Home Waterbirth and Cats

[Neuromancer]

There is an old thread in the archives that touches on this issue, but it doesn't have many responses.

I live in a 1BR apartment (three rooms plus tiny bathroom) with my husband and a 10-year-old rescued cat (rescued at a very young age).  The cat is a little messed up -- loving with me and my husband, but sort of a jerk at times.  He loves to chew plastic, and he scratched our fabric couch up something awful, too.

I would like to have a waterbirth.  We don't have a bathtub, let alone one that is big enough, so I'd have to rent a tub.  And I don't want to rent a tub if my cat is going to pop it with claws or teeth!  We wouldn't set it up until I'm in labor, to minimize that risk, but it's still a risk.  If I had to transfer, someone would have to stay behind to drain the tub so the cat couldn't pop it while we were out, but I even wonder if we'd also have to keep a special eye on him when I'm in the tub.  There's no room with a door that we can shut him in, and no neighbors who can take him while I'm in labor.
 

Does anyone have experience with a semi-destructive, curious cat and waterbirth pools?  Maybe I should just skip the tub.

[Full Heart]

My cat destroyed several sofas, peed and pooed on everything, she had gone senile.  She stayed way far away from the pool though, just like the bathtub when it had water in it.  Cats don't generally like big things full of water.  They might play in a faucet thats on but something  big enough for them to fall in they generally stay away from.  That said, I loved my $20 fishy pool.  So if you are really worried you could get something like that.  And your cat would have to be REALLY destructive for that to leak water.  Its 2 layers and has 3 rings.  Even my kids couldn't pop it when we used it for an outdoor pool.  What I would do is set it up in a room with a door so you can close it and keep the cat out.  That also offers you some privacy in labor.  With my last water birth we had to transfer after the birth.  So the pool sat there full of water, blood, poop.  I don't think I will ever forget that smell.  I was really glad I could shut that smell out (it was the bathroom).  So being in a room with a door has lots of advantages. 

[Neuromancer]

Thanks for the reply!  I wish I had a room with a door!  ;)  The bathroom is the only room in our apt. with a door, and it's too small for even a bathtub, so it's too small for a tub.

[Banana731]

You can empty the pool out immediately after the birth, I bet your MW's would do so if you asked. You want to make sure you get the proper equipment for filling/emptying the pool. You can get all from any pet store that has an extensive aquarium selection, or online. It's soooo worth the small amount of money it costs to be able to, literally, turn on a faucet to fill and drain the pool! There should be a pretty good thread on supplies somewhere on this forum.

I was also really happy with the fishy pool, though I wanted it to be just ever so slightly deeper.

A good option for you might be a rubbermaid trough. I think it's like 100 gals. this is a great thread about what one mama did with links to pics and the steps she took to make it awesome, but if you search for "trough" in B&B you'll get a bunch of threads. there is no way your cat can do anything to that!

My cat was in the room constantly looking for attention when I was in labor. My friend who came to "doula" for me even apologized at one point because she had to kick him off the bed because he (the cat) was trying to wake up her sleeping baby! I sure didn't give hoot at that point though, I was focused inward.

[Aliy]

can you get a kennel or something like that  to put the cat in. I have pull out both of ours one for the cat and one for the dog just incase i need them to both go away

[Zangua]

some birth tubs are not poppable... the aqua doula for instance

http://www.aquadoula.com/

You could also get rubber tips put on your cats claws. Your vet will put them on.

http://www.safepetproducts.com/soft-claws.html

[Jane]

Most rental tubs aren't pop-able.  The worst I've seen is a cat that jumped on the cover of the tub and almost got wet. 

Cats do real well at births.  They either hide under something and are not seen, or they hang out gently rubbing on stuff and being cats. 

Dogs are more trouble - sometimes they get scared and whine.  Cats just don't seem to care that you're in pain, IME.  Inquisitive, confused, excited, sure.  Upset about people in the house, sure.  But not whiny and upset about labor.  YMMV, of course. 

I'd suggest a very large kennel - I wonder if you can rent that?  for the cat.  Borrowed or bought.  Cat will probably be fine, but it sounds like you don't have an extra bedroom to cordon off for kitty.  Or she could go to a pre-arranged cat sitter if she is acting up. 

Is she allowed out?  Make sure you have arrangements for the influx of people with the birth - the midwife, assistant, and waterbirth people all haul in a bunch of stuff.  Wouldn't want cat to escape in the moment. 

[Neuromancer]

Originally Posted by Aliy 

can you get a kennel or something like that  to put the cat in. I have pull out both of ours one for the cat and one for the dog just incase i need them to both go away

This would be a good option, except that when we have used a kennel in the past he clawed at the bars until his paws bled, so I'd rather not.

[Neuromancer]

Originally Posted by Banana731 

You can empty the pool out immediately after the birth, I bet your MW's would do so if you asked. You want to make sure you get the proper equipment for filling/emptying the pool. You can get all from any pet store that has an extensive aquarium selection, or online. It's soooo worth the small amount of money it costs to be able to, literally, turn on a faucet to fill and drain the pool! There should be a pretty good thread on supplies somewhere on this forum.

I was also really happy with the fishy pool, though I wanted it to be just ever so slightly deeper.

A good option for you might be a rubbermaid trough. I think it's like 100 gals. this is a great thread about what one mama did with links to pics and the steps she took to make it awesome, but if you search for "trough" in B&B you'll get a bunch of threads. there is no way your cat can do anything to that!

My cat was in the room constantly looking for attention when I was in labor. My friend who came to "doula" for me even apologized at one point because she had to kick him off the bed because he (the cat) was trying to wake up her sleeping baby! I sure didn't give hoot at that point though, I was focused inward.

Thanks for all the info.  I know the MW empties the pool, so I'll just ask her to do it as soon as feasible.  And thanks for reminding me about getting the filling/emptying equipment.  I'll look into the trough, too. Finding one in NYC and getting rid of it afterward might be issues.

[Neuromancer]

Originally Posted by Zangua 

some birth tubs are not poppable... the aqua doula for instance

http://www.aquadoula.com/

You could also get rubber tips put on your cats claws. Your vet will put them on.

http://www.safepetproducts.com/soft-claws.html

Thanks.  I have the option of renting an AquaDoula or a La Bassine.  The La Bassine looked more comfortable (and cheaper), but more pop-able. Maybe I should just go with the AD.  Soft claws aren't a bad idea.  I've seen those in pet stores.  We'd have to put them on ourselves, though.  Our cat does NOT do well at the vet, so we only take him there for emergencies.

Originally Posted by Jane 

Most rental tubs aren't pop-able.  The worst I've seen is a cat that jumped on the cover of the tub and almost got wet. 

Cats do real well at births.  They either hide under something and are not seen, or they hang out gently rubbing on stuff and being cats. 

Dogs are more trouble - sometimes they get scared and whine.  Cats just don't seem to care that you're in pain, IME.  Inquisitive, confused, excited, sure.  Upset about people in the house, sure.  But not whiny and upset about labor.  YMMV, of course. 

I'd suggest a very large kennel - I wonder if you can rent that?  for the cat.  Borrowed or bought.  Cat will probably be fine, but it sounds like you don't have an extra bedroom to cordon off for kitty.  Or she could go to a pre-arranged cat sitter if she is acting up. 

Is she allowed out?  Make sure you have arrangements for the influx of people with the birth - the midwife, assistant, and waterbirth people all haul in a bunch of stuff.  Wouldn't want cat to escape in the moment. 

Thank you for your reply.  I'm hoping ours will just hide.  It was the plastic chewing that worried me, since I know he loves to chew. 

There's no cat sitter to send him to.  Except for trips to the vet, he's never been out of our home (we're in NYC and he does not go outside).  He'd be too anxious and I would worry about him -- and whomever I sent him to!  :)  I think I might have to get my husband to run interference, if necessary.  The midwife has met him and he tolerates her, and she and the doula will hopefully be the only people coming in and out, so I'll just make sure everyone knows to keep the door shut.  I may put up a sign.

[chrissy]

Ha!!!  My cat popped the top ring of the fishy pool at our last birth, and caused my husband to miss the birth!  My birth was going super fast and was super intense.  I had just gotten in the pool, and our cat put her paws up on the top ring, sort of check out what was going on.   Somebody (midwife, I think) sort of pushed her gently off, but she dug in and popped it!  I sent dh downstairs to find some duct tape, then almost as soon as he left I started pushing.  We called to him, but he didn't hear us, and by the time he got up, Laney was in my arms!  Dh was freaked!  He said, "Oh my gosh, when I went downstairs, there were 2 people here and now there are 3!"

[Neuromancer]

I can just see my cat popping the La Bassine out of curiosity!  I think I'll go with the AquaDoula and not set it up in advance, then have my husband keep an eye on him if he gets too curious.  ;)

[Peony]

I almost lost a cat in the AquaDoula so I agree with not setting it up in advance. We were doing a trial run of it, filled it up and let it set to see how  warm the water stayed. We weren't in the house, never thought a cat would jump into a tub of water but he did and somehow how managed to get out again. It wasn't an easy battle judging from all the water that was every where. Next birth I had a fishy pool but we had the option of keeping the cat out of that room so that is what we did. 

[atenea]

Our cats destroyed our rented La Bassiene when it was airing out afterwards, and we didn't notice it till after we returned it.  I don't recommend this if you have cats, even though it was so nice to labor in.  Next time a cheap fishy pool or aqua doula. BTW, the cats were not at all interested in being anywhere near me when I was in labor, they stayed sleeping in another room.

[ashleybrook]

this really has made me think! i've got three cats...and they all like to jump up on the tub's edge when i take a bath and drink the water...and i was planning on getting the fishy pool. i'm not sure what room i'm going to put it in yet, but you mama's have definitely given me something to think about. this is my first, so i'm not sure if they'll want to be near me in labor, but at least my girl is almost always near me when i'm home. the boys tend to go in and out a bit more...

things to think about.

ashley

[3xMama]

Just a thought, and I might get flamed for it! You could talk with your vet about getting a mild tranquilizer. Then if he's being bothersome during your labor (won't stop clawing at the pool or chewing on it) or if you need to transfer, you can just sedate him and then not have to worry about someone staying behind or a huge mess. You can also find out if your vet boards animals or can recommend some place to board your cat while you are in labor. That probably wouldn't work if you have a nighttime labor/birth, but if you go into labor during regular business hours and are comfortable boarding him, that could be an option as well.

Not saying that either of those are the best options, but they are potential solutions. If I were in your situation, I would consider them, at least!

Ashley--I have a cat that loves to climb all over me, be near me as much as possible and snuggle with me. I cannot recall seeing her at all once things started moving in my last labor, esp when I got to the point of vocalizing through the contractions!

[Neuromancer]

3xMama, if my vet would just give me a mild tranquilizer, I'd do it, but I think their policy is that I'd have to bring him in, and the last time we did that he was a totally different cat for days afterward, due to stress.  Which is why I'd also never board him unless it were a serious, serious emergency.  He just can't take it.  I think he was orphaned at too young an age and has emotional problems.  ;)  We gave him mild tranquilizers when we moved cross-country 10 years ago.  He did well the first day (we only gave him half) on them.  I wish they were easier to get.  But I might get one of those "calming collars" and see if that works.

[Lucy Alden]

Perhaps you could spray cat repellent around the birthing pool just while your in labor.  I don't know how well it works or what it smells like, but it might be worth a try.

[mdnaturalmama]

I have five cats and this is actually something I'm not worried about at all. But then again, I can just put all of mine outside for a little while if they're bothersome. With everything going on I'm sure they will just lay low. Good luck!  =)

[Neuromancer]

Originally Posted by Lucy Alden 

Perhaps you could spray cat repellent around the birthing pool just while your in labor.  I don't know how well it works or what it smells like, but it might be worth a try.

Ah!  Good suggestion. I may have some of that under the sink...  ;)