Although cats and babies can co-exist harmoniously, it's obviously important to be very careful, as it is with any animal. It may take some time getting used to for everyone, but as long as they aren't left alone together when the baby is asleep, they can live quite happily together.
However, one woman, who is in her 20s, has found herself questioning her own behaviour after kicking out her husband's auntie for implying she's too attached to her cat.
Since having a child, the mum has made a conscious effort to keep spending one-on-one time with the feline, in the form of walks and cuddles.
The anonymous woman took to popular forum Reddit to explain the situation. In a recent post, she said: "I have been absolutely loving every aspect of motherhood.
"Alongside my newfound role as a mum, I have a cherished cat whom I have always shared a deep bond with. Even after the arrival of my baby, I have made it a point to continue involving my cat in our family life.
"We still go on little walks together around the garden just the two of us, and I make sure to spend quality time snuggling and bonding with her. I also love how much my girl loves and cares for the baby."
During a visit from her husband's family, her auntie offered her "unsolicited opinion", which she said came out of the blue". After leaving the room to check on her cat, who was making a noise, the family member was talking about the new mum.
In the post, she explained: "After I came back his aunt started going on about how having a cat around my baby could potentially be dangerous and implied that I should shift my focus away from my cat. She said it was not natural and that I should just focus on the baby. A cat is a cat.
"I told her to get out of my house NOW. She was astonished and I told her it is extremely rude to go to other people houses, and starting to criticise how they live their lives especially when we we barely have a relationship. I have seen the woman three times in my life, one of them was the wedding."
After the auntie and her sister left, her husband told her that she was "right" but "rude," and that she could have reacted differently.
Many commenters agreed with the husband, saying the aunt had been "out of line" with her comment, but that she should have reacted differently.
One person said: "Yes, [the] aunt was out of line for what she said. But immediately jumping to kick and her [sister] out of your home because of it? Yeah, that was an overreaction. Has nothing to do with being a cat lover or not."
Another added: "The aunt's opinions were rude and uncalled for and outdated, but to immediately throw her own over this is a bit of overkill."
Reflecting on the feedback, the mum updated the post saying: "I agree with y'all, I overreacted". She added: "I'm not going to try and justify myself I have to learn better coping skills for these situations".
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