I am 35 weeks pregnant. i got a ferret for my birthday that i had to leave at my mom's house and I want a kitten. i was told by several people that pregnant people can't clean kitty litter, or be in a room with a litter box while they are pregnant. Can anyone tell me why? Can i get a cat and my ferret after I have the baby?
2006-12-29 12:25:33 · 10 answers · asked by kaiyas_mom07 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
What is toxoplasmosis?
A single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii causes a disease known as toxoplasmosis. While the parasite is found throughout the world, more than 60 million people in the United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite. Of those who are infected, very few have symptoms because a healthy person's immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant women and individuals who have compromised immune systems should be cautious; for them, a Toxoplasma infection could cause serious health problems.
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.
2006-12-29 12:28:18 · answer #1 · answered by iampatsajak 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
[edit] Pregnancy precautions
Congenital toxoplasmosis is a special form in which an unborn child is infected via the placenta. This is the reason that pregnant women should be checked for Toxoplasma antibodies. A positive titer indicates previous exposure and immunity and largely ensures the unborn baby's safety. If a woman receives her first exposure to Toxoplasma while pregnant, the baby is at particular risk. A woman with no previous exposure should avoid handling raw meat, exposure to cat faeces, and gardening (cat faeces are common in garden soil). Most cats are not actively shedding oocysts and so are not a danger, but the risk may be reduced further by having the litterbox emptied daily (oocysts require longer than a single day to become infective), and by having someone else empty the litterbox.
Treatment is very important for recently infected pregnant women, to prevent infection of the fetus. Since a baby's immune system does not develop fully for the first year of life, and the resilient cysts that form throughout the body are very difficult to eradicate with antiprotozoans, an infection can be very serious in the young.
2006-12-29 12:38:37 · answer #2 · answered by Gossip 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can be in a room with kitty litter, you just shouldn't change it. This is because the feces can contain the bacteria that carry toxoplasmosis, which is dangerous to you and the fetus. Once you have the baby there is no reason why you can't have your ferret and get a cat, but you will want to be very careful and not leave them alone with your little one.
2006-12-29 12:29:39 · answer #3 · answered by kath_08012 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Kitty litter (used) contains a parasite called toxoplasmosis. If it gets into your lungs it can severely damage your child and/or can cause complications with the pregnancy. Un-used kitty litter is dusty and the dust is really bad for your lungs as well. You can have a cat after the baby but remember that cats like to cuddle and they also like the sweet milk smell baby has so they will climb on top of the baby and suffocate them.
2006-12-29 13:15:56 · answer #4 · answered by momofthreemiracles 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is a bacteria in some cat poo that can cause you to get very sick and risk the life of your unborn child. I just got rid of my 2 beloved kitties :(. It isnt easy. But for the sake of this baby it was worth it!
2006-12-29 12:31:20 · answer #5 · answered by })i({ J and D's Momma })i({ 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The fear is getting toxoplasmosis. Check out this link:
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/prevcont/toxoplas.htm
2006-12-29 12:32:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
what iampatsaj wrote is what I was going to tell you about. Pls be careful, Liz
2006-12-29 12:35:20 · answer #7 · answered by lizbulgarelli 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the chemicals in it.
2006-12-29 12:28:35 · answer #8 · answered by Abbey H 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
there is ammonia in there urine and ammonia can cause a pregnant woman problems
2006-12-29 12:31:06 · answer #9 · answered by krystals220 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋
I'm sorry sweetie but I think you can be. I'm not into the whole " pregnant process" so I think you can be. ( not 100% sure tho.)
2006-12-29 12:29:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 8⤋