养猫|猫咪 Good aritcle to the parents-to-be[ Baby and Cats

张十一少 - 2006-7-13 14:26:00

There is no reason whatsoever why you need to get rid of your feline friend if you are become pregnant or if you have babies or small children.

Common sense is the best attitude when dealing with babies. Babies and young children should not be left unsupervised with any pet. No matter how improbable, unlikely scenarios can always happen.

Cats and babies have lived in harmony for thousands of years. Why should your cat and your baby be any different?

Many young couples own a cat long before they start a family and it must be emphasised that their responsibilities towards the kitten they provided with a home do not disappear just because a baby is about to arrive.

Introducing a new baby into a household where one or more cats have lived in peace and contentment means that life is going to change for everybody, including the cats.

Fears of jealousy, scratching or the transference of disease produce doubts about keeping a pet, but it doesn't have to be this way. How your cat will welcome a newcomer into his home will depend on the sort of cat you have and the way your attitude towards him changes.

During the early days with your new baby, you may even find your cat a great comfort to you. Later on he might prove to be an unexpected help when it comes to amusing and interesting your growing child.

Your growing child will have the benefit of learning from you how to treat your cat - with love, respect and gentleness, and this is a vital lesson for the rest of his life. Your cat will be very grateful to you for not ousting him from his home, but allowing him to share your new joy and your new baby.

Before the baby arrives

* Ignore the scare stories that some people will enjoy telling you - disasters they have heard about are only noteworthy because they are so rare.

* As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, get all the information you can from your doctor and health visitor about any risks to your unborn baby from organisms known to be carried by cats and take any precautions advised by them.

* Do your part by making sure your cat is in good health. Have him examined by your vet. Be meticulous about grooming, de-worming, de-fleaing and keep booster vaccinations up to date.

* If you have neglected to have your cat neutered, take him to the vet without delay. Not only does a neutered cat make a better pet, you avoid any additional risks of disease being brought home by a wandering un-neutered cat.

* With at least 6 months to prepare, start a new cat routine - if you need to - so that it will have become familiar to him, and to you, long before your baby arrives.

* As you introduce large items of baby equipment and nursery furniture into the house, let your cat investigate and sniff them, but do not allow him to get inside the cot, pram or bath. Make it clear to him the inside such items is expressly forbidden and do this well before your tiny baby is born.

* Provide yourself with a cot and/or pram net - but remember when it comes to using it that it must be kept taught or it will become an inviting hammock for a sleeping cat. Fit a net to the pram when the hood is up so that no marauding cat can get nearer than the apron.
Popular myths and misconceptions about cats and babies:

One popular myth is that cats smother babies. No cat will intentionally set out to harm any baby and most cats will want absolutely nothing to do with a baby. However, there is a possible - but slight - risk that a cat will want to sleep where a baby is because all cats like to sleep where they will be warm and cosy. A baby (tucked-up in soft, warm blankets) may seem to be an attractive sleeping companion. By making sure that the cat cannot jump into a cot or pram you will be eliminating this risk.

Another myth is that cats cause asthma. Cats are not the cause of asthma, however, cat hair - or rather the minute particles on the cat's fur and skin - can be allergens. Contact between cat and child will not cause the child to develop asthma, but if the child is asthmatic (or allergic), contact with these allergens may trigger a reaction.
There is plenty of medical evidence that early contact with common allergens, such as cat hair, can actually protect a child from developing allergies and asthma. Therefore, you could be doing your child a disservice by getting rid of your cat.

New routines

* If your cat has had free access to all parts of your house, start putting the area you intend to use as a nursery out of bounds, so that he learns to keep away long before the baby arrives. Beware the overcurious, determined cat who would scratch at a closed door to get in.

* Reduce the amount of time you spend petting your cat, especially if he has become used to the permanent occupancy of your lap. You won't have the time after the baby arrives to give your cat the attention he may be used to.

* Wear protective gloves and possibly a plastic apron when dealing with litter trays and remember to wash your hands carefully afterwards. Alternatively, ask someone to clean the tray for you.

* Get into the habit of cleaning away any uneaten cat food left lying about. It will attract flies and, later on, toddlers. Select a place for your cat's food and water bowls that is as far away as possible from the areas you intend using for preparing the baby's food. This also applies to your cat's litter tray.

Cats like routine and they don't like change. So, by establishing new routines well before the baby arrives, your cat should have less disruption to cope with once the baby is in the house.

After the happy event

It's never too early to learn about cats and it is important to achieve a growing confidence with animals, based on respect, kindness, love and understanding. This is the foundation for a true and lasting friendship between your child and your pet.

Your baby will be about 3 months old before he really notices the cat. However, the cat will have noticed your baby from the day you arrived with him. Your cat will be aware that there is an unfamiliar being in the house. Of course he's going to be curious about the newcomer, so don't panic when he sniffs the baby, or when he hangs around the pram as if on guard.

Not all cats are baby-lovers, however, so don't be offended if your cat takes himself off and seems less enchanted with your new son or daughter than you are. The cat will be very wary of the newcomer until he has got used to the situation.
A few dos and don'ts
Keep the nursery door closed when the baby is sleeping in his cot and, just before closing the door, check that there isn't a cat hiding under the bed or behind a cupboard. Similarly, make sure that any open window is cat-proof. You may trust your own cat but an open window is an invitation to a strange cat passing by. Having sealed off the nursery, rely on a baby alarm system to know when the baby cries.

Keep all the baby's feeding utensils out of the reach of a wandering cat by using a covered sterilising unit. Wipe up immediately any spilt milk or baby food so that the cat is not tempted to do it for you.

Keep baby and cat foods well separated and keep all animal medicines, flea powders, etc separate from medicines intended for the human members of the family. Bottles and packets are sometimes remarkably similar and mistakes have been known to happen.

Set aside part of each day to make a fuss of the cat. Allow for the fact that you are going to be busier and, at times, irritable. It is too easy to take it all out on the cat when you've had a trying time, or to neglect him altogether.

Try to keep calm when things get on top of you. Remember that when you get overtired, anxious and easily upset, both baby and cat will react by becoming tense and upset themselves. Don't leave a new-born baby alone with a cat. . . not even one you've known and trusted for years.

Don't suddenly make your cat feel that he has lost your love. Your partner can help by paying greater attention to the cat while you are busy with the baby.

Don't forget that some cats are attracted to wool - and eat it! They might be particularly attracted to shawls and blankets.

The toddler stage

From their earliest days, children should be taught to be gentle and kind with animals and to recognise them as being different from the cuddly toys they are allowed to chew, squeeze and throw out of the pram.

Babies learn by example. If you treat your cat with love, respect and gentleness, it is more likely that your children will grow up to do the same.

As soon as your baby can understand, point out that cats become frightened when he shouts, makes sudden movements or grasps at ears or tail.

Cats become particularly frightened if cornered and it is a kindness to provide them with easy escape routes or a safe haven where the cat can take refuge once your baby starts to crawl. High windowsills and cupboard tops enable your pet to be part of the scene, but feel safer.

Most cats will put up with a certain amount of "loving" and pulling about. They will usually try to run away if they have had enough. It is important, however, to teach a child not to touch a cat that is sleeping or eating - and, of course, that tail pulling is not allowed.

Later on, you can progress to teaching you toddler cat language so that he can interpret for himself the swishing tail, ruffled fur, purring, hissing and rubbing against the legs. Continue to be careful about hygiene. Once your baby starts to crawl, it is even more important to put the cat's food bowl where he can find it but the baby can't - after all, you wouldn't want your baby eating Whiskas. Similarly, keep the baby's plates and dishes out of the way of an inquisitive cat.

Keep litter trays out of reach of a toddler and keep the potty in the lavatory where the cat is less likely to find it and be attracted.

Teach your toddler to wash his hands after playing with the cat and before eating. Pretty soon it will all become part of normal training.

When junior reaches the toddler stage, you need to keep cat food and litter well out of reach. Make sure that Puss can get to his food, but junior can't reach it. If junior does manage to sample Whiskas don't panic, just make sure the food bowl is placed well out of reach next time. As toddlers, Claire and Emily both tried Whiskas and were none-the-worse for the experience - it's the parents who suffer most.

Children and cat litter trays do not mix. If you can put the tray in a room or closet accessed by a cat flap, this is ideal. Likewise, make sure the potty is out of the cat's reach as even a desexed cat (male or female) may attempt to spray it to cover your baby's scent.

Once your baby becomes aware of the cat, start teaching him how to interact gently with it e.g. not pull the cat about, grab its tail or disturb a sleeping cat. Provide Puss with a refuge on a bookshelf or windowsill. Most cats retreat to a safe place rather than scratch or bite their owner's boisterous 'kitten'. Teach junior how to interpret cat-talk (this can be great fun); hissing or tail swishing means 'leave me alone', but purring and head butting means "carry on, I like this". As long as junior learns to respect Puss and not to pester him, they should get along just fine. Make sure junior learns to wash hands before mealtimes.

For every several hundred people who have raised cats and babies side-by-side, or who have grown up with cats, there will be one person who claims horror stories.

The cats want to sniff the new arrival to establish who s/he is. Cats' have scent glands around their cheeks so they may try to sniff the baby's face. Having satisfied their curiosity they are not attacking him, nor are they trying to lie on the child's face! If possible, let the cat(s) satisfy their curiosity - that way they will pay much less attention to the baby in future. Some cats even try to clean spilt milk/vomit from the baby's face - either attracted to the milk or treating your baby as an over-sized kitten.

Introduced carefully and taught to respect each other, should result in a happy cat and well-adjusted youngster who will remain companions for many years.
Cats and new babies can co-exist together quite happily but your child's safety has to be of utmost importance. NEVER leave a baby or young child alone with any pet, cat included.

Cats and humans have lived together for thousands of years but it is important to remember that they are still wild animals and their behaviour cannot be predicted with 100% accuracy. A cat should never be permitted into the same room a baby/young child is sleeping and proper safety precautions should be taken to ensure the cat doesn't have access to the baby's room.

If proper safety precautions are taken to ensure your cat and baby/young child are only together under adult supervision your cat and child will be able to quite happily cohabit together and hopefully once the child grows older will form a long and lasting bond.

猫咪与孩子

无论是您怀孕、有了小宝宝或者小孩子，您都没有任何理由抛弃你的猫咪。

在孩子的问题上对猫咪保持正常心态是最好的状态。当然，婴儿和小孩子需要在您的监护下共处。无论怎样的完善，一些不可能的事情总会发生。

猫咪与孩子和谐共处上千年了。为什么您的猫咪和孩子要与众不同呢？

很多年轻夫妇在开始家庭生活很久前就有猫咪，需要强调的是，给猫咪一个家的责任不能因为孩子的到来而消失。

对于有一只或几只过着平静惬意生活的猫咪家庭，孩子的到来意味着每个人的生活都要改变，包括猫咪。

对于嫉妒和抓伤或者传染疾病的担心会对留下猫咪产生疑问，但大可不必。您的猫咪如何对待家庭新成员取决于猫咪的种类和您在这些变化前对它的态度。

在孩子到来的最初几天，您甚至可能发现您的猫咪对于您是个很大的安慰。之后，它们甚至可以用嬉戏玩耍的方式伴随孩子的成长，并提供出人意料的帮助。

不断成长的孩子会在与猫咪的接触中受益匪浅：爱，尊重，温情，而这些是他人生中最重要的课程。您的猫咪会感激您没有将它从家中驱逐，但，请允许它分享您新的喜悦和您可爱的孩子。

孩子到来之前

• 不要在乎人们乐此不疲地告诉您那些的可怕故事 – 他们听说那些不幸的事情只是因为很少发生所以才被关注；
• 一旦您确认怀孕，请从医生和专家那里获取所有已知猫咪携带生物可能带给胎儿的风险，并听从他们的预防建议；
• 为确保猫咪健康状态良好，请宠物医生对其进行体检。注意及时清洁、体内外驱虫及免疫；
• 如未做绝育手术，请不要再推迟。绝育手术不仅使猫咪更温顺，还可以避免将流浪的未绝育猫咪带回家中传播疾病的风险；
• 如果您需要在婴儿到来前让猫咪有所熟悉，您至少需要六个月的时间来准备新的猫咪日常习惯；
• 您可将较大婴儿用具和婴儿家具搬进家中，让猫咪探索和闻闻，但是不能允许他们进入婴儿床、婴儿车或澡盆。在小小的婴儿到来之前，必须让猫咪清楚地知道：这些地方是绝对不可以进入的；
• 自行安装婴儿床或婴儿车的网罩，但是要记住每次猫咪来使用时都要教育它，否则会成为猫咪睡觉时很好的吊床。在棚架竖起后再安装网罩，这样猫咪无法袭击围帘以外的部分；
关于猫咪与孩子流传较广的传说和误解：

一个广为流传的说法是猫咪会使婴儿窒息。没有任何一只猫咪要有意地伤害婴儿，而绝大多数猫咪根本不想对婴儿做任何事。即使如此，有一种—极少—可能的危险：因为猫咪喜欢在温暖舒适的地方睡觉而选择婴儿睡觉的地方。一个睡在温软小单子里的婴儿应该是很具吸引性的睡眠伙伴。只要确保猫咪不跳入婴儿床或婴儿车您就可以消除这种风险。

另一种传言是猫咪会引起哮喘。猫咪不是哮喘的病因，但是，猫咪的毛或者毛绒或皮肤上的漂浮微粒可能引起过敏反应。猫咪与孩子的接触并不能导致哮喘，但对于过敏性体质的儿童，与过敏源地接触会引起过敏反应。现在有大量的医学证据说明儿童早期接触猫毛等一般过敏源会有效防止儿童患哮喘和过敏。因此，如果把猫咪从孩子身边赶走反而是一种危害。

新的日常习惯

• 如果您的猫咪可以在家中自由出入每一个角落，请将育婴的位置设为禁区，这样在婴儿到来之前它就已经知道要远离那里。但也要小心不要过分严厉，否则猫咪会把关闭的门打开进入。
• 逐渐减少在猫咪身上所用的时间，特别是如果它已经习惯了固定的坐在你的腿上。在孩子到来后，您不会再有时间给予它同样的关注。
• 在清理沙盆时，请戴防护手套，如果可能的话还有塑料围裙，事后仔细洗手；或请他人清理；
• 养成把剩余猫粮清理干净的习惯。这些东西很吸引苍蝇，之后，还会吸引您蹒跚学步的孩子。将猫咪的食物和水碗放置在远离给孩子准备食物的地方，当然同样还有猫沙盆。

猫咪喜欢习惯而不是改变。所以，在孩子到来之前建立新的习惯，一旦孩子入住，猫咪不会面对太多地混乱。

幸福过后

了解猫咪什么时候都不算早，和小动物在一起，对以尊重、慈悲、爱和理解为主的成长自信非常重要。这是孩子与宠物间真挚而持久友情的基础。
婴儿要到三个月大后才可会真正注意猫咪。但是猫咪会从您带宝宝进门的第一天起就开始关注婴儿。您的猫咪将意识到家中有了不熟悉的小生命。当然，它对新成员会很好奇，所以当它对宝宝闻来闻去的或者象卫兵一样在婴儿床边走来走去时不要惊慌。
不是所有的猫咪都喜欢孩子，所以，当您的猫咪走开似乎不喜欢您的小儿子或女儿的时候不要不快。在熟悉情况之前，猫咪会对新成员非常谨慎。

一些要做的和不能做的
当婴儿睡在婴儿床上时，请关好育婴房的门，在关门之前察看猫咪是否躲在床下或桌下。同样，要确保所有敞开的窗户有防猫的功能，您可以信任您的猫咪，但是对于路过的猫咪，洞开的窗户是一种邀请。育婴房应该封闭，婴儿啼哭时一种婴儿警报器会通知您。

用带盖的消毒器具将婴儿餐饮使用的所有用具放置到闲逛的猫咪碰不到的地方。撒出的奶或婴儿食品应立刻擦拭干净，否则，猫咪很乐意代劳。

将猫粮和婴儿食品分别放置，家庭人类成员用药也要和动物用药、除蚤粉等分开。因包装瓶或包装袋标示相似而发生的错误时有发生。

每天把对猫咪的斥责放在一边。要面对现实：你是个大忙人，而且易于急躁。当您赶时间还要忽视它的同时，把所有的不满发泄到它身上是不对的。

当事情堆到一起时，要努力保持冷静。记住：当你过度劳累、焦虑和易怒时，猫咪和宝贝都会变得紧张不安。不要单独将新生儿留给猫咪，即使是一只多年来你很了解很信任的猫咪。

不要让猫咪觉得你突然不爱它了。如果您忙于照顾孩子，请让您的另一半关注猫咪。

别忘记有些猫咪很喜欢羊毛还要吃下去。婴儿襁褓和小毯子也许会非常吸引他们。

蹒跚学步时期

在最初的几天，要告诉孩子如何温和善意的与动物相处，让他们认识到猫咪与那些他们可以咬、可以挤、可以从婴儿车中抛出的玩具是不同的。

孩子是在模仿中学习的。如果你用爱心、尊重和温情对待猫咪，你的孩子长大后也会做同样的事。

当孩子一旦可以理解事务，就要告诉他，他的喊叫、突然的动作或者抓猫咪的耳朵和尾巴会使猫咪害怕。

当猫咪被逼到一个角落时会特别恐惧，所以当你的孩子开始追逐时，要善意地给猫咪流出易于逃跑的通道，或者给猫咪一片避难的安全天堂。高高的窗台和橱柜可以成为道具的一部分，只要让它感觉很安全就可以。

大部分的猫咪只需要一定数量的“爱”。如果它们认为足够了，通常它们会试着跑开。这很重要，总之，要告诉孩子，当猫咪吃饭或睡觉时不要去打扰，当然，拽猫尾巴是不允许的。

随后，您还可以告诉您的小家伙猫咪的语言，这样，通过猫咪尾巴的摆动、耸立的背毛、呼噜、哈人和在腿边蹭来蹭去等动作，孩子自己就可以破译它的语言了。还要注意卫生。一旦孩子可以爬行，要把猫咪的水粮放在只有猫咪找得到的地方，这非常重要。毕竟，您不想您的宝宝也吃猫粮吧。同样，孩子用的碗碟也要避开好奇的猫咪。

把沙盆放置到孩子接触不到的地方，孩子的便盆也要放到猫咪很少光顾的卫生间。

教育孩子在与猫咪玩耍之后以及用餐之前一定要洗手。这些很快就会在您的教育下成为习惯。

当小家伙可以到处走了，您就要把猫咪的东西放到更安全的地方。要确保猫咪可以得到它的食物，而孩子得不到。如果发现小家伙品尝猫粮也不要惊慌，只要确保把猫粮放到他下次找不到的地方。很多小家伙都自己找机会尝过了，
没有什么不良反应。对于这么大的小孩子，这的确是最让父母*心的问题。

孩子和猫咪的便盆不要混放。把猫沙盆放进一间门上开有专供猫咪出入的小洞的房间是最理想的。同样，孩子的便盆也要放在猫咪碰不到的地方，否则，连无性别的猫咪也会想用自己的尿液遮盖孩子的味道。

当孩子开始意识到猫咪的存在，就要教育他如何友善地与猫咪互动，如：不要拉扯它，不要抓它的尾巴，或者，不要打扰睡觉的猫咪。在书架和窗台上为猫咪提供避难所。大部分猫咪都会选择安全位置而不是去抓或咬它主人的狂躁“小猫”。告诉孩子如何破解猫咪语言，这会非常有趣：它嘶嘶地哈人或晃动尾巴，意思是：别惹我，让我单独待会儿；但是如果它发出呼噜声并用小脑袋顶你，那就表示：再来，我喜欢。随着小不点渐渐学会尊重小猫而不去伤害它，他们就可以和睦相处了。记住，养成孩子饭前洗手的习惯。

成千上万的人同时养猫咪和孩子，或者和猫咪一同成长，但总是还会有一个人在传播恐怖故事。

猫咪们想嗅嗅家里的新成员并自己去感知他/她是谁。它们之所以在婴儿的脸上闻来闻去，是因为它的脸颊两侧有腺体。满足猫咪的好奇，它们并不会攻击婴儿，更不会想躺在孩子的脸上。在可能的情况下满足猫咪的好奇，会减少以后猫咪对婴儿的关注。有些猫咪甚至会舔去婴儿脸上的吐出或流出的奶，也许它喜欢奶的味道，也许，它把你的孩子当作超大号猫仔。

小心的介绍及彼此尊重的教育，会让一个幸福的猫咪和一个修养良好的小孩子一起共度很多年快乐时光。

猫咪和新生婴儿可以和谐共处，但孩子的安全还是最重要的。不要单独将婴儿或小孩子单独留给任何宠物，猫咪也包括在内。

虽然猫咪和人类共同生活了上千年，但是别忘了它还是只小动物，您无法100%地去纠正它的行为。婴儿或小孩子熟睡时，猫咪不可以进入他们的房间，同时，要注意在您离开孩子房间时检查猫咪是否已经潜入。

只要能保证孩子在成人的监护下与猫咪共处等安全注意事项，您的猫咪和孩子会快乐地生活在一起，而且孩子在长大以后，大多数具有稳定而持续的责任感。

[ 本帖最后由张十一少于 2006-8-9 16:48 编辑 ]

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