Getting a kitten with a baby in the house

[Ebbwmilo]

Hi, I have 2 daughters, one of 4 and a baby who's 10months. We've been thinking for a while about getting a kitten as the 4 year old is animal mad, and would love it. The only doubt we have is that when the baby (who's now 11 months) was a month old she caught Bronchilitous, and was very ill for a few weeks. She's been fine now for the last 6 months, but we were concerned that if we got a kitten would it pose any health risks to the baby, primarily in her breathing?
Any advice or experiences would be much apreciated.

Many thanks

[stonekicker]

no, none - unless she is asthmatic or allergic. even then, if you regularly clean and hoover your house it will not cause problems. if anything, a lively and loving kitten would do wonders for kids - have you thought of having a dog to take out for walks, love and enjoy and to promote exercise?

[mumof3angels]

Hi
I don't think you're really going to know how it affects your little one until you have a kitten in the house. We have 2 cats and my youngest son who's 4 is asthmatic, but the cat hairs don't bother him. My mum and dad have a dog and when he stays there for the weekend he has to have his inhaler because of the dog hairs. Sorry I can't be of much help. Do you have a friend with a cat that you could stay with for a day or 2 to see how he got on? Best of luck :) xx

[Ebbwmilo]

Thanks for your replies, my sister who lives next door has a dog who we look after a lot, and the baby hasn't shown any signs of alergic reaction or breathing difficulties with it around.
We read and hear all sorts of stories about young babies to avoid cats so trying to hear some advice and experiences before we decide that we'll get one.
Many thanks again

[Tups]

I would have thought some sort of caged animal - although I don't approve of caging - would be the safer thing to do with such a young child around. I have heard cases of cats smothering babies by lying on them in their cots because they seek the warmth. Also, a cat is a long-term commitment whilst something like a guinea pig, which have lovely personalities, are only for around 3-4 years.

[daffy654]

I don't see how a cat could smother a baby Tups................if a cat were to climb in a cot/pram with a baby and the baby couldn't breathe it would wriggle and the cat would move. My mum says the same about cats and babies,mind you she is a cat hater and refuses to be logical when it comes to anything to do with them!
Any cat owner who has a new baby would know to keep the cat out of the baby's bedroom,more because of the cat hair and possible dirt they might track into the room than for any other reason.

[Tups]

I'm quite happy to be proved wrong daffy. I've been looking at various 'cat and baby' sites and came across this:

http://www.safekids.co.uk/CatsAndBabiesOrChild ren.html

It suggests that on rare occasions, cats can smother babies. Other sites, admittedly, said, like you did, that it's an old wives' tale. It stands to reason though that cats like warmth and what better place to be than in a baby's pram ... A small baby won't be able to wriggle out of danger of suffocation; they don't realise they are in fact in danger, not being able to breathe. That comes when they are a few months old. By the way, I love cats!

[daffy654]

I didn't say the baby would wriggle out of the way Tups,just that it would wriggle and the cat would (should) move.Cats hate to be disturbed when trying to sleep and if they are they will move to a quieter spot.I can imagine that there may have been cases over the years where cats have inadvertently smothered young babies but it is most definitely not a common occurence.As I said it would be common sense to not leave the baby alone with a cat(or any uncaged animal).
I have been owned by many cats over the years and they are strange creatures at the best of times.My cats always preferred to sleep in the clean laundry basket to my children's cots/prams/beds.
I didn't think you were a cat hater btw Tups,i'm sorry if my post came across that way :-)

[Ebbwmilo]

We were going to try and keep it downstairs at first anyway and definatley out of the babies bedroom at all times even when she's older.

Thanks for the link Tups, and for the other opinions they all help to make our minds up!

[terambulan]

I dont think it would be wise for a kitten to be around ur babe.

Try convincing ur girl to have a rabbit. You can keep the rabbit contained in its pen and have control on its movements. The rabbit will always be available whereas the kitten will grow and soon a-roaming go.

[Tups]

Thanks daffy, I'm sure you're right. I don't have a strong opinion either way; I was just being devil's advocate and putting over a different point of view really. I didn't think you were suggesting I don't like cats but thought I would mention that I didn't. I know we have enough nannying going on by The State these days and wouldn't do anything slightly risky if things continue the way they're going! Hope Ebbwmilo enjoys both children and cat! (Can I ask Ebbwmilo, any connection with Ebbw Vale, where I was born??)

[wideboy]

We have had several cats over the years and two children (the present cats are 19 and 17, the 'kids' are 27 and and 25) we never had a problem with cats and babies - it's all down to the training - yes, cats can be trained - ours were never allowed to go upstairs anywhere near the bedroom (would be a bit trickier in a bungalow of course). Kids love cats!

[Ebbwmilo]

Hi Tups, yes they Ebbw is for Ebbw Vale!
I have the utmost respect for your answer now being a fellow Ebbw Valian!