Question:
My granddaughter has a 14-month-old baby and is expecting another child very soon.I am very concerned about the safety of the babies. Could the cat possibly smell milk on one of the babies and accidentally suffocate the child?.
A.B.S., Naples, FL Aug 13, 2006
Answer:
Cats have often been demonized (and apparently still are) for suffocating babies in their cribs. This was before the recognition of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in infants who were found dead in their cribs.Cats will jump into babies' cribs to snuggle, bat at waving arms and legs, and, yes, sometimes may lick any milk the baby burps up.I advise that a net be put over the crib to keep the cat out, otherwise the infant could get scratched by a playful cat. The cat should have a full physical examination and be checked for fleas (which can cause chicken pox-like bites on babies), for ringworm (which is transmissible) and for toxoplasmosis and roundworm. As a sensible precaution, your granddaughter should have someone else clean out the litter box while she is pregnant.
Subscribe