Cat and newborn baby in the apartment

Everyone knows how much joy and positive emotions communication with animals brings. But parents often forget what problems can arise in families with small children. Animals are sources of many infections for humans. But they pose a particular danger to children due to the weakness of the child’s body’s defenses.

It is worth understanding the diseases that can appear due to cats

All opponents of a cat's presence unanimously speak about the possibility of contracting toxoplasmosis. This fact is also confirmed by veterinarians; according to statistics, almost 100% of cats carry this parasitic disease and infect all people who come into contact with them. A newborn can become infected with toxoplasmosis only if his mother has not touched cats before. If, nevertheless, the child becomes infected, this will only be beneficial; this disease will only strengthen his immunity. If you let your pets go outside, it is possible that in the yard they may become infected with some kind of lichen, and accordingly infect the baby with it. Also, from the street, cats can bring dirt into the house on their paws, and with it the larvae of helminths and insects. If your cat often goes outside, then take care of the cleanliness of the house: do wet cleaning more often, take care of your pet, and try not to allow it into the room with the baby. Quite often, allergic diseases are inherited, which means that if you or someone in your family is predisposed to allergies, then your baby will most likely also be prone to it. At the same time, the form of the disease may differ, for example, you cannot tolerate poplar fluff and nuts, and the baby feels completely normal, but while staying with the cat in the room, the child becomes ill. Usually, an allergy to animals is easy to recognize; the child begins to have watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and red eyes. If a child is nevertheless diagnosed with such an allergy, then it is better to immediately give someone a cat, or give it to relatives, and not endanger the child’s health.

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.

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.

Can a cat be jealous of a child?

The short answer is no. Most likely, cats are not capable of jealousy at all in the human understanding of the word. However, a purr's behavior may change with the arrival of a new family member, but this is not due to jealousy, but to stress. Look at this situation from the cat's point of view: cats easily adapt to the appearance of a new person in the family (as opposed to, say, the appearance of a new animal). The cat may not react at all to the very fact of the birth of a new child - after all, he is small and relatively motionless. However, the changes that occur in the home with the arrival of a newborn tend to cause stress for the purr. Among them are:

New sounds are not only the cry of the baby, but the sounds of new devices and devices that you use to care for the new family member.
New smells. First of all, this is not the smell of a child, the aromas of creams, lotions, medicines that appeared in the house with the child.
Changes in the rhythm of life. Your pussy will be surprised that you, too, have taken up the midnight lifestyle.
Different arrangement of furniture in the apartment.
More frequent visits to you from people unfamiliar to the cat.
Changes in your mood and lack of free time.

All of this can greatly affect your pet and cause behavior problems. Experience shows that most cats easily adapt to new conditions, but some may experience stress at first, which usually manifests itself in behavior problems. Remember - this has nothing to do with jealousy. In the next article we will tell you how to help your cat cope with stress.

If you have an interest in this topic, we have an article “Are cats jealous? And what to do with it?".

Start preparing your cat in advance for the addition to the family

Another important point for you will be to limit the cat's access to the crib. Your task will be to force the animal not to climb there, this will take some time. Prepare the crib in advance, assemble it and place inside the objects that the cat is afraid of. For example, something rustling - cats don’t like it. Alternatively, simply cover the crib that your furry friend jumps on with double-sided tape. After several unpleasant stickings, the cat will remember everything and will no longer want to go there. The adhesive on the surface of the crib from the tape can be easily wiped off with slightly moistened soda.

Newborn and hamster

Hamsters in the house where a newborn appears can also become a source of danger to his health. The thing is that they can be a carrier of scabies. This disease is transmitted by scabies mites through direct contact. The main symptom of the disease is severe itching. In addition, hamsters and guinea pigs, like cats and dogs, can be sources of helminths.

So, newborns and pets require adult safety precautions. Vaccinations, deworming, and having your pet examined by a veterinarian are mandatory activities before bringing a small child into your home.

Especially for nashidetki.net - Diana Rudenko

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.

© shutterstock 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 might a cat react to a baby?

Most cat owners did not report any problems when introducing their pet to a newborn. These animals are very cautious by nature and will timidly and carefully look closely at the new tenant. Having realized that there is no danger from the child, they, as a rule, become indifferent and move on with their lives calmly. Very rarely, cats begin to get jealous and mischief - a cat may begin to urinate on the child’s things and crib, as if marking, declaring that this territory originally belongs to him, and little strangers do not belong here. In this case, you will have to think about how to limit the animal’s access to the room where the newborn is, and continue to monitor the pet and correct its behavior. Set up a place for him in another room and spend time with him there more often so that he does not feel abandoned, and if you live in a one-room apartment, the cat can temporarily live in the hallway or in the kitchen.

But even if an infant and a cat met without problems, try not to leave the animal alone with the child. After all, a newborn often does not control his movements and can cause pain to the cat, in which case the pet will undoubtedly consider it necessary to protect itself and injure the baby. If you have a cat in the house and you are expecting a new addition, do not listen to advisers who say that an animal in the house only causes harm and needs to be gotten rid of. If your baby does not have allergies, and your pet cat or cat reacts well to the arrival of a new family member, such a neighborhood will only bring benefits. It has been noticed that children who have pets are more adapted and intellectually developed; they grow up to be kind, caring, attentive and responsible.

The coexistence of domestic animals and humans is quite possible within an ordinary apartment in a multi-storey building. This is especially true for cats and kittens, who, having appeared in the apartment, master the territory offered to them and become part of the family. A young family inevitably has a baby, and then questions arise as to whether a cat and a newborn child are compatible in the same apartment or house and how safe it is.

What will a cat do when a baby appears in the house?

Don’t listen to anyone, if you have a pet and are expecting a baby, don’t rush to part with your pet. Perhaps the baby will not have any allergies to cats, and the pet will happily meet the baby. Their friendship will benefit both the child and the cat. Scientists have proven that communication with pets has a positive effect on the development of children; they learn kindness, care, attention, responsibility; they are also more intellectually developed and adapt well.

Is it possible to let a cat into the children's room?

There is no reason not to let him see the child. It is part of your home and your cat should feel comfortable there. Try to let your purr spend time in your baby's room while you are there. This will help the pet get used to the smells of baby powders, creams, etc., as well as to the new arrangement of things in the room.

If you decide to leave a cat in the nursery, remember - you should never have soft objects near a sleeping newborn baby, and this includes a furry pussy. Just place an awning over the crib or mosquito net to keep the cat out.

Whatever happens, never yell at the cat when it is in the nursery or near the child’s things, use only positive motivation. This way, the pet will associate everything related to the child with positive emotions.

Congratulations! The baby is born!

Allergy

Another big problem that a family with a baby and animals may face is allergies in the baby. Allergy (from the Greek allos - “other, other” and ergon - “I act”) is a state of increased sensitivity of the body to various substances. These substances are called allergens. When they enter the body, they trigger a cascade of immunopathological reactions that lead to damage to the skin and mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. Signs of an allergy are the appearance of a rash on the skin, redness of the eyes, watery eyes, runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing. If the allergen enters the body through the mouth, a food allergy may occur (this can be caused by accidental ingestion of animal fur or food into the mouth). In such cases, swelling of the oral mucosa or loosening of the stool may develop. It is necessary to observe after what situations the condition worsens or the appearance of allergy symptoms occurs. This may be due, for example, to the diet of a nursing mother or to the use of new cosmetics. You should always look for a pattern between the appearance of allergy symptoms and contact with the allergen. And if such symptoms appear in your baby after interacting with an animal (for example, after staying in the same room), then most likely he is developing an allergic reaction. Allergens can be animal hair and dander, bird feathers, fungi living on the walls of the aquarium, fish and animal food, and much more.

If pets were members of your family even before the birth of the child, then it is necessary to prepare them and your apartment for the birth of the baby.

The risk of developing allergies is higher if one of your family members suffers from allergic diseases. Moreover, the manifestations of allergies, like the allergens themselves, can be different. So, a grandmother may have lacrimation and a runny nose when certain plants bloom, and a grandson may have breathing problems when in contact with cats. This is explained by the fact that the ability to develop allergic reactions and increased synthesis of immunoglobulin E is genetically transmitted, without which true allergic reactions do not occur. Therefore, families with a history of allergic diseases (bronchial asthma - shortness of breath, asthma attacks, hay fever - runny nose, drug allergies, atopic dermatitis - allergic skin rashes), especially if they occur in both parents, should not have pets. Otherwise, you risk facing the difficult problem of choosing between loving your pets and your baby’s health. After all, the first rule in the treatment of allergic diseases is the exclusion (elimination) of the allergen that causes an allergic reaction. And if the source of the allergy is a pet, then you will have to part with it. And this process is very painful and difficult.

Therefore, if you are expecting a baby or you just had one, then it is better to postpone purchasing a pet for a while. Wait until your baby is older. Firstly, the older the child, the easier it is for him to follow the rules of hygiene and, accordingly, the lower the risk of contracting infections. Secondly, you will already know the health characteristics of your child and, taking them into account, choose an animal. For example, if your baby has a food allergy or an allergy to pollen, then it is not advisable to have animals with a lot of fur.

If pets were members of your family even before the birth of the child, then it is necessary to prepare them and your apartment for the birth of the baby. And in the future, a number of conditions must be observed to ensure that the cohabitation of the baby and pets is safe and comfortable for everyone.

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:

through the gastrointestinal tract. This can happen through contact with contaminated soil, cat feces, or the cat itself. Infection is also possible when eating unwashed foods, eating meat products and eggs that have not undergone sufficient heat treatment;
through blood. This can happen through contact with contaminated meat through cuts on the hands, through the saliva of infected animals, and less commonly through blood transfusions;
vertical path (from mother to fetus through the placenta). The baby becomes infected if a pregnant woman contracts toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

Manifestations

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).

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.

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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:

Tests with toxoplasmin. A positive result indicates a previous or chronic course of toxoplozosis.
Ultrasound of internal organs. Allows you to detect enlargement of the liver, spleen, lymph nodes.

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.

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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.

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.

Life with a cat is a happy home

Cats, of course, are not dogs that wag their tails and lick everyone. Cats have a temper, but if they love their family, then this love is unique.

A cat in the house has a positive effect on the development of the baby and his upbringing. According to psychologists, communication with a furry friend helps a child become more responsible and friendly. In addition, children who grew up with animals from infancy are most often very kind. But if your home doesn’t yet have an animal under 3 years old, don’t rush to buy one. But if you have already managed to get a kitten, then remember that he and his relationship with the baby will require attention.

There is no need to worry about the cleanliness of the house until it is sparkling. It is quite enough to pay a little more attention than usual to cleaning the tray with gloves, changing the filler more often, washing the bowl and changing the water in it every day, washing your hands and not giving the cat raw meat. For those who are worried about the cat's shedding, they now offer to shave the cat, this is very convenient, since for 1.5 months you do not need to vacuum up a bunch of fur every day.

Building relationships

The baby was brought home. And the first thing the cat sees is not the envelope in its hands, but the owner. The happiness of having treats in the house, three meals a day and affection for the cat at this moment is like a pink veil before the eyes. And then he hears it... the cry of a baby. And here the cat becomes alert, hisses and rolls back.

Young parents make the mistake of immediately mistaking this for hostile behavior and no longer allow the cat near the baby. In fact, this is a completely understandable reaction, since cats react very strongly to noise and are distrustful of everything new. Besides, they are very curious. Hissing is more of a defensive reaction in this case than a manifestation of unfriendliness.

And after 10 minutes you can already see the picture of the “fluffy” one carefully approaching the baby. This is where the defensive reaction kicks in, not from the cat, but from the parents. And they try to hide their little bundle as far as possible from the clawed paws. But it's not right. In this situation, the cat is interested in understanding what is in the diaper and whether it poses a threat. And slowly creeping up, they are only worried about what will happen to them.

Cats have a genuine interest in everything new until he is sure of his safety or until this item becomes commonplace for him. Therefore, you should not drive the cat away from the child. On the contrary, it is worth allowing the cat to approach the baby under close supervision. And smell it. Thus, he makes sure that this lump does not pose a threat to him.

If you initially treated the cat as a “child,” then during pregnancy it is time to prepare the cat for the fact that less time will be spent on him, otherwise a sharp decrease in care may cause jealousy. If the attachment to the expectant mother is stronger than to the others, it is worth establishing relationships with the cat among other family members. It is worth teaching your cat to be independent.

Cats often exhibit a maternal instinct towards children. They come to the defense if the child cries, teach him to go to the potty, and help very young children develop a grasping reflex. Cats can also be protective. Become a child's friend.

Tips for those who have a cat and a baby in the house

First of all, before the baby is born, take your cat to see a veterinarian. Let him be examined, given all the necessary vaccinations, and wormed. If you are not offered to take all the tests, ask for it yourself.
If you were planning castration or sterilization, then you should do this also before the birth of the child. The first couple of days the cat may behave aggressively, but then they become more affectionate and pliable as problematic sexual behavior disappears.
Buy your cat more toys and a claw sharpener. Get into the habit of trimming your cat's nails every couple of weeks. If fur falls off, take him for a haircut.
You can invite friends with children to visit in advance so that the cat remembers what the children look like and their behavior. Accustom your cat to the sounds of rattles and squeaks.
Find a way to wean your cat off its curiosity about the baby's crib before the baby is born. For example, cans, tape and anything that will scare the cat away from this place.
Cats understand a calm, conversational tone well. Therefore, talk to them more often about the child, mention the name.
When you come home from the maternity hospital, take some time to pet your cat and feed him something tasty. Let him feel that you have not forgotten about him
Give the cat a chance to get used to the new family member. Surely the cat will want to sniff the child, let him do it. If he doesn’t show any desire, then don’t force him to sit next to the child. A cat is not a dog; it will not do what you want. Perhaps her curiosity will awaken later.
Be alone with your cat sometimes, don’t miss those favorite cat activities that you used to do together.

Don't forget about the baby's safety. Monitor the presence of the child and the cat together. Teach your child how to properly handle animals as they grow older.
Do not yell at the cat under any circumstances, even if it accidentally scratched the child. Cats forget the offense after a while and may simply not associate your scolding with what he usually does. In addition, screaming causes a negative reaction in cats, and it can unexpectedly annoy you, even if this has not happened before. Talk calmly, explain to him that he can’t do that. But next time, watch their communication more carefully and don’t allow this to happen. It’s not easy to do, but it’s worth trying and everything will work out.
A cat has a good effect on a child’s development, for example, teach a child to go potty when the cat goes to his litter box. Feed the cat together.
Don't worry that the cat might suffocate your baby in the crib. It's just a myth. Cats love warmth, and the desire to climb into the baby’s bed is connected only with finding a warm place. In some cases, this is how cats protect the baby.
The toys of a child and a cat should be different. This is not only a rule of hygiene, but also will not cause problems in the future when the baby wants to play with everything. Therefore, you need to immediately accustom your child to the fact that their play objects are different.
The cat must have his own place. You shouldn’t put your baby’s crib where the cat used to like to sleep.
Be prepared for the fact that the cat may wake your baby. This is especially noticeable in those pets who like to wander around at night. Don't yell at the animal.

In any case, it is quite possible to improve the relationship between a cat and a child, as well as living together. And do not forget the words of Dr. Komarovsky that a child has ideal immunity from birth, and instead of placing him in sterile conditions, you need to train and strengthen this immunity. As a last resort, no one forbids you to move the cat into the next room.

The life of a cat and a child is very exciting and full of funny moments!

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 to introduce a child to a cat?

First, avoid fuss. There is no need for any special arrangements here as there is no reason why your cat would react in any particular way to your new family member. The cat does not sense danger from a tiny person. In fact, most cats enjoy snuggling with warm babies. Just don't leave the two of them unattended and everything will be fine.

Remember to remain calm. The only situation in which cats may feel threatened is if you yell at them or otherwise frighten them when they see a child. Avoid this at all costs.

Cat and grown up child

As soon as your baby begins to crawl, the cat is in danger rather than him. This turns out to be a double-edged sword: the child pulls the pet’s tail, and the pet responds with its claws. To prevent this situation from happening, instruct your child in advance to have a humane attitude towards animals. Tell him that the cat is not a toy, it can be painful. You still shouldn't leave your two pets alone.

Under no circumstances should the cat and baby play with the same toys until the other one stops putting everything in his mouth. Be careful in showing your child’s curiosity about the cat’s litter box, food bowl, or genitals. To do this, you can make a hole in the door of the toilet (or the room where the tray is located) through which a cat can fit, but a child cannot fit through. Bowls should only be filled at certain times and any remaining food should be removed or thrown away. Don't forget about trimming your pet's nails.

Rules to follow

The animal must be examined by a veterinarian. Then the pet must receive the necessary vaccinations and prevent worms. In the future, this procedure must be carried out regularly under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Maintain good hygiene. Remember that animals are potential sources and carriers of infectious diseases!
Always wash your hands after handling your pet.
Do not allow the animal to come into contact with the child’s things and toys. If this happens, wash your toys and wash your clothes. Moreover, close contact between the baby and the animal is unacceptable. Do not allow the animal to lick, sniff or touch the child. While the child is small, he cannot fully feel all the joy of communicating with an animal, but he will have time to become infected with some kind of infection. In the room where the child spends most of his time (sleeping, playing), it is forbidden to place cages with birds, animals and place dog and cat houses, as well as aquariums. Animals and the baby must live isolated from each other.
Be more careful about keeping your home clean. Wet cleaning is recommended to be carried out daily, and if the need arises (pollution in the apartment, an abundance of hair during the animal’s molting period), then more often. It is necessary to ventilate the room several times a day. It is advisable that there is no specific animal smell in the room: this will help reduce the risk of allergic reactions.
Never leave a small child alone with an animal. This is a potentially traumatic situation, because the behavior of both is unpredictable. A sudden cry or involuntary movement by a child can frighten the animal or cause it pain. While defending itself, the animal may bite and/or scratch the baby. In addition, an animal, such as a cat, can lie next to a sleeping child in such a way as to cause suffocation in the baby.

Whether or not to have an animal in the house is something everyone decides for themselves. But approach this important decision thoughtfully, taking into account all the positive and negative aspects.

Natalia Taishcheva, Ph.D. honey. Sciences, Assistant, Department of Hospital Pediatrics, Russian State Medical University

Character and behavior

Breeders recommend taking the animal from a nursery, because often various bald, out-of-breed kittens that will not correspond to the characteristics of the breed are passed off as Sphynxes. To avoid mistakes, you should check your documents or consult a felinologist.

Sphynxes, which have gained popularity due to their skin devoid of the usual hair and undercoat, resemble dogs in their habits. Cats do not like loneliness, do not get tired in noisy companies and constantly require the attention of their owners. For people who are never at home, it is better to choose another breed that is more independent from society. From a young age until late old age, a cat remains playful, active and carefree, and therefore owners often call representatives of the breed eternal children. The cat is very loving and affectionate, rarely shows aggression and scratches.

If you train an animal, it will learn to stand on command.

The sphinx usually does not like to go outside, with the exception of babies, who from birth are allowed into the courtyard of a private house. People are either indifferent to water procedures or extremely negative, but hairless animals definitely need to be bathed more often than their furry counterparts. An additional plus is the lack of vindictiveness. Unlike other representatives of the cat family, which, out of vindictiveness, can mark shoes or ruin clothes, sphinxes already after 10 minutes. forget about the insult. Representatives of the breed have high intellectual abilities and learning skills. The sphinx easily gets along with other animals, even rats and hamsters, if you immediately explain that you need to be friends and not hunt. The cat is able to learn and perform the following basic commands for a reward:

bring an abandoned item;
lie;
stand;
ride;
to open the door;
give a voice.