Cat in the Crib
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Cat in the Crib
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June 2003
Recently we have found our two cats sleeping in the crib.
They haven't done it yet when our 5-month-old is in the crib.
(One cat is still a bit spooked by her, while the other is
friendly toward the baby.) I'm not particularly concerned
about cats in the crib, but should I be? Are there any specific
risks related to cats and babies, such as diseases or
smothering? When we find a cat hanging out in the crib we
take it out to discourage the behavior. Is there any method
for keeping the cats out of the crib?
Julia's mom
A pediatrician friend of mine said that the cats will smell the
milk on a baby (maybe even the bedding?) and want to lick it,
positioning themselves possibly on the chest to do so, which
could smother. We have an old cat that wasn't interested in the
baby at all, but given that your cats are getting into the crib,
I do think you should be concerned. Unfortunately I don't have
any advice on how to practically deal with the problem.
Anon
I am a local vet, and would say the main concern I would have
about cats in the crib is if they sleep there with the child.
They have a tendency to snuggle closely to warm things. A young
infant that can't turn it's head might have trouble if the cat
leaned very close to their face. Cats also sometimes lick milk
remnants off the face of infants where I think the myth about
cats suffocating children comes from. As for parasites, fleas
from a cat might also bite a child. Cats usually are so cleanly
that they do not leave any stool on their fur so internal
parasite transfer would be unlikely. As for keeping them out of
the crib, I would consider using one of the mesh tent crib tops
that help keep children from climbing out.
A local vet
We too, had a cat (Siamese) who took an interest to
sleeping in my daughter's crib, only she was in it too!
Actually, he only did it once because I almost strangled him
the first time. I woke one night to the baby screaming a
scream I have never heard before. She was only about 4-6
months old (we had just started putting her in the crib), so I
ran into her room only to find our Siamese sitting at her
head. He had apparently begun playing with her very soft,
wispy hair and left her with a scratch on her scalp. I was so
distraught! From then on, he was locked in another room at
night so he could not get into her room. I would strongly
discourage your cats from sleeping in the crib, even when
you baby is not there. Aside from fleas, dirt, worms (!! they
frequently get them from fleas you know!), the cat may
decide to crawl in sometime with the baby and you never
know what might happen -- I never willingly let the cat in the
crib and still she got scratched. Better safe than sorry!
Trish
Replace the door to your baby's room with a screen door. It will
keep the cats out but you can still check on your baby whenever
you need to.
allison
Not to sound too blunt, but can't you just close the door to the room you have
the crib in? If the child is in there, put a baby monitor in the room. I am
not sure of any diseases the cat may carry, but it just does not seem
hygenically correct.
annonymous
As a somewhat experienced cat owner with a child, I would
discourage the kitties from being in the crib. As sweet as that
is, you never know when something could set off either the child
or the cat, then scratches, screams, etc could ensue. We have
always kept our cats out of our daughter's room (she's now 4) as
much as they want to be in there, now mostly because they're
disruptive. It's just a manner of closing the door so they can't
get in, but I don't know what your situation is. Seems like our
cats always migrate around the house to find a new favorite
spot, so I'm sure yours will too.
kitty mom
I worry alittle bit about the cats in the crib of an infant
because they are unable to move away and might have trouble
breathing if the cat is smooshed up against them. Also, I
worry about it being too much for a baby's immune system to cope
with that much cat hair. I would suggest checking sfgate.com
archives (the website for the SF Chronicle and Examiner) for a
recent article in their pet column on how to keep cats away from
particular places. I remember it had suggestions on sprays and
other things to do (I would check the safety of sprays for your
child before using). Also, how about netting over the crib when
not in use? Or banning the cats from the baby's room? You could
also ask your vet for suggestions. I do think you would be wise
to keep the cats out of the baby's crib. Good luck
Susan
Our cats have always done that with my 16 month old and so far the worst
problem we've had has been fleas; now that the weather is getting warmer
he's getting bitten all over his little body. So we ''treated'' the cats with
Advantage, kept them away from him for the requisite 24 hour period, and
they've gone back to hanging out in there.
Jill
I recently saw something on tv about keeping pets off furniture
that should help with the crib. Purchase a length of plastic
carpet runner with the spikes on the bottom. Lay it in the crib
with the spiky part up. It's uncomfortable for the cats to lay
on and eventually they should get the hint and stay out of the
crib.
Rhea
Hmmm, kitties in the crib...much as I love cats, that doesn't
sound safe for your baby. One solution is a crib tent -- kind of
an airy mesh thing that attaches to the top of the crib. It's
sold at BabyCenter
http//store.babycenter.com/product/nursery/nursery_accessories/c
rib_accessories/1444
Most people use it to keep toddlers in when they start climbing
out in the middle of the night, but I've heard of people using
it to exclude cats, too. Good luck!
Dana
If you are concerned about the cat in the crib, spray it with
water when it sleeps there. It will get the message quickly.
this page was last updated: Aug 13, 2003
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