There's a post on my local freecycle looking for a new home for a cat, because the owners have just had a baby.
Can anyone explain to me why having a baby would mean the cat has to move on?
I'm sure they could easily co-exist happily together but I have heard some stories of cats smothering babies?
One reason being they look for a warm place to sleep - a babies head/body, another, I have heard they don't like the sound of the baby crying and have been known to smother to shut them up etc.
But it all comes down to supervision and keeping the cat feeling loved and cared for.
I think this is a very rare occurrence for cats to act out like this too but some people are paranoid.
Because babies are stupid and will grab at anything including a cat's tail or ears. If the cat becomes enraged, which it would, it will attack the baby .
Because babies are stupid and will grab at anything including a cat's tail or ears. If the cat becomes enraged, which it would, it will attack the baby .
it's the same with dogs too though, you'd never leave your baby unsupervised with a dog, neither with a cat. It's not that hard of a rule to follow.
As they get older you teach them how to respect animals ie. not pulling tails, tugging ears, riding on their backs, treating them like teddies etc.
Too many people say "the dog is great with kids" which means " the dog tolerates being abused by the kids" but one day the dog might have had enough and snap. People need to be aware of the nature of each individual species and teach their kids to respect that (includes not screaming and running around dogs) and in the meantime (when they're babies) never leave the cat or dog unsupervised with the baby. It's common sense (but apparently not that common)
If that's a concern for potential parents, then perhaps they shouldn't get a cat in the first place.
I agree. Once you take responsibility for an animal - that's it. People don't get that these days. I believe babies need to adapt to your lifestyle, not the other way around & if that includes a cat then so be it.
Shame too because I've read cat/dog fur is beneficial for young babies to prevent against development of asthma. Not to mention the empathy/compassion/maturity animals can arouse in children.
Apparently some GPs suggest to couples, who are having trouble trying to conceive, to get a puppy or kitten... so maybe that's the answer. People will try anything to conceive, even having a temporary pet.
Apparently some GPs suggest to couples, who are having trouble trying to conceive, to get a puppy or kitten... so maybe that's the answer. People will try anything to conceive, even having a temporary pet.
