I am 4.5 weeks pregant and have a kitten. He's an indoor cat. I am concerned about his kitty litter b/c I am usually the one who cleans it and have heard that its dangerous for pregnant woman due to the cats poo carrying a dangerous virus. I am wondering if this is common in mostly outdoor cats or if I should be nervous. Is it just through the cats poop that you can get the virus or is it from holding and kissing the cat too. My kitten is very snuggly and sleeps with us and I want to make sure that I am safe.
2007-10-22 08:32:10 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Keep a pair of rubber gloves and a simple mask to wear when scooping or changing the litter. Wash hands after. You will be fine. I have and and worked with cats for years...and all through three pregnancies. Not a problem. Women do it all the time.
Make sure the cat has all it's vaccines and it thoroghly wormed also. Most all kittens have roundworms, and those are transmitted to humans as well....especially children!!!
2007-10-22 08:42:04 · answer #1 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First the cat would have to be exposed to the toxo to be a carrier, and he would only be a carrier for 2 weeks. After that he's no longer going to carry it.
The stuff is in the feces, if you wash your hands after scooping the litter box you won't have a problem.
You're actually more likely to contract toxo from cutting up raw meat or from working in the garden, as the stuff is also found in the soil. However most people have already been exposed to it and are immune.
If you have any qualms, just use plastic gloves to change the litter, or wash with soapy water afterwards. But since you have an indoorkitten, it's very unlikely the cat was ever exposed to this at all. Like I say, even if he WAS exposed, he'd only be passing it for 2 weeks at most.
You can check with the CDC sheets on it, but they'll say the same thing. Raw meats are the main way this stuff was transferred among humans. Cutting up the family dinner to cook probably exposed you way back years ago, so you've probably got an immunity to it already.
2007-10-22 17:25:42 · answer #2 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was recently pregnant and living with my cat and never had a problem. I changed my cat litter all the time and did it cautiiously... wear rubber gloves, and cover your face with a face mask, or just turn your face the other way so you dont inhale any fumes...wash your hands afterwards....you can hold and kiss the cat and do all the things you did when you were not pregnant... the only thing to worry about is the litter...
2007-10-22 08:35:53 · answer #3 · answered by scdj1979 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The toxoplasmosis scare has resulted in the abandonment of many many innocent cats...
Even if (miniscule odds) your cat had it, they only shed the parasites 1x in their life and the odds of you contacting that...
even more miniscule.
Practicing good hygeine is a good idea anyway- so do as the others have suggested. Wear the long rubber gloves while you scoop or dump and wash hands thoroughly afterwards.
Or do what I did and get the father to perform this chore- he knows as well as I do that my cats aren't sick- I just complained that it hurt my back to bend over and he willingly took over the task! I think this is a fair request of your partner.
PS: I am 25 weeks and have 4 cats and everything is AOK.
2007-10-22 09:53:05 · answer #4 · answered by howldine 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to worry about getting the disease from cuddling with your cat. If your kitten is up on its shots then you shouldn't have a problem. Although if you are still worried then buy a box of gloves and face masks and use a new pair every time you change the box. That is what my doctor suggested I do if I changed the litter.
Hope that helps
2007-10-22 09:47:56 · answer #5 · answered by ochya 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you can find someone else to change it, then fine. But if you have to do it yourself just be sensible about it and use a face mask that you can pick up at any pharmacy place or aisle and rubber gloves that go up past your wrists. And wash your hands fully after doing so.
They also have these boxes now where you can just tip them over to sift the litter and then you pull out a box and dump it.
2007-10-22 09:49:53 · answer #6 · answered by N M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After you scoop the litter box make sure to wash you hands with antibacterial soap for at least 30 seconds, with warm water. Maybe also wear gloves.
2007-10-22 09:01:07 · answer #7 · answered by bling***bling 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, its been said a couple times, don't play with the cat poo! And don't lick your cat's butt or stick your fingers in there.
Common sense right? Never can tell.
But hell, use it as an excuse to not clean the cat box and make someone else do it.
2007-10-22 08:44:09 · answer #8 · answered by Chief High Commander, UAN 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do not let her out. Set a live trap with a can of non-recalled food into the trap. Check it every 3-5 hours. Then take her to the vet in the live trap. She needs to be spayed when the kittens get about 6 weeks old. And spay the kittens when they reach about 12 weeks old. She needs to be fed kitten food throught her pregnancy and during the time when she is lactating. Good Luck.
2016-05-24 18:43:35 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just don't play in the poo and you will be fine, Its unfortunate that they had to warn people of diseases of cat poo. Somewhere along the line someone played in the poo and got sick now they have to tell us all,.
2007-10-22 08:37:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋