is it true your not supposed to clean a cat litter box while pregnant?

Question

if so, why? ive heard this for a long time but could never figure out what the reason would be.

Answer 1

Yes, be a dog person because they are germ free! Right. *rolls eyes*

I'm pregnant with my third child and I've always changed the litter box. My doctor told me that toxoplasmosis or however you spell it is found in cats that are outside and who eat rodents. My cats are strictly indoor cats and have never eaten rodents.

I'm sure there is a risk if you have an outdoor cat. But my feeling with the medical community is that they like to scare people, especially pregnant women. You know we're not allowed to eat lunch meat now. I think this is stupid. Yes, there is a risk of listeria. But guess what? There is a risk from anything. I could get sick from eating an apple or raw spinach. Should I just stop eating. Should I move into a bubble because I'm pregnant?

Women have been giving birth since time began and they've all faced hurdles and sometimes things go wrong. But I'm not going to stop living and doing my normal tasks because I or the baby might get sick. Because when it comes down to it, everything is a risk!

Answer 2

Are you freakin kidding me? Wow, you must have a really paranoid doctor. I have a cat and my mom has 3 and I'm around them all the time and I've already had one kid and am pregnant with another and it never hurt my son and hasn't bothered this pregnancy either. I have never even heard of such a retarded thing. I have heard about the litter box which is why I try to stay away from changing it but I did with my first the whole time and it never had an affect on my son. I think your doctor is just really way too paranoid. I asked my doctor if I could ride four wheelers and he said I don't see what it would hurt. So maybe you should consider finding another doctor.

Answer 3

Yes because you can get toxoplasmosis. Details below:


How do people get toxoplasmosis?
A Toxoplasma infection occurs by:

Accidentally swallowing cat feces from a Toxoplasma-infected cat that is shedding the organism in its feces. This might happen if you were to accidentally touch your hands to your mouth after gardening, cleaning a cat's litter box, or touching anything that has come into contact with cat feces. Eating contaminated raw or partly cooked meat, especially pork, lamb, or venison; by touching your hands to your mouth after handling undercooked meat.
Contaminating food with knives, utensils, cutting boards and other foods that have had contact with raw meat.
Drinking water contaminated with Toxoplasma.
Receiving an infected organ transplant or blood transfusion, though this is rare.

Answer 4

Toxoplasmosis and Pregnancy
By Barry Herman, M.D., Susan Perry, Ph.D.
WebMD Medical Reference from "The Twelve-Month Pregnancy"
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite, Toxoplasmosis gondii. Most cases in humans result from contact with cat feces, particularly those of cats who hunt rodents or birds. Non-hunting cats who stay indoors 100 percent of the time represent a much smaller risk. The danger of infection occurs when you come in contact with infected soil or litter boxes. You can also become infected by eating undercooked meats or foods contaminated with the parasite.

Approximately 30-40 percent of women of childbearing age have at some time in their lives had toxoplasmosis and gotten over it without treatment. Thus, they already have antibodies to the infection and are immune to its effects. In adults, the disease may produce a mild flu-like syndrome, and often it produces no symptoms at all. But the parasite can cross the placenta, and this is a very dangerous infection when it strikes a fetus. Infection in the early part of pregnancy is less likely to be transmitted to the fetus, but when infection does occur early on it results in severe birth defects or miscarriage. Later in pregnancy the organism is more likely to infect the fetus but less likely to cause damage.

Although a couple of medications are available to treat the infection, they are rarely used during pregnancy because they may be toxic to the fetus or cause birth defects. One medication that is used in Europe, spiramycin, seems to be safe for use in pregnancy, though it has not yet been approved by the Federal Drug Administration. However, it may be obtained by women here under special circumstances.

Prevention is certainly the best course. If you're planning to conceive, and you have a cat or eat uncooked meats, have your blood tested. If you're immune, you won't have to worry about exposure to toxoplasmosis during your pregnancy. Otherwise, have another family member deal with the litter box. Don't allow your cat to walk on areas where food is prepared, and if your cat is sick, it should be removed from the household. In addition, women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy soon should avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and should wash their hands and food preparation surfaces after handling such meats. Also, use gloves when gardening, as neighborhood cats may use your garden as a litter box.

If an acute infection is diagnosed in pregnancy, consult with an infectious-disease expert to determine if medical treatment or abortion should be considered. If you have had a recent infection, you should probably avoid breast-feeding, since toxoplasmosis can be excreted in breast milk.


"Copyright © 1997 by Barry Herman, M.D., and Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. From The Twelve-Month Pregnancy, by arrangement with RGA Publishing, Inc."

Answer 5

Because of the risk of (I think) toxoplasmosis, that is a bacteria found in cat poo.
If you have to clean out a cat litter tray, use rubber gloves and don't get any of that dirt on your skin or near your mouth, although,I think that is basic common sense, I can't see anyone doing that even when they're not pregnant.

But, yeah, it's because of the bacteria.

Answer 6

i have two cats and it's hard not to be able to clean it but the reason is that there is a very strong amonia in the scent and your not supposed to inhale it or let it penetrate your skin. It's the same thing for certain house cleaning product, or like hair dye for perfect example.

Answer 7

There is a chemical that is in cat pee that is really bad to inhale for pregnant women. Studies have showed that it can cause birth defects. DON'T CLEAN LITTER BOXES WHILE PREGNANT!

Answer 8

Women shouldn't go near cats ot anything to do with them ever.

Many cats are infested with the parasite toxoplasma gondii. Which can also infect humans. The parasites actually get into your central nervous system (ie brain) and mess with stuff. They are known to cause eratic behaviour in rats, and linked to several mental disorders in humans.

Answer 9

You should do some surfing on the web to get the correct reasoning on why you shouldn't. But I know they say something about it being dangerous to the unborn baby by you breathing it in.

Answer 10

Yes, it's true. You can get toxoplasmosis which is extremely harmful to an unborn child.