I want to have a baby,but I have a cat whose blood test of toxoplasmosis is positive.I'm negative.It matters?

Question

I change litters myself. Is it likely I'll be infected?

Answer 1

There is an antibiotic you can take - that will reduce the chances of the fetus getting the infection - see article below!


I have tested positive for toxoplasmosis and am pregnant? What happens next?

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a microscopic parasite. You can get Toxoplasmosis by eating undercooked infected meat or by handling soil or cat litter that contain the parasite. Most adults have no symptoms, but the infection can cross the placenta to the unborn child.

Unborn children infected in early pregnancy may suffer from any of the following conditions:

- blindness
- deafness
- seizures
- mental retardation
- cerebral palsy

Toxoplasmosis may also result in miscarriage or stillbirth.

Cats often become infected with Toxoplasmosis when they eat an infected rodent or bird. Infected cats typically appear healthy. The parasite is resistant to most household disinfectants, and may live for more than a year in soil. It is imperative that a pregnant woman not handle kitty litter, as well as taking the following precautions:

- Don't feed the cat raw or undercooked meats.
- Keep the cat indoors to prevent it from hunting birds or rodents.
- Don't eat raw or undercooked meat, especially lamb or pork. Meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160º F throughout.
- If you handle raw meat, wash your hands immediately with soap. Never touch your eyes, nose or mouth with potentially contaminated hands.
- Wash all raw fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
- Wear gloves when gardening, since outdoor soil may contain the parasite from cats.
- Avoid children's sandboxes. Cats may use them as a litter box.

Healthy adults typically suffer no ill effects from toxoplasmosis, and do not have symptoms to suggest infection. If tests show that the fetus is not yet infected, the mother may be given an antibiotic called spiramycin. Some studies suggest that spiramycin can reduce by about 50 percent the likelihood of the fetus becoming infected. If your baby should become infected, your physician will typically attempt to treat the infection aggressively, and will likely begin treating immune system issues immediately after birth.

Answer 2

Given that you have a cat who is positive for toxo and that you change its litter tray, it's actually quite surprising that you yourself are negative. You would be in a much safer position if you were positive- transplacental spread (i.e. from a woman to her foetus) generally only occurs when a previously non-infected woman becomes infected during the course of her pregnancy.

If you do decide to have a baby there are a number of precautions that you can take to minimise the risk of you becoming infected...

You should not be having any contact with your cat's litter tray- get your partner to do all of that. Toxo oocysts (the infective bits that are shed in the faeces) take a minimum of 24 hours to 'hatch' (they are not infective until this occurs), so if you have HIM emptying and cleaning the litter tray with boiling water say twice a day, you'll be able to keep your chances of becoming infected to a minimum.

There are also various drugs that can partially control shedding of oocysts by the cat (sulfonamides & pyrimethamine)- try talking to your vet about this. Also, most shedding occurs in kittens less than 6 months old so if your cat is mature he/she is less likely to be shedding anyway.

The other big thing that most people don't realise is that a relatively common source of infection is infected meat (especially pork & lamb)...if you eat meat, be sure that it is well cooked.

Hope that is of some use to you, and good luck with whatever decision you come to.

Answer 3

Of course you can have a baby. A negative titer is great, but you do not want to get toxoplasmosis while pregnant. So... you can not empty the litter box or do any gardening (where cats poop), or anything else that would expose you to toxoplasmosis. If you are positive (already exposed) that would be good too, because you wouldn't have to worry about converting during pregnancy- you already have the antibodies.

Answer 4

Your cat can get toxoplasmosis at anytime, make sure it doesn't go outside. I was exposed to toxo. early in my pregnancy 2 years ago. The Dr.s acted fast and I had to take medication 3 times a day until my baby was born. Thank God he turned out fine.

Don't take any risks and try to have someone else clean out the litter box. Btw, you can also get toxo. by eating meat medium rare, but it isn't very common.

Answer 5

you will be just fine hon... to be safe, when you are pregnant YOU should never be in direct contact with cat waste. Get your partner to take over kitty litter duty, and that's recommended for all pregnant women with cats not just your your situation... good luck.. I hope you have a bundle of baby joy to embrace, just don't forget to keep embracing your bundle of kitty joy while you're at it.

Answer 6

I am pregnant with my third child and i have four cats i have never had any kind of problem but when i am pregnant i no longer change the litter box...which i do not mind it falls under my husbands job!!!!!!

Answer 7

all cats supposedly have this...just keep away from the litter box and the cat...this particular virus is a creeper type viral...may not effect your kid till 4 or 5 years old usually the eyes and motor skills...just get rid of the cat !!!!

Answer 8

What does it matter about your cats blood test. If you want to have a baby? Unless you are a cat. If so I would love to meet you, I have never seen a cat that can type.

Answer 9

yes, adults are less susceptible to toxoplasmosis than children and elderly. it could be unsafe for you to have a kid now. you should wait for your kids to be at least 3 before they have pets anyways, then they'll be able to understand that animal cruelty is wrong.

Answer 10

You're fine if you don't change the litter box or anything.