Cats and Babies Myths Going Strong?
I just couldn’t believe this column by baby expert Dr. Brazelton. I had to double check the date, to make sure such things were still being written in 2009.
Dr. Brazelton had been asked by a Grandma-to-be about the three cats that her expecting daughter has. After giving her the scary Toxoplasmosis lecture (forgetting to mention that there are no documented cases where any pregnant woman has ever contracted the disease from a cat), the good doctor then takes on the role of a cat expert and adds:
You are right to be concerned about your daughter’s cats and her new baby for other reasons.
Cats attach themselves to human caregivers, and felines have been known to be jealous of babies as if the new arrivals were siblings! Some cats will seek out the infants’ mouths and noses and lie on them to smother them.
It would be better for the baby if your daughter would rid herself of the cats. If not, the cats must be kept away from the child for the infant’s protection.
I couldn’t believe that in the year 2009, an educated man would still be spreading that old wives tale about cats suffocating babies! Not only that, he goes as far as attributing fairly complex motivations to felines, and actually claims that they will seek out the airways with an aim to suffocate the baby because of “sibling rivalry”.
Sigh. Where do you begin with such a stupid claim?
Oh, and if all of this were not enough, the good doctor adds a final cause for the daughter “rid herself of the cats”:
Finally, if there is a history of allergies or asthma in the family, or if the child develops signs of either of these, your daughter may once again need to consider finding a new home for her cats.
Note he is not even talking about a diagnosis. Any symptom of any type of allergy or asthma are reason enough for this Doc… I guess he needs to do some reading on the health benefits of cats, and pay more attention to recent studies.
My heart goes out to the poor pregnant Mom. Last thing she needs right now is an anxious Grandma-to-be armed with a letter from a “baby expert” that tells her to “rid herself of the cats”.
Such a reckless and irresponsible column could actually cost many cats their lives. Check out the column here and drop an email to Doctor Brazelton, won’t you? Oh, and do comment here with your stories about cats and babies – I am sure some mothers-to-be would find those useful.
Tags: cats and babies
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 am
Wow, that’s just sad and disgusting. I sent the following letter to this irresponsible doctor:
I am appalled at the completely false information you have provided to this concerned grandmother.
Not only has there not been a single documented case of a pregnant woman contracting toxoplasmosis from a cat, but if you feel that toxoplasmosis is such a huge concern perhaps you should be telling pregnant women to avoid food, since toxoplasmosis is much more likely to be contracted from meat or improperly washed greens. While it is technically possible for cats to shed toxoplasmosis as long as this woman isn’t cleaning the litter box and then immediately licking her hands her risk will be almost non-existent.
I cannot believe that in this day and age a professional is perpetuating the myth that cats deliberately smother babies. It is a myth, plain and simple, with no basis in reality and it is extremely irresponsible for you to be passing it on as though it were fact and a genuine concern for parents. Cats may be attracted to babies because they are a source of warmth. A cat might even come to see a baby as their charge and protect it. Cats do not plot murder out of jealousy – that is anthropomorphization and is absurd. Mom simply needs to keep the cat out of the baby’s crib – not because smothering is a real concern, but to avoid any scratches or bites due to baby inappropriately grabbing at the cat.
You have also overlooked the many physical, psychological and emotional benefits of keeping cats. Studies show that people who pet cats have reduced blood pressure & stress and people who grow up with animals tend to be more emotionally developed and have more compassion and empathy. Studies have also shown that growing up with animals reduces the likelihood of developing asthma and allergies.
Your advice is irresponsible fear mongering at its worse. Do some research before you give advice that may result in this new mother losing her animal companions and these cats losing their lives.
–
Anlina Sheng
http://www.abnormalloveofcats.com
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
Thank you for this information. I have taken the time to write an elaborate letter directed to the Doctor (although quack is a more appropriate term) linking to several sites including the CDC and HSUS. I hope that more people respond to him showing his outdated ideas regarding pregnancy and cats.
I’ve also posted his response (and mine to him) on several other sites I belong to, to try and get more calls to action.
Thank you again!
- Jade
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I’m surprised this ill informed doctor didn’t say that the cats would steal the baby’s soul in addition to suffocating him in a jealous rage. It is sad that in this day and age these kinds of myths are still being propagated by members of the medical community.
There are medications to treat allergies and there are no documented cases of pregnant women contracting toxoplasmosis from cats. To advise patients to “rid themselves” of their cats based on misinformation is very irresponsible and cruel.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:49 am
My sister in law was completely freaked out about being around cats when she was pregnant last year…and even more freaked out when she had the baby to the extent that she made up an excuse that she wouldn’t let me take the baby for a night because of my cats. She is one that believes everything she hears. Anyway, We proved her wrong and my little niece adores cats. All three of my kids had cats around them as infants and the cats were very protective of the kids.
February 5th, 2009 at 5:53 am
[...] Dr Brazelton in his (in)famous recent column made me pick up the keyboard and start writing and I am happy to announce the publication of the first article in this series: Cats and Toxoplasmosis – as with many similar issues, education is power, so take the time to read this piece and stay informed. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
February 16th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Different cultures have very different perceptions and I’ve always been absolutely uncomprehending at a lot of the western beliefs about cats. Nothing could be farther from the truth than the “expert” opinions this credentialled idiot expounds. My mother, may she be blessed, enjoyed three wonderful years with her beloved cat before I was born, and I credit both her compassionate ethic and the presence of my brother in fur, as I think of him, with my own excellent health history and my positive, deeply spiritual, compassionate ethic. No allergies, no diseases, and definitely no ailurophobia here!
March 25th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I am sick and tired of this utter trash being perpetrated, especially by health-care professionals in this day and age!
I think it says more about their own ignorance about something they are supposed to know and a dislike of felines. The law, (in the U.K. and, I would presume, in any civilised country), states that it is illegal to cause any animal unnessesary distress; taking it away from a good home, even if it is placed in an equally good one consequently, is bound to cause initial distress. If the re-homing is necessary, that is another matter; but re-homing because of a new baby is NOT nescessary so, as far as I am concerned, the health worker who has advised it on these grounds has broken the law and should be prosecuted like any criminal.
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I know this may sound crazy but my cat who I’ve had since he was a kitten, was breathing my breath!he was sitting on my pillow and he put his nose in front of mine while I was sleeping. I won’t go so far as to say he was trying to steal my soul but he tried many times one night before i took him out of my room and closed the door. Maybe I’m going crazy, but I’ve been searching the web as to any reason why my cat was doing this. I’m 17 and definatley not a baby. But i read on a few occult sites that “haunted cats” go after babies and teenagers because the have weak souls.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:09 am
congratulations looking up anthropomorphization!