on the stomach or back or side!





good luck and congrads!
Reply:I dont think there would be anything to worry about, just make sure the cat has toys to play with so it doesnt try and "play" with the baby.
Reply:We have a number of cats. I too have heard the rumors regarding cats. I hav seen nothing to confirm the old wives tale...but if I was concerned he baby comes first.
Reply:the only thing you need to worry about is changing the litter box. pregnant women arent supposed to change the litter box because of something in the cats poop. that old wives tale about the cat stealing the babies breath is because the cats smell milk on the babies mouth, and ive heard of cats laying on babies in the crib because of this and smothering it by accident. but i have cats and i have three kids and ive never had a problem with a cat trying to get into the crib or going anywhere near the baby.
Reply:These are old wives tales. (Watching too much steven king)





Also, the leukemia cats get known as FeLV cannot be transmitted to humans.





http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/FeLV/





Congrats on the new baby
Reply:i really doubt that the tale is true, and the cats should be fine as long as you give them equal amount of attention to make sure they know that the baby isn't a replacement of them.
Reply:I had 3 cats while I was pregnant and had no problems and now my kids will be 4 on Jan 14th and 6yr old in February and they are fine we never had any problems except one cat liked to steal the bottles from the sink .. but as for worrying as them being new cats in the house I would just keep a closer eye on things but I personally think they will be fine.. and congrats on the newest baby..and good luck
Reply:If anything, you can be worried about the cats being curious and wanting to "touch" the baby with its sharp claws.