2006-11-14 12:14:30 · 13 answers · asked by kkgo 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Keep the cats. Just don't change the litter yourself. And be very sure that if you have a baby that you keep the door to baby's room closed unless you are in there. No offense to my babies (one manx and one tortie) but they can very easily suffocate a baby and never realize that they did anything wrong. If your cats are part of the family, they should come to understand that a new baby is part of the family as well.
2006-11-14 14:14:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is my pet peeve- so many cats have lost their lives because of lack of knowledge of toxoplasmosis. Cats sometimes shed toxoplasmosis oocysts in their feces, which cause severe birth defects if a person is infected (by eating them) for the first time during the first trimester of pregnancy. Have your doctor run a toxo titer on you-- if you are positive, you have already been infected and you don't have to worry as much. If you are negative, you are at risk of your first infection. The most common sources of human infection are eating undercooked meat, and working in a garden that cats have defecated in. So keep your cats indoors so they can't be infected by eating wildlife, cook your meat thoroughly, and wear gloves if you garden. The cysts that are shed in the feces aren't infective until about a day at ideal conditions, so clean the litter box twice a day, or have someone else do it, and it should go without saying that you wash your hands well whenever you have cleaned the litter box or gardened, and whenever you eat. Good luck!!
2006-11-14 21:51:26 · answer #2 · answered by Annie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a disease you can catch from touching cat litter. Just have someone else change the litter OR use our method.
Put a garbage bag over the litter box. This means there is part of the bag on the underside of the litter box. Then put newspaper down on the top. Add litter. When you change the litter, turn the bag inside out. This way you never touch the litter. Wash your hands anyway though.
2006-11-14 20:19:19 · answer #3 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A pregnant woman can still have a cat, but cannot change the cat litter, or come in contact with the feces at all. There is a disease which can be transmitted to her and the baby. So, a good time to make your husband clean out the litter all the time!
2006-11-15 09:26:01 · answer #4 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but there is a very small danger of getting infected with toxoplasmosis if you handle the cat's litter. You can keep your cat, but have someone else clean the litter box (good excuse, too!)
Here is an article about this:
http://www.goodnewsforpets.com/Articles.asp?ID=588
2006-11-14 20:17:51 · answer #5 · answered by braennvin2 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Handling cat feces can cause toxoplasmosis. Which can cause birth defects if contracted. Just have someone else change the litter box.
2006-11-14 20:18:30 · answer #6 · answered by cnagreys4me 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that must be a old tale because i've known 7ladys that had cats and they got pregnent and all baby's were normal.. the litter is what you watch.. when you clean it don't inhale it and wash hand after each cleaning.
2006-11-14 20:57:54 · answer #7 · answered by Cami lives 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just don't clean the litter box during pregnancy (but obviously have SOMEONE do it!) The issue relates to cat feces, not cats themselves.
2006-11-16 17:14:09 · answer #8 · answered by LEW 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can have cats but don't get near the litter box.... Read this article.. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2481.asp
2006-11-14 20:18:38 · answer #9 · answered by Dan J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think it is in the fesses you should clean the litter box or be around while pregnant or trying to get that way
2006-11-14 21:19:15 · answer #10 · answered by sindy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋