When I was pregnant with my first child, my mate and I loved our cat ‘Poca’ so much that when friends asked us about our gender preference for the baby, we answered, “Who cares, so long as it’s a kitty.”

Nice little joke until I considered the labour: kitties are born with claws.
And so I had a little human boy, whose life has been superbly enriched by an animal housemate – we would not live without a beast in our abode.

Nonetheless, I soon learned things are not always so kosher between kitty and baby.

Pre-baby, we moms revel in the medical necessity of steering clear of cat litter (toxoplasmosis, found in feces, can cause birth defects), and scheme of ways to perpetuate this newfound chore on our husband’s list beyond pregnancy. But all is not so advantageous once baby actually enters the scene.

Poca was as curious as cats come: the baby’s peeps, purrs and high-pitched squeals were surprisingly similar to her own, so she was forever investigating this little mystery being who commanded so much attention. Too much attention.

Soon, Poca’s toileting expanded from her litter box in the closet to the towel on the bathroom floor, the rug at the front door and the pillow on my partner’s side of the bed (phew).

And our son had many a close call with a crotchety cat who’d had her tail pulled one too many times. Face to face, a hiss and a spit away from the slashing of a soft, plump cheek by a ferocious claw, we narrowly yanked our new little crawler to safety.

With a second baby on the way, I thought it wise to be better prepared for the baby-kitty union.

Dr. Rob Butler from the Guelph Animal Hospital in Guelph, Ontario, was just the authority I needed. He has three kids and two cats, both of a very different nature. ‘Stewart’ was a fighter, an aggressive male cat rescued as a stray, and ‘Sid’ just the opposite: a pushover, a placid, declawed dude, defenseless against a toddler’s clumsy carrying tactics and bed belly flops. Dr. Butler took a hard line with cat and baby safety for both parties, but was optimistic about achieving mutual respect.

Baby can cause a lot of anxiety for your cat. Dr. Butler suggests you send home something with the baby’s scent while mom and baby are still at the hospital. This will help acclimatize your cat to the baby before it arrives in person. Help develop positive associations with baby by rewarding your cat with a treat after she sniffs out the items.

Never leave your baby and cat together unsupervised. Cats have claws and babies have high-pitched agonizing cries that can push even the most composed individuals over the edge.

Saliva carries bacteria that can cause abnormal infections in infants whose immune systems haven’t yet developed. Cat’s mouths are actually very unhygienic and, as they clean their mouths with their paws, both scratches and bites can be serious. See a doctor immediately if your child’s skin has been punctured.

The other potential danger exists in the back end: stool can carry parasites – roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and pinworm that can transfer to infants and young children.

Some children have allergies to dander, so sharing sheets with a cat isn’t wise. And outdoor cats are susceptible to fleas.

Set up the crib and nursery long in advance of baby’s homecoming to help get your cat’s curiosity out of the way. But be sure to discourage your cat from claiming this new cozy bed as her own. Buy netting that fits over the crib. Better yet, block access to baby’s room by installing an interior screen door.

Toddlers love to have someone smaller than them to boss around, so beware of loud voices, flying objects, blankets, fingers that poke eyes and hands that yank tails. Teach your child to be gentle. Cats are fragile too!
Try to keep your pet’s routine as close to normal as possible. This means regular mealtimes, cuddling and play sessions.

As your family grows, your children will discover the wonder of animals and hopefully develop a lifelong compassion and respect for the creatures with which we share our planet.