and you had to change the litter box how badly would this be? also if you wore one of those doctor masks (or whatever you call them) while changing the box could this help make it better? all indoor cats. always has been. if that matters. Im not pregnant or anything i was just curious.
2006-12-23 20:44:34 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
cause i heard that was bad to do.
2006-12-23 20:45:09 · update #1
I'M NOT PREGNANT I WAS JUST CURIOUS!
2006-12-23 21:09:10 · update #2
I'd have the person who shares in the responsibility for the pregnancy clean the cat box.
If that wasn't possible, I think I'd do some more research to find out if this is true --
"The oocysts first become infectious 24 hours or so after they're excreted...This reduces the risk of infection because the oocysts aren't infectious for the first 24 hours after they're excreted."
(http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregcomplications/1461.html)
-- and clean it as frequently as possible, with a box of disposable gloves and possibly masks on hand.
And think about getting myself tested to see if I'm immune.
(http://www.webmd.com/hw/hiv_aids/hw5932.asp)
2006-12-23 22:24:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't recommend it,
however if one must, it would be more effective if you wore gloves since toxoplasmosis is a bacteria that is transferred through contact, and not air.
Most indoor cats don't carry the bacteria so long as they've never been fed raw meat (Which is where the bacteria comes from, so if you don't handle raw meat properly you can also get it from that)
Although some people believe they need to get rid of their cats if they're pregnant, this is not the case. As long as you're dilligent about washing your hands after handling them, and after cleaning litter (even if you wore gloves) all should be okay.
Still it is better to have someone else change the litter if possible.
2006-12-24 15:07:26 · answer #2 · answered by flycreature 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Supposedly, the masks help a bit... but you really really really should not be doing this when pregnant. If you are pregnant, you shouldnt even be in the room that the litter box is located in, because every time they kick the litter to cover their poop, they kick dust into the air which settles on the surfaces around it.. you are bound to touch those surfaces.. and then the feces in the dust gets into your system. It can cause miscarriages.. its very serious. The best thing to do is locate the litter box in a room you dont use often... wash your hands every time you leave that room.. and have someone else change the litter!
2006-12-24 04:49:16 · answer #3 · answered by Kristin B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reason pregnant women are advised not empty cat litter boxes is because of the risk of Toxicara infection. This is a parasite carried by cats. It can have serious implications for an unborn fetus. I am not 100% sure but I believe that the infection is picked up on your hands. The best precaution would probably be to wear disposable gloves and wash your hands in a bleach solution.http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxocara/factsht_toxocara.htm
2006-12-24 04:59:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The issue with cats and pregnancies is their faeces- as you seem well aware.
You don't have to get rid of the cats if you're pregnant- my Mum had an old Tom (no not my Dad or the milkman) when I was born- that used to sneak into my cot to cuddle when I was an infant.
Look at me, I'm fine neow!. (sorry, hairball)!
Just wear gloves or a surgeons mask and keep contact with the cats and the litter to a minimum. If you can't bear to not pat your cats- make sure you wash hands immediately afterwards, don't touch your hands to your face and keep cats well away from your face (it prevents oral/nasal ingestion of their cat-germs).
I have a very clean female cat and the missus was preggers at the time, but my silly cat Smelle (real name Belle) is not allowed near the kids yet and I always wash my hands after handling her (as I've seen her lick her bum, then fur so many times I just don't want those germs going in my mouth!).
2006-12-24 04:59:49 · answer #5 · answered by Ministry of Camp Revivalism 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to make sure that the cat box is not in a room that you will be in and some one else needs to change it mask or not. It isn't good for a pregnant woman to change a litter box.
2006-12-24 04:48:01 · answer #6 · answered by WINGS 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wear gloves and a mask and wash your hands thoroughly but it's better to have someone else change the litter if that's an option. The disease you can transmit to the baby is called toxoplasmosis and it can cause birth defects. Any cat can carry it.
However, if you've had the cats for a long time, you've probably already been exposed and developed immunity yourself but any new exposure can be tranmitted to the fetus.
2006-12-24 06:10:25 · answer #7 · answered by Jane 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps a waist-high table with ramp could be constructed to aid in the changing during the third trimester. I'd imagine if the litter is changed more frequently, the urine issue wouldn't be nearly as pronounced.
2006-12-24 04:46:58 · answer #8 · answered by Snowdog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They say that the bateria in cat feces is bad for a pregnant woman. If you know someone that is it is better if they dont do it. Plus this is a good exuse to have hubby clean the cat box.
2006-12-24 04:49:34 · answer #9 · answered by answer me this 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pregnant women should NOT clean the litter box. Get your husband to do it. Not worth the risk of that disease - toxiplasmosis, or something like that.
2006-12-24 07:49:19 · answer #10 · answered by Lydia 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋