Cat and newborn baby in the apartment

When you get a kitten, you expect it to grow up to be a big, friendly and affectionate pet. In most cases, this happens until the cat is the only object of admiration, but as soon as newborn babies appear in the house, they may forget about the pets a little, which can cause a lot of dissatisfaction on the part of your pet, and even have a negative impact on its character .

This is due to the fact that small children, for small children, are often given more attention than for pets, and it is clear that the cat does not like this at all, since she is used to being in charge and does not want to share her owner with anyone.

In some cases, the owners themselves suspect their cat that it may pose some kind of danger to their newborn child and therefore independently try to separate two such seemingly incompatible concepts as a child and a cat. Very often, in this case, they may even try to throw the pet out into the street, but this should not be done, since under favorable circumstances you can configure the pet to the fact that a small child is the main person in your life and he has no choice but to accept this and to measure up to the second place of honor. In most cases, a cat and a newborn get along quite well, especially if everything is clearly explained to the animal, without at all infringing on it or alienating it from the new little bundle. Some cat breeds are generally considered excellent nannies who can not only look after the baby, but also, if necessary, calm him down when he cries.

What are they afraid of?

Why does such a problem appear before the birth of a child: cats and newborn children. There are several reasons :

possible allergy to cat fur; according to statistics, this pathology occurs quite rarely, but if such a situation arises, the animal can always be isolated;
a cat can become a spreader of infection, but only if it lives both at home and outside.

The last one is very significant. There is a common belief that cats should be allowed outside. But this is not so, because this is a domestic animal for which the territory that it controls is important, in this case, this is the area of the apartment or house. Side factors that encourage a cat to go outside can easily be overcome: by sterilization, at least of the cat, and drug intervention (sedative drops) for the cat.

This procedure is completely painless for a cat, and for a person’s conscience it is absolutely calm, since, having taken an animal to live in a house, we are obliged to fulfill some formalities, otherwise it is better not to take responsibility for the animal.

If we can’t arrange a cat’s life, then why are we trying to have a child? Communication between a cat and a newborn is inevitable after the baby appears in the house. These creatures are very curious, and having become members of the family, they are also jealous, so you need to prepare your pet for the arrival of a new resident of the house.

How to choose the cat breed most suitable for small children

When getting a cat, you should initially think about how it will get along with a newborn baby. Only correct calculation and proper behavior of the owner can make it so that in the future two kids will get along very well with each other and this will not cause any trouble to anyone.

“Thus, when purchasing a kitten, you need to think less about its preferences, and think about how its breed will affect the relationship with your future child.”

Choosing a cat is a very responsible process that must be done consciously. The most basic rule is the health of your cat, as this is necessary so that you do not have any problems with him in the future.

Thus, you need to pay attention to the following criteria for the correct choice of your future pet based on the fact that he will need to get along with the newborn baby:

The most ideal cat breeds are those that are not afraid of anything from infancy. If the baby behaves without fear and feels confident enough, then in the future he will adapt perfectly to all new circumstances.
When choosing a kitten, you need to watch how he plays with his brothers and sisters. If the kid you have chosen is the most cocky and active, then this will not be the best option for the establishment, since he will always try to be a leader, and for the child this will not be the best option.
Starting from two months of age, the baby should be interested in everything independently. The most ideal option is when the cat chooses its owner.
External indicators of a cat’s health are the most important thing that you need to pay special attention to. His coat should shine and glow with health, his teeth should be white, his ears should be clean. Only on this basis can we conclude that the animal is healthy and will be the best option for sharing a living space with your baby.

Cats and small children can be best friends if you approach the process of getting to know them and further relationships correctly and responsibly.

Preparation

Cats are quite tolerant of newborn children if you prepare them in advance for the arrival of a new member of the community that lives in this house or apartment. To do this, you need to take the following preventive measures :

for a cat, one of the main stresses is noise, which is inevitably associated with the appearance of a newborn baby in the house, so you need to accustom the animal in advance to these loud sounds that a baby makes when inviting friends who have small children home;
accustom your pet to the sounds of a rattle, give the opportunity to smell those substances and objects that will be associated with the child: powder, baby cream, lotion, shampoo, cats receive almost half of the information through smell;
You need to talk with your pet about future changes, naming the name of the future child, if it has already been chosen.

For a pet, the appearance of a new family member, especially one of such small size, will always be a surprise to which he needs to get used to.

Security measures

At the same time, it is necessary to observe some precautions related, first of all, to keeping a cat and compliance with certain sanitary standards and other rules that will allow the animal and the child to coexist peacefully .

It is imperative to teach your child that after he has picked up a cat or stroked it, he must wash his hands, even if it is a completely domestic animal. We must remember that there are no completely sterile places in the house, but the cat walks and lies everywhere.

From a very early age, a child must be taught to be caring and affectionate towards animals. A cat can offend a small child only if he himself constantly shows aggression towards her. Therefore, from an early age it is necessary to accustom the child to :

Any aggression against a person on the part of a cat is a defensive reaction to the external manifestation of aggression on the part of a person. And even when it manifests itself, it is limited in nature, i.e. the cat may scratch or hiss, warning that it should not be angered further. But these are extreme measures taken by the animal. Usually, when there is a threat, a cat tries to avoid conflict and would rather hide somewhere or run away.

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If there are a lot of cats

Of course, many people purposefully have cats at home, most often buying famous breeds for divorce. But many simply pick up kittens thrown away by someone or even adult cats that, by the will of fate, ended up on the street. As a rule, this entire flock gets along peacefully with each other.

And he perceives a person as an external strong animal that feeds, cares and caresses. The appearance of a new living creature, which is not much smaller in size than the cats themselves, raises almost no questions for them; on the contrary, animals must immediately be taught not to do the following :

do not jump into the crib, stroller, table where the baby is swaddled;
do not interfere with the owners during feeding;
train the cat not to enter the room where the child is.

It is quite possible to establish this relationship between cats and cats, since this animal is smart and understands its place in the house. Having become accustomed to these basic rules, cats react completely calmly to newborn children.

How do cats treat newborns?

Future parents often worry: how will the old-timer cat accept the child? The Internet knows many stories about cats' jealousy and vindictiveness, and this does not give parents peace of mind.

In practice, all cats are individual, and you can never say exactly how a particular cat will react to a particular baby. Of course, there are times when a pet begins to be jealous of its owners and gets offended, but most often cats ignore newborn children.

Cats' interest in children appears later, when the little one begins to crawl or walk and chases the cat. But even here, not every cat will succumb to provocations. Some pets categorically avoid children, others are affectionate and careful with them, and there are those who are not averse to letting out their claws.

Much in the relationship between a pet and a baby depends on the temperament of a particular cat, on the character of the baby, but most importantly, on the parents. They should not leave the child unattended, and besides, they are the ones who have to teach the baby how to handle the pet, and the pet how to handle the baby.

Main features

In different children, the reaction may differ in intensity and location of manifestation. The most common signs may be:

skin manifestations - rash, blisters, red pimples, hives, peeling and dry skin, irritation, small red dots resembling broken capillaries, etc.;
catarrhal manifestations - conjunctivitis, rhinitis, lacrimation, redness of the eyes, itching in the nose, hoarseness, sneezing, red throat, dry cough, swelling of the eyelids, rhinitis, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath;
systemic manifestations - increased temperature, decreased arterial blood pressure, swelling of the nasolabial triangle, blue under the eyes, drowsiness, increased moodiness or sudden changes in mood.

As a rule, the strongest reactions occur in newborns and infants, since their immune system is at the stage of final formation and is more vulnerable to the action of allergens, the distributor of which is the cat. The consequences for newborns can also be more serious.

In children, skin manifestations most often come first, since their skin is very thin and susceptible to various types of allergies.

Children who have already been exposed to other types of allergies - food or to medications and vaccinations - are more likely to exhibit allergic reactions to the presence of animals in the house.

A newborn child with a weak immune system may show signs of allergies even after someone gets animal hair or body fluids into the house.

The cat and the small child are not the hunter and the prey

Can a cat harm a baby? For many parents this is a matter of particular concern. Therefore, when a baby appears in the house, the animal is isolated, or - even worse! - they get rid of him. Neither the first, nor even the second can be called a good solution, because a cat and a newborn can get along wonderfully under one roof

The main thing is to behave correctly and take precautions

How can four-legged pets harm a small child? Can cats choke children? Is this true? Horror stories about cats killing innocent babies are an echo of medieval superstitions, in which they appeared as a tool in the hands of the devil. In addition, this is reflected in a complete lack of understanding of cat nature. There is absolutely no reason for cats to attack a child. Yes, they are predators, but this does not mean that they can recognize a baby as prey. Cats hunt small birds and rodents, and newborn babies are not at all like them.

The kids do not look so formidable that cats could attack them in self-defense. On the contrary, the baby, rather, awakens the instinct of care and patronage than gives rise to aggression

Everything indicates that the cat feels that she is dealing with a young representative of the human race, and behaves very carefully towards him. This is not so surprising, since a small kitten and a newborn have similar proportions, move awkwardly and make similar “meowing” sounds.

All mammalian babies stimulate the initiation of protective instincts. Stories of children raised by animals are not legends, but documented facts.

Another thing is that some pets do things that their owners obviously won’t like - for example, cats can hiss at newborns, sleep with them in a warm crib or stroller, and constantly hang around. However, all this does not indicate aggression - rather, a defensive position or a manifestation of interest, or even sympathy, with a tiny creature.

Cats in a home with small children can only be dangerous because they are carriers of various diseases.

However, the likelihood that a child will become infected with something from an animal that does not leave the house and is under the constant supervision of veterinarians is reduced to almost zero. We are more likely to bring some microbes into the house ourselves than a cat that has little contact with the outside world. Therefore, if she does not leave the house, there is no need to worry about the child’s health. But if your cat walks on its own, then you should limit its contact with the newborn, take more care of hygiene and find room in your busy schedule for visits to the veterinarian.

What to do when the child grows up?

As your child grows up and becomes more mobile and active, you must remember to give the purr a place to rest from the toddler's antics. Make sure your cat is not cornered and can always find a safe place to sleep where your child cannot reach her. Heavy furniture and special shelves are perfect for preventing a curious baby from getting to your pet when he wants to be alone.

Children grow slowly, and cats usually adapt well to new environments. Teach your little one to respect their pets and not cause them discomfort or pain, and they should get along well. Your child will benefit from living with pets and gaining lifelong memories of a furry childhood friend.

Treatment

If an allergy is detected, parents are obliged to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Do not self-medicate, be it with medications or harmless herbal infusions following your grandmother’s advice. Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor after identifying the allergen.

After the prescribed treatment, parents are obliged:

strictly follow all instructions and comply with assignments;
completely eliminate contact with the cat;
help boost the child's immunity.

Additional measures include:

do a general cleaning of the house using strong disinfectants. Wash all carpets, curtains and bedspreads. Particular attention should be paid to nooks and crannies that are rarely cleaned;
acquire an air ionization system, install an air conditioner;
regularly ventilate the room;
maintaining infant hygiene;
get rid of the cat.

The doctor prescribes antihistamines, drops for the eyes and nose, and ointments to eliminate rashes. All medications must be appropriate for the child’s age. It is impossible to completely get rid of allergies; only the symptoms are relieved and its bright manifestations are removed. Upon contact with an animal, it will still manifest itself, at any age of the person.

I am pregnant. Should I be afraid of toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can seriously impair fetal development. The feces of cats with an active Toxoplasma infection contain this parasite. For a pregnant woman to become infected with toxoplasmosis from a cat, the following must happen:

The cat must have an active infection. Cats can only become infected by eating raw meat and prey with this infection. An active infection may have no symptoms, but remember that it only lasts a few weeks and is then suppressed by the immune system.
A pregnant woman's mouth should contain feces from a cat with an active infection.

This means that getting an infection from a cat is extremely unlikely if the cat lives indoors, does not go outside, and eats canned or dried cat food. To be completely safe, the US Food Safety Inspectorate suggests pregnant women follow one very simple rule: “Do not clean your cat's litter box yourself.” Remember that there are other ways to get toxoplasmosis (not from cats), as well as other infections that can harm your baby (and they have nothing to do with cats!).

Is a dog in the house a source of worms?

The most common concern on the part of dog owners is the possibility of their infant becoming infected with worms . Panic begins among the baby's relatives when he puts dog toys in his mouth and actively hugs and kisses the animal. It is important to understand that only a small number of worms living in a dog's body can survive in the child's body and cause any damage to him. To protect your baby from those helminths that may pose a threat to him, it is enough to regularly give your pet anthelmintics and have your baby’s stool tested.

A much greater danger for infants and older children is the bite of an unfamiliar dog, which can infect the baby with rabies . A child who has been bitten should thoroughly wash the injury site with a concentrated soap solution and take the victim to a doctor as quickly as possible. The pediatrician will prescribe a course of rabies vaccination, which will last only a few days using high-quality modern drugs. Remember that rabies cannot be cured and the disease invariably leads to the death of the infected person. Therefore, it is so important to get the first vaccination as soon as possible after an animal bite. It is also advisable to monitor the condition of the dog that bit the baby for ten days. If the animal behaves normally, plays actively and eats well, there is no need to worry about possible rabies infection.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of allergies is easy if there is a cat in the house. If you move to another room where there has never been a cat, the symptoms will disappear. But if you relocate a cat, then no. After all, allergens tend to remain on curtains, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedspreads and other household items.

Diagnostic methods used to confirm the diagnosis:

collection of urine and blood tests;
examination, medical history of the mother;
examination, taking the necessary scrapings;
differential diagnosis.

What diseases can a cat give to a child?

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease of humans and animals caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The causative agent is neither a virus, nor a bacteria, nor a helminth (worm). This is the simplest microorganism.

Many parasitic organisms develop with a change of host. This means that they do not live in the same organism all their lives. One stage of development can take place in one organism, and another in a completely different one. There may be two or more such hosts.

The definitive host of Toxoplasma is cats or other members of the feline family. The primary or final host of a parasite is the organism in which the adult stage of the parasite or the sexual stage of the protozoan lives and reproduces.

An intermediate host is an organism in which the larval stages of parasite development or the asexual generation of a protozoan occur. Intermediate hosts of toxoplasma can be humans, rodents, birds, and livestock.

Infection occurs from the primary host.

There are the following routes of human infection:

Toxoplasmosis can occur in acute, subacute, chronic, subclinical, inpatient (lack of symptoms and development of immunity) forms, as well as in the form of carriage.

In the vast majority of cases, this disease is asymptomatic in people with a normal immune response.

In the acute course of the disease, headache, weakness, fever, enlargement of lymph nodes, liver, and spleen are possible. Less commonly, a roseolous-papular rash (in the form of nodules and inflammatory spots) may occur.

As a rule, all adult cats that have been outside and eaten raw meat or mice have already had toxoplasmosis. A danger to a child is a primarily infected animal that has just become ill. And this is usually a kitten.

Toxoplasmosis is very dangerous for pregnant women. It can cause pregnancy failure and fetal death in the womb.

Also, due to severe damage to the nervous system, eyes, heart and other organs, newborn babies with congenital toxoplasmosis often die in the first day of life.

If a child infected in the womb survives, then in 100% of cases he is disabled with severe damage to the nervous system and paresis.

Due to the enormous danger of the disease, pregnant women undergo immunological tests when registering - serological reactions with determination of the titer of immunoglobulins of class G and M (IgM and IgG).

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Class M immunoglobulins are produced during a fresh infection (that is, a person is currently infected with Toxoplasma). Class M immunoglobulins are detected in the blood two weeks after infection.

The lifespan of IgM is about six months. If there is no IgG, then such a woman does not have immunity from toxoplasmosis. And that means it needs treatment and careful monitoring.

IgG indicates a previous illness. That is, if IgG is detected in a pregnant woman, this means that the pregnant woman had contact with Toxoplasma in the past. Class G immunoglobulins provide long-lasting, stable immunity, which guarantees protection against recurrence of the disease.

As I already said, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis consists of carrying out serological reactions (enzyme immunoassay or immunofluorescence reaction). In this case, the blood is examined.

Blood sampling is carried out twice, with an interval of 2-3 weeks. This allows you to determine the increase in IgM and IgG titers.

Other methods for detecting toxoplasmosis:

Treatment of toxoplasmosis is carried out only by a specialist (infectious disease doctor, pediatrician, therapist). Parasitocidal drugs, for example, chloridine (Daraprim, Tindurine, Pirematamine), can be used.

Lichen

Feline lichen in a child is a rather serious contagious fungal disease, manifested by small spots with clear boundaries.

Fungi of the genus Microsporum and Trichophyton, which cause this disease, parasitize not only the skin of animals, but also infect humans.

Most often, lichen is carried by small kittens with weak immune systems. Thanks to such carriers, this type of fungus is popularly called cat lichen. The same disease may be referred to in medical literature under a different name – ringworm.

Fungal diseases can be transmitted to humans directly from a sick animal or through contaminated objects. Of course, when precautions are not followed.

Ringworm can affect any part of the body, but is most often localized on the neck, face, back, and forearm.

Feline ringworm appears as pink spots with clear boundaries. Often the border of the element is presented in the form of bubbles. The spots quickly increase in size and tend to merge if there are several of them. Characterized by itchy skin and peeling of the skin in the affected area.

When the scalp is affected, the hair in the lesions breaks off at a level of 0.5 cm from the base. Hence the name of the disease - ringworm. The affected area takes on the appearance of a shaved area of the head.

It is better for a person to start treatment after laboratory testing by a dermatologist.

Treatment of this disease is complex. Usually includes cutting the hair adjacent to the affected area, antifungal agents (topically and for oral administration), and restorative drugs (immunomodulators).

Cat scratch disease

This is an infectious disease that develops after being scratched or bitten by an infected cat. Felinosis, benign lymphoreticulosis, Mollaret granuloma, cat scratch disease - these are all names of the same disease.

The main causative agent of felinosis is the bacterium Bartonella henselae.

The main reservoir of infection is infected cats. The bacterium practically does not cause any pathological conditions in animals. But its toxins are dangerous for humans. Children and young people suffer from this disease more often.

The bacillus, getting on the skin at the site of a scratch or bite, subsequently enters the bloodstream. In this case, a primary inflammatory focus (suppuration in the form of an abscess) is formed at the site of damage. This is the result of the production of toxins by the microbe at the site of injury. The child’s condition at this stage does not suffer.

Then the pathogen enters the lymph nodes located closest to the gate of infection through the lymph flow. An inflammatory process develops there. Lymph nodes increase in size, become denser and painful. Most often this occurs with elevated temperature.

When the pathogen enters the bloodstream, the infection affects many target organs. The lymph nodes, spleen and liver become enlarged, and skin rashes appear. The heart muscle may be affected and the disease myocarditis develops.

All this is accompanied by weakness, general malaise, loss of appetite, sweating, and rapid heartbeat.

Often the affected lymph nodes suppurate. Also, not only regional lymph nodes, but also distant groups of lymph nodes can be involved in the process.

Typically, diagnosing this disease is not difficult. It is easy to notice with the naked eye. Parents themselves are able to notice inflammation at the site of the cat scratch and subsequent enlargement of the nearest lymph node.

In most cases, this disease heals spontaneously. But it happens that it is impossible to do without intervention from doctors.

Antibacterial therapy is prescribed. In case of severe lymphadenitis, anti-inflammatory treatment using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is prescribed.

Helminthiasis

A child can become infected with some helminths (worms) from cats. I won’t go into detail on this. Just keep in mind that you need to monitor the cat’s health, and children who have contact with cats need to regularly prevent helminthic diseases.

Allergy

Allergy to wool is not a completely accurate concept. Since an allergic reaction in a person does not occur to the fur itself, but to the desquamated epidermis of the skin with the secretion of the skin glands of the animal.

These allergens are extremely small, so they are easily picked up in the air and can be transported over long distances.

In connection with the above, it becomes clear that there are no non-allergenic cat breeds. If you hear such statements, then this is just a marketing ploy.

Yes, hairless cats are less allergenic. Their epidermis also sloughs off, but it is not retained by the hair. Therefore, with thorough regular cleaning, allergens are more likely to be removed more quickly. But it is impossible to completely exclude their effect.

Allergy to wool most often manifests itself as nasal congestion, sneezing, prolonged runny nose, watery eyes and itchy eyes. Children often experience periodic obstructive symptoms (dry paroxysmal cough, shortness of breath), temporary asthmatic attack (attack of suffocation).

The allergy may not appear immediately upon first contact with the animal. Allergy symptoms can take weeks or even months to develop.

Moreover, allergies to cats most often develop in children prone to allergic diseases. For example, with a burdened history of allergies, when the child’s parents themselves are allergic. Or if the child has an allergic reaction to something other than cats. If you have such a child, think 100 times whether it is worth keeping a cat in the house.

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