Vet advises re-homing as the cat may attack the baby??

I was furious when I read this on another forum I frequent and moderate..

The woman is pregnant and has had problems with her female cat urinating on things inappopriately. I advised her to take said cat to the vet to rule out UTI.
She did and then posts this a.m that she has given both of her cats away as they started becoming aggressive towards her..She said the vet said they were completely healthy but that she should re-home them as female cats often become aggressive over a pregnancy and "9 times out of 10 will attack the baby"...I thought this was sooooooo reckless, unethical and a load of BS to give this woman...

I told her that while I was glad her cats found new loving homes, that her vet was giving her a load of BS and that this is unfounded and unwarranted advice.

After I replied, I then thought that maybe she was lying about taking them to the vet as she just wanted to be rid of them...and wanted an excuse..I don't know for sure..
But in her last line, it states that she got a new bunny to keep her company on the same day she gave away her cats...

It just made me fuming mad! Has anyone else ever heard this from anywhere? Or from a vet in particular??

That is awful! I do know someone whose doctor told them to get rid of their cats when they were pregnant (they read up on cats and pregnancy and DID NOT give them up) and have heard other cases where doctors have told women that, but not a vet!

at my previous vet they thought science diet was good food, missed ear mites twice, and missed worms. Then on one visit they dumped my cat out of her carrier when she didn't immediately get out on her own. So just because someone is a vet doesn't make them smart. Some vets finish last in school.

(I am thrilled with the new vet- a cat only practice. )

I see you live in Winnipeg too!

I think it's awful that she gave her kitties away just like that My friend rivals rabbits when it comes to having kids, and she's had a female cat in her house for years, that were there for 3 of her pregnancies. Missy didn't bother the babies or become aggressive.

I think whoever told her that, if anyone did tell her that, is a quack! I know one thing though, it wasn't my vet!!!

ARGH! A bunny is even worse around young children! Not for the children's safety, but the rabbit's! They are fragile and there are lots of cases of bones getting broken- especially legs and spines- from being picked up wrong, dropped, or otherwise mishandled by children.

My guess is she just wanted an excuse. I can't see a vet saying that. Besides, my family had a female cat from when my older sister was one until I was 10, and with the three of us kids she never harmed us once. Same goes for my friends with cats and babies.

I would give that vet a GOOOD talking to .... That is ancient advise and very unfounded

Sounds like strange advise -- maybe there was more to it then she said (cats past history?). My son-in-law and his wife are pregnant and are trying to give away the cat because they read that "the dander is not good for the baby." What a crock! They are just tired of the cat and like the dog better!


I will say, from experience that I would not want to be dealing with a cat peeing outside the box and trying to get it to stop when I am very pregnant and about to give birth. Having had two, there is NOTHING more exhausting then bringing a newborn baby home. You are overwelmed with diapers, bottles, middle-of-the night feedings... I remember feeling too tired to breath let alone cleaning up pee spots, adding litterboxes, etc... It is probably all for the best although I am surprised anyone would take a cat that has an inappropriate elimination problem.

I hope the cats have a better home now. It sounds like she wanted a bunny instead, and made up an excuse.

Our two cats (one male, one female) gave our baby WIDE BERTH when she was little. They basically wanted nothing to do with her and ignored her. The only problem with pregancy and cats, as far as I know, is the litter box, and that's not hard to work around.

Cheers, from
SwampWitch

And after those complaints about her cats.…she got a rabbit for her new companion?

What is going to happen to that rabbit if it becomes aggressive or territorial due to reaching sexual maturity? What if the bunny simply doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t like the child, as some bunnies are so picky about who they care for? Why would you get an animal that will literally poop everywhere (if not litter box trained) or possibly spray to make their territory if she was just upset about her cats doing the same? It does just sound like an excuse for her to get rid of her current problem.

What do you want to be that that little bunny will be looking for a new home once the novelty wears off or the bunny starts acting up as well?