Baby & Cat Safety

Common Myths

• Myths about cats and babies have caused many parents to fear, but when addressing these myths, it becomes clear that most of them are false. For instance, some parents worry that a cat will smother a baby or suck the breath from the baby. The latter is untrue, while the former is extremely rare, and cases only make it to the news because of this rarity, as Sarah Hartwell points out in her Messy Beast article "Cats and Babies Can Coexist."

Simple Precautions

• Keep the cat's litter box and food bowl in a separate room, outside or off the ground where the baby cannot reach them. Take your cat to the veterinarian before your baby is born and keep him away from other cats for a while so he does not contract parasites, fleas or diseases from the neighbors' pets. Treat your cat for fleas and worms on a regular basis. When cleaning out the litter box, wear rubber gloves and wash up afterward. Have someone else clean the litter box during pregnancy as toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite, can cause serious harm to an unborn baby, according to Hartwell and the British Medical Journal Group. (See If possible, train your cat to stay out of the baby's room and crib before the baby is born.

Keeping the Baby Safe

• Place a net over the top of your baby's crib so your cat cannot jump in while the baby is sleeping. Alternatively, close the door to the baby's room whenever you leave her alone so your cat cannot go inside. If your cat is not declawed, trim his nails regularly or glue on plastic claw caps called Soft Paws. Before preparing the baby's meals, clean the counter or table surface in case the cat has walked there. If you see your cat lick the baby, take the cat away to discourage this behavior, as cat's mouths are full of germs.

Keeping the Cat Safe

• Babies love to explore, and sometimes they can pull a cat's tail or hug him too hard. If this happens, it can be dangerous for both your cat and your baby, as your baby may injure your cat and your cat may scratch or bite in self-defense. Cat World recommends teaching your baby not to pull on the cat's ears, tail or whiskers, and Hartwell says babies need to learn that cats are not toys. When a cat scratches in self-defense, rather than reprimanding the cat, Hartwell encourages parents to teach their children to respect the cat. And while a cat is not likely to lash out in jealousy, give your cat plenty of attention to keep him happy and healthy, too.

Encouraging Healthy Relationships

• Having a cat in the house can teach children to respect animals and be kind to others. However, the most important rule in keeping both cats and babies safe is never leave them together unsupervised. If your cat is demanding too much of your attention and you have older children, give one of them the job of taking care of the cat and keeping the cat away from the baby; according to Hartwell, some older children enjoy this new grown-up job. Teach your baby to respect your cat and read your cat's body language, and in time your cat will enjoy having a new playmate and petter.