2006-08-28 14:55:45 · 15 answers · asked by zeetle 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Very good explanation of this here.
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/pregnancy_and_toxoplasmosis.html
Basically if you've had the same cat for all the years, extremely unlikely you would get it. It's generally a disease for outdoor cats, and those outdoor cats generally pick up this protozoa early in life, then they are only infectious for about two weeks.
Have someone else change the catbox for you and you'll be fine.
2006-08-28 15:02:58 · answer #1 · answered by BabyRN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you should worry about it. Please do not go near the litter box! Especially if your cat eats mice. If your cat eats mice and then poops in the litter box and you handle the feces you could be infected.
If you contract toxoplasmosis while you are pregnant, your baby is at risk. I tested positive for toxoplasmosis when they were doing routine blood tests when I was pregnant. I then had to have an amnio done to determine if my baby was going to be effected. Luckily I must have contracted it before I was pregnant so the fetus was OK. I had no symptoms and my doctor said that it wasn't unusual to be symptom-less.
P.S. My cat is an indoor cat and have had him for 6 years. So the "immunity" thing is not true as well as the "outdoor" cat theory.
2006-08-28 15:05:36 · answer #2 · answered by ssgbeth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You don't build an immunity to toxoplasmosis, no matter how many cats you have or if you've had the disease before.
Stay away from changing the cat litter. Also, if you work outside in a garden or flower bed, wear rubber gloves under your gardening glove. Some stray cats like to use flower beds as litter boxes.
2006-08-28 15:02:37 · answer #3 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
stay faraway from kitty muddle!!! The fecal remember is what you get it from. tell the in-regulations that your document has warned you about toxoplasmosis and also you worry and purely desire what's brilliant for the unborn infant. See in case you'll get hubby to describe it to them if available, i'm particular he will be in a position to get the point for the time of further accessible and with a lot less rigidity about hurting their thoughts.
2016-12-05 20:38:13 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends. most doctors will tell you not to do anything with the litterbox.
i had ten cats when i got pregnant, and had had them for ten years. my doctor was very concerned, but when she tested my blood, she found out that despite all those years and all those cats, i have never been exposed to toxo.
i did find myself occaisionally having to clean out the litterbox, but i washed very (incredibly) thoroughly with an antibacterial soap, all the way to above my elbows immediately after. you have to ingest toxoplasmosis to contract the disease, so i was very careful not to touch my face or anything that might later come into contact with my face.
everyone has a different comfort level. your doctor can do a blood test to see if you are immune to toxo. if you are, then you have nothing to worry about. if you aren't, and your cats stay inside, you probably still have nothing to worry about. if your cats go outside, you are always running the risk that they will bring toxo home to you from another cat. another good reason to keep your cat indoors.
2006-08-28 15:36:22 · answer #5 · answered by seelie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard the only thing you have to worry about when you are around cats when yo uare pregnant is "Cat Scratch Fever". I have also heard some things about changing hte litter box but when I asked my midwife she said just the cat scratch fever. Yo ushould ask your DR to be on the safe side.
2006-08-28 14:59:24 · answer #6 · answered by T G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that if you'd lived with cats most of your life, your body developped antibodi to the toxo thingy. But still... do what others tell you such as don't go near litter box and stuffs.
2006-08-28 15:02:58 · answer #7 · answered by meetha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup, sure do.
But look on the bright side: now you have an excuse not to be the one to empty the litter box!
Seriously, as long as you don't empty the litter box, and you wash your hands after handling your cat, you'll be fine.
2006-08-28 14:58:57 · answer #8 · answered by Yarro Pilz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Don't eat out of the litter box when you are pregnant. Also, rinse your hands if you get fecal matter under your finger nails or near your mouth.
2006-08-28 15:00:46 · answer #9 · answered by jc20155 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definately, if you get it there is a big chance your kid will have birth defects, especially if exposed in 1st trimester. it is passed through cat feces. dont change any litter boxes!! have someone else change it very often,everyday if possible.if you have to do it, wear latex gloves and ash hand with antibacterial soap/ keep your cats indoors, dont feed them any raw or undercooked meat, and dont touch stray cats
2006-08-28 15:05:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋