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Our dog comes home tomorrow! I love my cats. They are so loving and affectionate. Thats actually a myth that a cat can take a babys breath. The only way for this to happen would be if the cat laid across the babys mouth and nose. I have learned not to let a bottle out of my sight for even a second. My cat chewed the nipples off to get to the milk! Our 18 month old loves the kittens as well.

flybear: i second that - the baby suffocating thing is supposed to be a common myth. i have no actual research either way, but my concern would be more about the cat spreading germs than sucking baby's breath. for scratching- try nail tips (costs about 22). also, cats get bored w/their scratching outlets after a while and want variety, so try introducing a new item to use instead of the carpet. ours claws the carpet too - and we rent - but it doesn't seem to cause damage so i gave up fighting it. she was clawing my bathroom rug tho, which is more fragile than the carpet, so i sprayed 'no stay' on it - which has garlic. it stopped her ripping up that item. it took a few tries, but i think her clawing put the distasteful spray smell on her claws - she'll sit on the rug just fine. also, if u plan to isolate the cat from the bedroom, i suggest you implement the change now (a__suming you haven't done this already). don't wait til the baby is here. he'll probably scratch at the door, which will drive you nuts, and your patience will be worn thin from sleep deprivation w/the new baby. plus it's better to implement changes w/pets slowly anyway. don't give them a reason to get jealous or feel the change is b/c of the baby, even if it is.

the cat's going today! my SO's aunt agreed to take her. i raised the issue again while we were still in the hospital, and my SO approached his aunt himself. i have a theory that when a woman has given birth to a man's child - with some men anyway, the decent ones - there's a period of time where you can ask for the moon and they can't possibly say no. *super grin* i think it was easier to get him to cooperate after having seen his son. earlier this week, my SO caught the cat sneaking into the bedroom where our son was sleeping. he tossed her out so quickly - i hadn't seen him move that fast. she's jumped up to look at Ethan on the couch a few times but kept a distance - behavior I attribute to our protective presence more than sense to stay away. his crying neither interests nor deters her. she's also been getting into the baby stuff spilling into the living room, but after today, no more! as for the dog - prior to bringing our little one home, my SO took home a cap and receiving blanket from the hospital for the dog & cat to smell. when we brought Ethan home, the dog just looked curiously at me holding him. the first time Ethan cried, though, the dog started pacing around protectively, as if trying to figure out what he could do to help. it was super cute. he thinks he's a second daddy. whenever Ethan's napping on the couch, the dog always stays close by on the floor. at first, any time he made any noise, the dog would jump up and look at him, to check on him. and if Ethan cried while his dad changed his diaper, the dog would pace around and come over to me, looking at me like 'do something!!! why are you just sitting there???' he sat guard in front of our bedroom when Ethan was inside, and i heard him chase the cat off when she came near the slightly open door - he could have been playing but it didn't seem like it, given that he won't move away from Ethan even if he sees one of us going outside (he would follow us before) life is good =)

gummi: omg my hubby is the same way as your SO. he said "the only way i'll get rid of them is if they don't go to the pound". these aren't dogs. there are tons of cats all over town and no cat sanctuaries. and he won't ask around work if anyone wants a neutered declawed cat. because my cats have no claws, their tail usually acts as a rope for me lol. it doesn't hurt them because they cant hold on to anything. i'll let you know how things go, though. the older cat i've had since my first marriage and i hold a special place in my heart for him because my ex used to abuse him and he's very gentle. i mostly want to get rid of the younger cat, which is my husband's cat, because he constantly fights with my cat. he's always attacking my cat and even though he has no claws, he won't stop and he chases my cat around and i'm scared of my cat stepping on my baby and his back claws scratching her. i think i'd be ok if we could get rid of the young one. i dunno lol. i'll have to let you know what we decide. ...and by we i mean me... =P

when u think a problem's just been resolved... so i talked to my SO's aunt last week -or the week before? time gets all skewed when you're up around the clock- and apparently she'd only agreed to take the cat on a temporary basis, as in 3-6 months long, not indefinitely/permanently. this bothered me enough that i've had 3 different dreams about the cat being given back - always unexpectedly - and woke up each time feeling unsettled, irritated, and overall bothered. before we got rid of her, i'd wondered if i'd miss her, but i seriously haven't. i don't want that thing back in the house. i brought it up w/my SO again tonight, saying i know i won't be ready to take her back when ethan's 6 months - that's not old enough to me. (i didn't say i'd never be ready, haha, we have to pick our battles!) he suggested another temp home for her, i asked for how long, he said until ethan's 2-3, old enough to defend himself. i think that's a long time to ask someone to keep your pet 'temporarily', more than a favor (!), but more importantly, i told him i want to have another baby before ethan's 4. i think kids shouldn't be spaced too far apart (if you can help it / are planning). so then we agreed that he'd contact his ex (with whom he purchased the cat, several yrs ago) and offer her up. it's a one-way ticket. i had anxiety about his contacting that girl - a drama-generating type of ex - but i really do not want that cat turning back up on our doorstep. its a sore subject all around. i actually had to tell my SO not to tell her about the baby *rolls eyes* there are reasons we're not married yet... teddy - i'd be afraid a declawed cat would bite if i pulled their tail, no? i heard a lot of them turn into biters when they haven't claws anymore...