Question about my cats and being pregnant?

Question

I just found out today i'm 5 weeks pregnant.

I have 4 cats and 2 - 9 week old kittens, not sure if we're keeping both or finding a new home (in the family) for one of the kittens.

ANYWAYS .. all of my cats are INSIDE ONLY!

Should i have my fiance clean the litter box from now on or am i safe since my cats are inside only?

Thank you.

Will do .. thank you .. and thank you, the first person who answered.

Answer 1

definately have him change it, not only should you not be bending down, there is something that is in the smell that could harm the baby

Answer 2

use this opporotunity to take advantage and have someone else do the dirty work for the next 9 months... better safe than sorry!!

It is more than likely the cats that go outdoors that can transmit the toxoplasmosis, .. but it can also be found in indoor-only animals as well. My cats never go out, but since they have been known to find field mice who migrate into our basement, the rodents could give the cats toxoplasmosis which i could then pick up through their litter.

Sometimes i end up having to scoop mine myself because when it needs to be done, somoene else isnt here. When that happens, i wear a dust mask (like a paper dr's mask) and wear ruibber gloves. I try to do it quickly and get out of the area. The dried bacteria can become airborne and you could inhale it, which is why u wear the dust mask.

Anyways,.. good luck! Let the man scoop the poop for a while... ;)

Answer 3

I would play it safe and have your fiance to clean the litter box.
I have 1 cat and she is 8 years old and always kept indoor and never eat raw meat. I still asked my husband to clear the litter when I was pregnant. Cause you want the best for your baby!

Use litter box liner (I use 13 gallon garbage bag) to make the litter box cleaning easier and less stressful for your fiance.

Best wishes!

Answer 4

Im not sure but it is my understanding that you can get something called toxoplasmosis from cat feces.
Likelihood of Contracting Toxoplasmosis

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.
I have never owned a cat but i have done litterbox duty fro pregnant friends check out the 2 site i attached for the full scoop:-)

Answer 5

Dont ever clean the box again as long as ur pregnant. You could give ur baby a disease, so have ur man do the cleaning weather he wanna or not.

Answer 6

have him do it. Toxoplasmosis is a bacteria found in Cat feces, it can cause miscarrage or stillbirth. Its very rare, but don't take the chance.

Answer 7

You are not suppose to be around cat feces if you are pregnant.

Answer 8

just have someone else do the litter box...everything else is okay.