Cats. They can steal the oxygen from your baby’s lungs — and perhaps her soul, too. Or can they? If you have never had the pleasure of welcoming a cat into your home, you may have heard a few false accusations against your potential feline friend. Some even sound legit, so pregnant women or families with a newborn may feel even more concerned about bringing a cat home. But here are five cat myths debunked by facts to help you make a more informed decision.
1. Housecats Harm Unborn Babies
According to WebMD, pregnant women often give up their cats due to a perceived threat to their unborn children. They believe that their housecat can infect them with toxoplasmosis, a dangerous parasite that can have serious effects on an unborn baby. Cats can pick up this parasite from hunting mice and birds.
For this exact reason, the housecat kept indoors poses no risk to mothers. Keep kitty indoors at least until the baby is born and refrain from interacting with strays and outdoor cats.