Can a cat really steal a baby’s breath, or is that an urban legend? (2024)

FAQs

Can a cat steal a baby's breath? ›

Cats and babies — the myths

One of the most common worries when it comes to cats and babies is 'stealing breath'. As the name suggests, this is the belief that cats will suffocate a baby by breathing in its breath. Of course, this moggie myth is untrue — our furry friends do not suck away the breath of babies.

Although urban legends can vary in their details, this one usually consists of a cat climbing into a crib with a baby and stealing its breath. Supposedly, this happens because either the cat is attracted to the milk scent on a baby's breath, or it is simply jealous that the owners are giving more attention to the baby.

They don't steal anyone's breath and they're not plotting to injure your sleeping infant. This ridiculous myth probably started because some cats enjoyed curling up next to the warmth of babies.

Many cats become protective of what they view as a 'people-kitten' and there are accounts of cats raising the alarm when a baby shows signs of sudden illness.

It is often classified as a weed due to the ease of self-propagation and hardiness. To some, it might be a nasty weed, but is baby's breath bad for cats? The answer is… yes, baby's breath is classified as mildly toxic to cats.

Tip 1: The risk of your cat suffocating your baby, while theoretically possible, seems to be non-existent in reality.

Cats can carry infectious diseases that can be harmful to your child. They usually pass them on by scratching or through their poo. You or your child could develop an infection if you: touch cat poo or something contaminated with cat poo.

Cats like to smell your breath for various reasons, but this behavior usually indicates that they want to make sure you are healthy, to be comforted by your smell, or as a stress reliever.

Every pet is going to respond to a new baby differently. Some cats will be totally unperturbed by an infant's crying, whereas others may become stressed. No one knows exactly why, but one theory is that a crying infant sounds like a baby animal or kitten in distress, which may be why your cat is disturbed by the noise.

If you've ever asked yourself, “Does my cat know me?” you can rest assured: your cat knows you. In fact, she may even know you better than you know yourself. Animal behavior experts and pet owners have both observed that cats learn their human housemates' habits.

Do cats think they are human? ›

In fact, cats behave independently because they think humans are cats like them. They think we're just one of their kind. And cats reserve their affectionate behavior usually for the humans in their homes.

“They may not recognize our faces, but they can recognize us by body language, voice, and other behaviors,” Bonk says. Experts suggest people mistakenly believe cats cannot understand human emotion due to stereotypes about cats being aloof or uncaring.

Some cats become more protective and loving of their pregnant owner. Try to keep giving your cat love and attention during your pregnancy. If neglected, their behavior may become aggressive. Sometimes cats act out by urinating in places such as the laundry basket or your bed.

Cats are often stereotyped as standoffish and aloof, even to the people who love them most, but the truth is that cats can be just as protective of their people as dogs are of theirs. Put simply, cats love their family and their family loves them right back.

This plant has medium severity poison characteristics. This perennial form of baby's breath is cultivated as a garden ornamental or used by florists for fillers in bouquets, particularly with roses.

All of these changes might not mean your cat knows that there's a baby human inside of you, though — unless this has happened before. “Cats notice the difference in smell and mood but most likely do not fully realize that a woman is pregnant unless this is a subsequent pregnancy,” Dr.

If the group continues to live together, the female cat will always remember her offspring and will usually continue to treat them like a mother. She may continue to bring treats and groom her offspring. However, if the offspring are removed from the mother, she will usually forget their scent within a few weeks.

Cats pose a suffocation risk to babies and young kids. If you want your feline friend to be able to sleep in bed with your child, wait until your kids are at least four or five years of age.

“Children are new, different, and interesting. From all aspects — sound, smell, movement, chemicals, emotions — your cat is a curious being and wants to explore and be around love.

What causes cat scratch disease? Cat scratch disease is caused by a bacterium carried in the cat saliva. The bacteria are passed from an infected cat to a human after the cat licks an open wound or bites or scratches human skin hard enough to break the surface of the skin.

Should you avoid touching newborn kittens? ›

Vets recommend not touching kittens unless you have to while their eyes are still closed. You can check on them to make sure they're healthy and gaining weight, but try to limit direct physical contact. The kitten's mother will also let you know how comfortable she is with you handling her babies.

Mother cats don't abandon their kittens if humans touch them, so if the mother does return, they'll be okay. Still, kittens have weak immune systems and need to be protected from illness.

It's best to avoid touching newborn kittens at least until their eyes are open. Touching kittens too soon can frighten them and make it harder for them to form appropriate social bonds with people and other cats. Touching a newborn may also upset their mother, change their scent, or cause discomfort for the kitten.

Cats lack the cognitive skills to interpret human language, but they recognize when you talk to them. To put it another way, cats comprehend human language in the same way that we understand meowing. It's similar to how you interpret your cat's language by "reading" how they arch their back or swish their tail.

Face Rubbing

What does it mean when your cat approaches you and rubs her face from nose to ear on your leg, arm or face? It means she likes you, and is pleased to see you. Cats have scent glands in their faces. When they rub against you, it is an act of greeting and co-mingling scents with you.

' Cat Owners May Have Suspected As Much, But It Seems Our Feline Friends Have Found A Way To Manipulate Us Humans - and not just with their miaow! Researchers at the University of Sussex have discovered that cats use a "soliciting purr" to overpower their owners and garner attention and food.

Your furry friend might be more of a copycat than you thought. According to a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE, these notoriously independent creatures were found to mimic their owners' personalities, particularly with traits like extroversion, openness, and neuroticism or emotional stability.

“Cats can imitate nuances in their owners' voices, such as melody patterns, in order to be able to communicate better,” Schötz told the Sydsvenskan newspaper.

As explained by Popular Science, cats actually don't recognize themselves in the mirror, despite what you see in those cute cat videos or in your own home.

What Do cats think about all day? ›

After several years, they can still remember people, places and events from the past. So maybe next time you find your cat staring blankly at a wall or closet, it may be possible that she is thinking of the past and replaying it over and over again.

As well as being a method of communication, staring is also a sign of a close bond between you and your cat, as they are unlikely to hold eye contact with someone they don't like or trust.

Can cats see TV without trying to ambush and attack what's on the screen? Definitely. While some cats go nuts for on-screen antics, others are content to watch the activity with an air of calm, and still others may not be interested in TV at all.

In scientific observations, cats do not appear to perceive the full range of colors that humans can. Some scientists believe that cats see only blue and gray, while others think they see also see yellow like their canine counterparts.

How to apologize to a cat? Give your cat some time to calm down, then apologize softly while blinking slowly at them. Remember to praise your cat and reward them with treats or catnip. Spending some quality time together, with lots of petting and games, should ease your cat.

Regardless of their reputation, cats do get lonely when they are left unattended for long periods of time. Research proves that cats are social beings that form strong bonds with their owners. Do cats get sad when you leave? Short answer: yes.

They can see very well in low light, however — a skill that gave domestic cats' ancestors an advantage over their prey. As American Veterinarian explains, cats' large corneas and pupils, which are about 50% larger than humans', allow more light into their eyes. This extra light helps them to see in the dark.

Even though cats primarily treat us the same way they do other cats, it's unlikely that cats think we're the mother that gave birth to them. It's possible that they think we're some sort of surrogate mother but there's also plenty of evidence to suggest that they simply see us as a big resourceful cat.

When a woman is pregnant, the body produces higher levels of estrogen, progesterone, and hCG. These changes have an effect on your natural scent. While in the beginning, these changes may be negligible, your cat can definitely notice the difference.

Toxic to both cats and dogs are Tulips, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Aloe, Begonias, Baby's Breath, and Amaryllis. Members of the Lilium genus, including Easter and stargazer lilies, can cause serious kidney problems if ingested by cats.

Why are cats attracted to pregnant bellies? ›

The body temperature of cats is generally higher than humans, so these pets especially enjoy cuddling with warm people. Since the temperature of your body may be slightly higher during pregnancy, your cat may like to snuggle up with you more when you're expecting.

Most cats adapt to a new baby; they recognize that gentleness is required with this little human and react to him or her very differently than to older humans.

And why do cats bring you their kittens at all? Simply put, your cat is bringing you her kittens because she wants to introduce you to her new family. She may also be expecting you to help out a bit and most certainly expects you to help keep her kittens safe. Let's look a little closer at each of these reasons!