ok, so my fiance keeps talkin about having kids but he told me how i should be careful with having cats in the house because they affect the baby when I'm pregnant or they can even prevent me from getting pregnant at all. is that true? its not just him who told me this, i've also heard it from others.
2007-01-20 08:42:18 · 10 answers · asked by MANY 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi there...toxoplasmosis is what your fiancé may heard about, however it doesn't affect your ability to become pregnant, rather it could affect an unborn fetus if you handle the feces while cleaning the litter box as well as handling uncooked raw meat, contaminated vegetables, ground soil, etc.
Please consider reading reading the following by the Humane Society literature on how toxoplasmosis affects women, which is will help reassure you that you and your fiancé that it is perfectly fine to have a pet cat so long as you understand how toxoplasmosis is contracted: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/pregnancy_and_toxoplasmosis.html
Excerpt from the Humane Society's info brochure:
Because it's difficult for cats to transmit toxoplasmosis directly to their caregivers, a pregnant woman is generally unlikely to contract the disease from her pet cat. Several factors keep the chance of such transmission low.
First of all, only cats who ingest tissue cysts acquire infection. Within the feline population, this would be limited to outdoor cats who hunt and eat rodents, as well as cats who are fed raw meat by their owners. In addition, only after a cat is first exposed to T. gondii does he typically excrete oocysts, and he does so for only two weeks. An outdoor hunting cat is often exposed to the disease as a kitten and is, therefore, less likely to transmit the infection as he ages.
Secondly, because oocysts become infective only after one to five days, exposure to the disease is unlikely as long as the cat's litter box is changed daily.
Finally, since oocysts are transmitted by ingestion, in order to contract toxoplasmosis, a woman would have to make contact with contaminated feces in the litter box and then, without washing her hands, touch her mouth or otherwise transmit the contaminated fecal matter to her digestive system.
Reducing Your Risk of Toxoplasmosis
Even though it is unlikely that a woman will contract toxoplasmosis from her cat, it's a good idea to err on the side of caution. The following recommendations will help cat owners expecting a child to reduce their risk of contracting toxoplasmosis.
Avoid undercooked meat.
Wash all uncooked vegetables thoroughly.
Be certain to wash all cutting boards and utensils that may have come in contact with meat before using them to prepare other foods.
Wear gloves when working in soil. If gloves are not worn, hands need to be washed thoroughly following soil contact.
Ask a spouse, friend, or neighbor to help out with litter box duties while you're pregnant.
If you don't have help to keep the litter box clean, wear rubber gloves when changing the litter and thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.
Change your cat's litter on a daily basis.
Getting rid of your feline companion is NOT a necessary precaution. Cat ownership has many benefits that are immeasurable in terms of companionship and love. While it is possible for cats to transmit toxoplasmosis, the risk of your feline friend passing the disease to you is low, especially if you follow the recommendations above. So, your cat can safely remain as a loved member of the family as you await your new arrival.
2007-01-20 10:53:31 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well your fiancee is both right and wrong. Having cats in the house will not affect you from getting pregnant or your pregnancy. ( I live with 4 cats and got pregnant no problem.) What you need to becareful of is changing kitty litter. Cat poop can have a bacteria in it that causes toxoplasmosis in a pregnant woman, which in turn can be harmful to a developing baby. BUT....more than likely, if you have lived with cats all your life you are probably already immune to it, and if you have indoor cats they most likely don't even carry the bacteria. But you need to be on the safe side anyway and have someone else scoop/change the kitty litter. The bacteria isn't airborne, you would only get it from touching the cat poop. Get someone else to do kitty litter duty while you are pregnant, or wear gloves and wash your hands well before and after changing the litter box.
2016-05-24 01:46:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats can't prevent you from getting pregnant at all. They can carry a disease in their feces callede toxiplasmosis that can be dangerous, and potentially fatal to your unborn fetus if you come in contact with it. So if you own a cat, and it has a litter box, get someone else to change it while you are pregnant.
When you set up a crib or bassinette... keep the cat out of it... don't let them sleep there, or they may climb in when the child is in it later on. They tend to love the warmth/smell of their breath, so they may be tempted to sleep close to their face and possibly cause smothering.
I have a cat and have had 4 children with no problems ever occuring.
2007-01-20 08:58:40 · answer #3 · answered by lacykat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know for a fact that you should NOT be cleaning litter boxes while you are pregnant, but he can do it! and is not only until you ARE pregnant. I havent heard that they keep you from pregnancy though, as far as i know anyone can develop an allegy (like myself) from cats, after 4 years of my cat sleeping in my bed i did. So if you get pregnant just make sure the basics are done, keep all areas clean and make him change the litter box, wash your hands after petting them, and that should be it, i dont think there are cleaner pets than cats but you dont want to risk your babys health either so just be aware.
2007-01-20 09:00:19 · answer #4 · answered by Alex P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a bacteria that cats carry that can affect your baby's development when you are pregnant. The solution is to have your cats tested for it. The vet can then treat it and you keep your cats indoors for the duration of the pregnancy. You do not have to give up your furry babies or worry about them making a newborn sick.
2007-01-20 11:31:04 · answer #5 · answered by shasser2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, that is not true at all. I have five cats...and I also have TWO kids. Maybe he just doesn't really want a cat and he is using having kids as an excuse. I think that having kitties helps you when you are pregnant. They lay on your tummy and purr and make everything feel better. :)
2007-01-20 09:09:03 · answer #6 · answered by snowangel_az 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my friend got prenant and had a baby. they always had there cat way before she got prenant she still has him. the baby is 2 now there cat is like 6 years old .she says they get along great some people still believe in wise tales dont worry there not true! good luck~!
2007-01-20 08:55:26 · answer #7 · answered by starglowshady 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bunch of wives tales. I have always had cats and have 3 kids. Never had a problem.
2007-01-20 10:02:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We"ve always had a cat...nothing wrong happens. Maybe it's superstition like the 'black cat' stories.
2007-01-20 08:59:51 · answer #9 · answered by poutine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could get allergic to their fur
2007-01-20 08:51:00 · answer #10 · answered by baniban2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋