DEAR ABBY: My niece is pregnant with her first child. She and her husband have three indoor cats, one of which weighs 20 pounds. Our whole family is worried about this because she keeps saying, "Oh, my cats won't even bother with the baby. They don't care what's going on around them."
But, Abby, the cats have been her "babies" for years, and we're all afraid that they will get jealous of the new baby and smother it. Please help us to convince her how wrong she is. -- CONCERNED
DEAR CONCERNED: I consulted my animal expert, Dr. Erwin David. He tells me that in his many years of veterinary practice, he has not once come across a cat smothering a baby. That's a myth which should be put to rest.
However, he also urged that an infant should never be left unattended with ANY pet.