Bringing a new baby home is the most exciting time for any family. It is such an intense and exciting moment that sometimes a family can forget that they have another baby with “fur and four legs” who lives for their adoration and attention. Cats can be confused with the new addition, maybe partly because the baby is usually not a territory they can smell and touch and butt their heads against like everything else in its world. Everyone treads lightly, and for kitty suddenly there may be no one to play with anymore. Transition periods of any kind can be tricky for everyone involved, but generally speaking, if you include kitty in your newfound joy, and let kitty explore the new baby a little bit, the adjustment will be a lot easier for you, kitty and baby.
A word here about what we fear the most with the understanding I am not a physician or medical researcher. Toxoplasmosis, which is a disease that affects pregnant women, is extremely rare but can lead to possible birth defects. Researchers state that many of the reported cases of this disease are the result of eating raw or undercooked meat. To date, the transmission of this disease from cat to human has been speculated, but NOT PROVEN.
Cats can carry toxoplasmosis and they get it from eating uncooked meat, such as rodents and birds. Cattle, pigs and birds also carry it, but it’s not likely you will have to deal with some of those in your baby’s nursery. (I shouldn’t say that. In this strange world, one never knows). The disease can also be transmitted through soil. Some solid preventive measures include wearing gloves while gardening, washing hand with soap and water after handing raw meat and all surfaces that have contacted raw meat and washing hands thoroughly after emptying litter pans. To be completely on the safe side, a pregnant woman should avoid emptying the litter pans and can also have the vet test the family kitty for antibodies.
Read more on this to ease your mind. There is much research on interaction between animals and the new baby and too much knowledge can only be in the words of Martha Stewart, “a good thing.”