Would you get rid of a pet if you had a baby?
By Sezara
@Sezara (169)
United States
81 responses
@Mandi2005 (157)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I've heard lots of stories about animals acting differently when their owners are pregnant. I think it really depends on the animal and it's size and age. I would also use a life-like doll so the animal could get used to the crying and small size of the baby.
@ButtrflyDreams (1139)
• United States
26 Oct 06
That's a really good idea. I never thought of that before. I'll have to suggest this to my husband for when I get pregnant & see what he says.
1 person likes this
@floramwaters (1595)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I would have to wait and see how they act around the new baby. If they did good by they baby then I would keep the animal. If it was a cat I would keep a close eye one the cat a baby. Cats can very loving, and might set on the babys face. Evrytime I went to my moms when my oldest was first born and her cat would try to lick my son in his face then would try to set on him the cats was purry the whole time. I know she meant no harm so we had to teach the cat to set beside the baby and not on him. That meant we could not leave the baby alone in the room for even a second.
2 people like this
@Sezara (169)
• United States
26 Oct 06
That's the issue we anticipate. Our cats are very protective but we've taught them that sitting on the baby's things is a big no-no. I won't be leaving them alone with the baby until it's old enough to crawl or move away if a cat get cuddly.
1 person likes this
@AprilNicole1983 (564)
• United States
26 Oct 06
We have a 6 week old baby and 2 cats. We had 3 cats, but the female started acting weird soon after I was pregnant. When I was about 7 months along, she bit me. We gave her to my fiancee's mom after that (she lives alone with no kids/animals). If I felt an animal would harm my child in any way, I would not hesitate to get rid of it.
@Cortney (3980)
• United States
26 Oct 06
You should only get rid of them if they would be harmful to the infant. If they display anger toward the child then unfortuanatly they would have to go... Or if they were effecting the childs health. Some children will show allergies early.
1 person likes this
@ButtrflyDreams (1139)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I would definately not get rid of my dogs. If you do it right, you can make it work.
2 people like this
@Sezara (169)
• United States
26 Oct 06
Do you think it makes a difference on the type of pet? I have cats but I feel I would make a greater effort for them or a dog than I would a bird (or other small animal).
You're right though, I don't think violence to a child is worth the risk.
1 person likes this
@Fedaykin (137)
• Italy
26 Oct 06
Well, it depends on the behavior of the pet. I love cats, and many of them are very sweet; others, anyway, are jealous, or simply they don't like people near them. Dogs, on their side, are more friendly and smart, but some races could be too big to run around while a little baby is just learning to walk! Birds, mouses, fishes and similars doesn't seem to represent a danger at all.
2 people like this
@Sezara (169)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I'd be more worried about birds around a baby than anything else. Granted, I've never had one, but I would think that claws and beaks around a little one would be too much of a risk, especially in larger birds. I guess I just trust the intelligence of dogs and cats over smaller pets.
1 person likes this
@MrsFrizzle (1963)
• United States
27 Oct 06
I would not. Children and animals can coexsist as long as they are taught bauderies.
@Lackingstyle (7509)
•
26 Oct 06
I was talking about this the other day, I couldn't understand why so many animals were abandoned at the local shelter.
One was because the child in the home had become allergic, my reaction was "Well the child can always wear a mask" ;). I'd strive to do anything before I let go of an animal I loved.
1 person likes this
@Lackingstyle (7509)
•
26 Oct 06
Fantastic to hear LovingIt. Good luck to the pair of them.
1 person likes this
@LovingIt (5396)
• United States
26 Oct 06
My grandson has turned out to be allergic to cats. His allergy doctor actually advised against getting rid of the family cat, however. Instead she put him on allergy shots to help him become immune to the problem. She said that she felt getting rid of the cat would be more harmful emotionally and eventually physically than keeping the cat would, as he would grow more allergic if his exposure to cats was reduced.
1 person likes this
@LovingIt (5396)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I would do my very best to make it work. There are a lot of old wives tales out there about cats and babies that are totally untrue. It's amazing how many normally smart people believe that stuff. My kids and my grandkids were raised with these creatures all around them and never suffered any damage whatsoever!
By the way, it's amazing how some animals respond to babies. I've seen dogs and cats that normally will not respond well to adults or older kids that are as gentle as lambs with babies.
@Lackingstyle (7509)
•
26 Oct 06
Too true. My brother and his wife was adopted by a cat when he moved into his house, the cat was the "top cat" of the street, probably been there for years; street wise. They were worried because of how the cat was to how it would accept children. That cat has endured so many tail pulls and rough strokes and never once reacted in a vicious way.
1 person likes this
@Sezara (169)
• United States
26 Oct 06
One of my cats has really surprised me. She's great with my husband but used to bite me when I picked her up, tried to claw at me, etc. It was just a thing but I love her anyway. Since I got pregnant though she's been a lamb to me and loves hovering around all the baby things. It's pretty neat and I have no worries about her except maybe trying to snuggle too much.
1 person likes this
@indiandevil (2410)
• Canada
27 Oct 06
Depends on the pet itself.
My cousins girlfriend had a baby, when they were living with us. They had a kitten. They kitten attakced everyone, biting clawing batting at eyes etc... they found the cat in a barn and it had cold in its eyes etc... the cat was attacking the adults and the kids. I constantly was chasing the cat away from the infant when I was sitting.
It was annoying. I would try to attack my son but my son was old enough to fight back...finally one day they were out, and my aunt and I decided enough was enough, my boyfriend watched the kids while we went to the store we took the cat with us and dropped it off near some farms, near by. It sounds kinda mean but the cat was fine one of the farmers took it in and let it live in the barn, besides they never took care of the cat anyway, I was buying its food and litter, and when it run out, they wouldn't even care, or try to feed it anything. I had felt bad and figured I was doing both the cat and the baby a favor...
@crazymom (579)
• United States
26 Oct 06
Well, I have a newborn and I also have two inside dogs. I was really worried about how they would be with the new baby in the house. One (male)could care less because he is a lazy lap dog and the other (female)is really protective. It was funny at first she would run and look at the baby when he cried, and start whining along with the his cry. It was cute. Now she doesn't do that so much, she now tries to lick him.
@BROWNEYEZ (447)
• United States
26 Oct 06
WELL SOME PETS CAUSE HARM TO BABYS I HEARD ONCE A CAT LAID ON A BABYS FACE TO GO TO SLEEP AND KILLES THE BABY. hAIR CAN GET INTO THERE LUNGS I DONT THINK IT MIXS AT ALL.... I SAY BABY OR PET PICK ONE
1 person likes this
@BROWNEYEZ (447)
• United States
1 Nov 06
I DIDNT SAY ALL CAT OR ANIMALS DO THIS JUST YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL..SOME ANIMALS CAN BE GOOD AND SOME CAN NOT I GUESS YOU HAVE TO FEEL OUT THE SITUATION AND SEE FROM THERE
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I had a cat when my son was born. And all she ever did was go up to him and make shure he was breathing. My cat had kittens so her maternal instincts took over. She would cuddle next to him, not on top of him to try to keep him warm and she would actually cover him up with his blanket. She would bite his blanket and pull it up to his chest to cover his body. I saw her do this one day when I went to check on him. My son is now 11 and I nolonger have my cat. She got really old and ran away and never came home.
@Sezara (169)
• United States
26 Oct 06
It does effect the family dynamic in most households. The animals behavior can change as they feel the need for more attention and stability. Two of my cats are shelter rescues so we've had to be extra attentive during the pregnancy to make sure they adjust.
But no, nothing would make me give up my animals, they are family!
1 person likes this
@Sezara (169)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I've had to really work to make sure my 3 cats all get attention. One of them started spraying but he's finally stopped and seems to be content again. I think as long as the animals are mellow and there are no allergy issues anything can be worked around. (It also helps that my husband gives them attenion too).
1 person likes this
@tommys (63)
• Swaziland
26 Oct 06
Well, you should get one, at least a cat. I work in construction with some of the roughest men on earth, but they all wish they had my life with my family and all my animals. It is however a bit bad because we have to move at least once a year, which is not easy if you have eight cats, four large dogs, a hamster and a horse
1 person likes this
@charlesbyron (254)
• Philippines
26 Oct 06
We have a cat, but my son was diagnosed just a weeks ago that he has an asthma, so probably, we have to get rid of our pet.. :(
1 person likes this
@Sezara (169)
• United States
26 Oct 06
Lovingit just posted this a few comments ago: My grandson has turned out to be allergic to cats. His allergy doctor actually advised against getting rid of the family cat, however. Instead she put him on allergy shots to help him become immune to the problem. She said that she felt getting rid of the cat would be more harmful emotionally and eventually physically than keeping the cat would, as he would grow more allergic if his exposure to cats was reduced.
You might want to talk to your doctors before making a decision. It's worth a shot anyway. Good luck.
1 person likes this
@charlesbyron (254)
• Philippines
26 Oct 06
We have a cat, but my son was diagnosed just a weeks ago that he has an asthma, so probably, we have to gget ris of our pet.. :(
@Sezara (169)
• United States
26 Oct 06
Aww, that's so sad. I hope you can work something out and keep the animal but you got to do what you got to do when it comes to children. Maybe ask your doctor about air purifiers? I have an Ionic Breeze and it makes a huge difference in the dander level.
1 person likes this
