Should I get a second opinion? About kitty litter incident and pregnancy?

Question

Ok I know the chances of getting Toxioplasmosis are very rare. Many people are lead to believe they should dump there cats & that if you touch kitty litter well you have it. I know this isnt true in alot of cases. I know that if you have had the cat for awhile chances are you are already exposed and are immune & therefore so is your fetus. I know that if you change you litter regularly the eggs to not even have a chance to infect you & I know that if you cat is an indoor cat chances are it is not infected at all. I know these all to be true because I have researched it

That being said the other day I was brushing my teeth. I Put it down on my sink & then picked it up again to put it in the medicine cabinet. When I looked down there was a clump of litter where my toothbrush was. Apparently the cat had tracked it & jumped on the counter and left it there. I do not know if my toothbrush became exposed & then it went in my mouth

I called the DOC. Nurse called back and said

that if I inhaled it maybe it was a issue but if I just tasted it that somehow that wouldnt of gotten into my system...huh?
Does that make any sense to anyone?
She seems to have no concern

Should I bring it up again to my doctor. I have an appointment next. I know most of these things are precaution and chances are you will never have a problem with it. When I brought up listeria it didnt seem to faze my last doctor at all. He said just stay away from cheese. But didnt bother to check for it. My daughter was fine. My second pregnancy once again I am nervous. Should I get a second opinion or do you think its ok

BTW if you want the article about "the truth about toxioplasmosis" I have the link

Answer 1

First off I want to say thank the gods there is actually someone else out there who doesn;t think you have to give away your pets or walk around incased in plastic in order to be safe from toxoplasmosis, when i clicked on your question I was fully ready for the I am terrified to change my kitties litter box because my baby will die if i do it even just once type of question.

As for your question, I would bring it up again at the doctors visit, especially if you are concerned with the nurses answer. If you trust your doc and his staff and they are good, then no one should be upset if you ask a couple of times to clarify. I swear I have asked my doctor the same question millions of times, and all he does is pat my hand and answer me again, no condescension or anything. Good Luck and congrats!

Answer 2

I think you should be OK, as you said, if you have had the cat for a while, the chances are you are immune, even so, the chances of your cat being infected are actually really low too!

It does sound, however, like your nurse really doesn't know what she's talking about! It sounds to me like she is misinformed and thinks you can only get toxoplasmosis by inhaling, and not actual ingestion, which isn't true!!!

So... If you would feel better with a second opinion, I suggest you go for it, even if it's only to put your mind at rest, as it's not good to worry over something during pregnancy either!

I also read a lot on toxoplasmosis, as my midwife told me it was not a serious risk as I have an indoor cat, have had her ages etc... But then the doctor that saw me basically told me to get rid of my cat - definitely not to touch her at all and that she was a danger to me and baby.

I'm 34 weeks and they test me for toxoplasmosis on every blood test, and.... NADA!

:-) Congrats and I hope all is OK!

Answer 3

I honestly don't think you need to worry so much, simply because of the reasons you stated (indoor kitty, you've had him a while). But if you are truly concerned, get a second opinion, if nothing else but to ease your mind. The nurse was wrong however. Toxoplasmosis isn't an inhaled disease. You get it from ingesting it.

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.

The thing with doc blowing off listeria: common reaction I feel. Its not really of grave danger. Heck, I would venture to guess MOST pregnant women eat something, if not many things, that are on the no no list. Best of luck hun!

Answer 4

I know what you mean, I hate when the nurses or staff at the doctors office are totally unconcerned when you are feeling worried.

Here's my input-. My mom had 7 cats when I was growing up and still has 6 of them. I know what you mean about the tracked litter. I've come into contact with it several times not sure if anything I've ever eaten or put in my mouth has come into contact with it though. Anyhow, as a kid it was my chore to clean the litter boxes, I did it daily for years. When I got pregnant, I thought for sure that I would have had the immunity to toxoplasmosis but- I don't. Turns out I've never come into contact with it even after changing the litter of 7 cats.

At any rate, my suggestion is this: If you are worried about it tell your doctor that you want your blood re-checked for Toxoplasmosis when you go for your next appointment. The blood test should help to put your mind at ease.

Answer 5

The best thing to do is take your cat to the vet to check if your cat even HAS toxoplasmosis.
All they do is keep the cat for a few hours (until there is feces), then they run a test and tell you the next day.

Most of all, do not feed your cat any raw foods. If this is an indoor cat, you really shouldn't worry too much. But if it's an outdoor cat, then it will probably eat mice, birds and who knows what else. And that way it an easily contract toxoplasmosis.

Answer 6

I know I have always had cats during both my pregnancies and never had anything bad happen.

However, this happened just a few months ago and the story goes:

The day after christmas my mom went to the hospital for these big bumps all over her body, she thought she had cat scatch fever. We found a home for the cat but. Well they ran test found nothing.
3 weeks ago my mom had a heart attack, mild but still had one.

Last Tuesday the test results came back from the biopsy she had done on those spots. She was allegeric to scopeable kitty litter.

Now my mom isn't pregnant, and she has had cats ALL her life and just now became allegic.

im telling you this just to be safe. I woudn't want anything to happen to you or your baby.

Answer 7

If it is causing a great deal of worry then yes you should. If for no other reason to help reduce the stress you are under. So while it is most likely that you are safe you need to be able to get over the stress and worry.

Answer 8

It never hurts to get another opinion, and if you believe that you are in danger of it, get another opinion, if only to put your mind at rest.
You sound like a very smart, well educated woman, so do what you think is best.

Answer 9

I think you are fine but if you are really worried talk to your Dr about getting a blood test.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Toxoplasmosis-Test

Answer 10

If you are worried, then -yes- get a second opinion. It may not be necessary, but if it makes you feel better, get another one.