We would be remiss if we failed to include the 'Old Wive's Tales' about babies and cats. Once upon a time, people thought that cats possessed magical (& sometimes evil) powers which included 'sucking the breath out of babies' or smothering them because of the milk scent. This is typically an excuse used by people who are too lazy to deal with the integration of a new baby into their feline household. The experienced cat owner will assure you that cats do not possess mystical powers, although they can be quite crafty at times! A responsible pet owner and parent will be wise enough to never leave their infant or small child unattended with an animal. Cats are naturally curious and, you must keep in mind, not humans - but cats. They should not be expected to think as a human and know that it could be harmful for them to lay on top of a baby. It is the responsibilty of the human adult to oversee all interaction between baby and kitty. Try keeping the baby behind closed doors when you are not close-by or investing in netting to place over cribs and playpens to keep your frisky feline out of the way.

During a woman's pregnancy, her first pre-natal vist should include a discussion with the doctor regarding Toxoplasmosis and the litterbox. Modern science has revealed that there is virtually no threat to the majority of women who avoid the litterbox and gardening during their pregnancy. Of the 4 million babies born each year in the United States, only 1,200 are affected with some form of toxoplasmosis. The majority of these cases are slight infections including eye irritations and rashes. Statistics further show that 60 percent of domestic cats and 80 percent of humans have been exposed, and therefore built immunity, to the disease. Cats can only shed the infectious parasite one time during their life and it takes 24 hours before it is transmissible to humans through direct contact with the feces. So, it is highly unlikely that this will occur during the cat owner's pregnancy (keeping in mind also that the cat owner has probably already been exposed and has anitibodies to the disease).

There are still concerns regarding proper precautions during a woman's pregnancy. Care must be taken to avoid the litterbox. If there is no one else who can take on this chore, wearing gloves and a face mask should be sufficient to avoid exposure. This is a disease to be taken seriously, but there is no medical evidence to suggest a pregnant woman should get rid of her cats. Discuss this matter with your obstetrician and veterinarian. Carefully follow established precautions during your pregnancy.

Before bringing home your new baby, your dog needs a little warning! Dogs are naturally curious, so let him sniff around in the nursery. By completely restricting entry, the dog is sure there must be something that needs chewed up in there! Supervise her checking out the new smells of paint, furniture and clothing. Start carrying a 'baby' (wrap up a doll in a baby blanket)around and let the dog see you talking to it and moving about with it. This is especially important if you have a dog with jumping tendencies. This exercise allows you to teach him there is no jumping allowed to try and see or sniff the baby while you are holding it. You may also want to practice taking the stroller and dog out together so you can both get used to this.