These are the most common myths about a Sphynx cats and babies.
- A cat is a danger to a pregnant woman
- Because of cats kids develop allergies
- A cat will be jealous and attack the child
- Cats infect children with infections and parasites
It comes to the point that, having decided to have a child, some people want to hand over their cat to a shelter. And this is not even the saddest scenario. Sometimes, you are faced with much more of a gloomy end to the story.
Of course, proper child development is important. For most people, this topic is very important and relevant, which, of course, is wonderful. But, unfortunately, it is precisely due to such resonating questions that a stream of misinformation exists.
Future and new parents are under enormous pressure from the media, relatives, colleagues, acquaintances and even visitors of various forums. “Animals have no place in the house with a baby in it!” Such views are usually based on horror stories from the TV and indicate a lack of awareness of advisers.
What is the truth?
Allergies
The presence of animals in the family “teaches” the child’s immunity to react calmly to tailed friends in the future. This is a type of vaccination against allergies – immunities overly sharp reaction to foreign elements. It is well-known that allergies are widespread in regions with a high quality of life and in families living in excessively sterile conditions that do not allow a person’s immune system to form correctly and respond to stimuli adequately. For example, just 50-60 years ago, there were fewer allergic children than there are now.
Jealousy
This is directly dependent on the owners. It is understandable that it is harder to give their pet the same amount of time and affection when the baby is born. But if you prepare the cat for changes in advance and help it to associate the child with pleasant events, it will not “on principle” show its dislike. On the contrary, an appropriate approach would be to give your son or daughter a devoted friend for many years.
Aggression
This behavior is most often associated with a reaction to a threat. Small children can accidentally cause pain to the pet and provoke aggression from it, although more often, Sphynx cats prefer to flee. And cats are very sensitive to changes in the behavior of their owners. If the cat is being punished or kicked out, it can see the child as the cause of the issue and will start to treat it as an invader. The cat can hold a grudge but purposefully will not attack. Therefore, providing your pet with comfortable surroundings will prevent possible future problems.
Infections and parasites
A healthy, well-groomed cat that does not eat raw meat, does not catch mice, and is constantly in the house will not be a source of parasites and infections. In fact, these issues are more likely to happen to the child outside your home. Regular vaccinations, treatment against parasites and preventive visits at the veterinary clinic once a year will protect not only the pet but also the whole family. These are mandatory measures to do when having a pet at home, regardless of whether there are children at home.
A kitten shouldn’t be brought near a newborn or very young child. Remember: kitten = child in terms of helplessness, weak immunity, need for constant supervision, feeding several times a day and cleaning.
How to live with a cat and a new baby in one house? We have prepared a number of useful recommendations for you, which are based on our experience of animal adaptations in a variety of families.
How to prepare a Sphynx cat to meet the new baby at home:
- Prepare the nursery in advance; introduce the Sphynx cat to the smells of baby lotion and powder so that all the changes do not fall on it at once.
- Prepare a quiet place for the Sphynx cat in the nursery – a cat house or a shelf. The cat can become very nervous if you just “take away” part of his usual territory, closing access to it. Hence, jealousy or other symptoms of anxiety may later manifest.
- Pay enough attention to the Sphinx cat so that it does not feel abandoned.
- Invite guests with small children who are more or less calm with animals. The children will then not be something completely new and dangerous for the cat, and it will be calmer when the baby appears.
The best and easiest way is to prevent possible problems from happening at all. To do this, you need to take into account your pet’s interests. Remember, cats are territorial animals with very stable habits. To prevent unexpected changes from causing stress, help your furry friend gradually get used to the baby.
Getting to know
Introducing your Sphynx cat to the baby should happen in a quiet environment. Do not push them, do not place them near each other at once, and do not rush. Let the cat go into the room and gradually approach the baby. Allow the animal to come up and sniff the baby. Give the cat a treat to reinforce a positive experience. If the cat gets scared, calm it down and try again after a while. A large share of success depends on the internal state of the adults. Sphynx cats are great at reading emotions, so just relax and watch.
A reminder to parents of young children
- Do not leave the child and the cat unattended for the first time until they both understand how to behave and establish contact with each other.
- Keep the house clean.
- Limit your child’s access to the Sphynx cat tray and bowls.
- Vaccinate once a year, carry out helminth prophylaxis every six months and treat the animal against external parasites.
- Sterilize the cat.
- Regularly trim your Sphynx cat’s claws.
- Accustom your cat to the fact that it cannot jump into the baby’s bed and on the changing table.
- Teach your child to wash his hands after each contact with your Sphynx cat.
When the baby grows up, explain to him that the Sphynx cat is also a member of the family, not a toy, and they are not allowed to hurt it. Over time, the child can be partially entrusted with the care of the cat: feeding and games will greatly strengthen the connection between them, and the baby will learn responsibility from an early age.
Communication with animals develops a variety of skills and useful traits: responsibility, sensitivity, mercy, patience, attention and love for nature. Growing up with your favorite pet is a wonderful experience that you can give to your child.
