is it safe to keep my cat during my pregnancy?

Question

what kind of infection can i catch by keeping a cat at home during the first months of my pregnancy?

Answer 1

as long as you dont go near the litter box..have someone else clean it for you it is fine..it is contact with the poop that causes problems in pregnancy

Answer 2

Having your cat in the house during your pregnancy will bring no effect to you whatsoever. Just dont go to the litter box have someone else do the job. Try not to pick your cat up so much because it wouldnt be a good idea. He needs 2 bond with ur baby but when u give birth to it keep it away until its old enough.

Answer 3

Absolutely safe.

The CDC has info on toxomoplasmosis--it does point out that people who have handled raw meat already are immune to toxo, as you've already been exposed. Gardening also exposes you. For a CAT to pass it on to you, it would have had to be exposed within the past week or two--as cats can only pass the stuff for 14 days, at which point they also become immune and stop passing it. Any further exposure to toxo does not result in passing it along. Vet sites state that only about 2% of cats are able to pass toxo, the rest have already been exposed and are immune.

Toxo would be caught from handling the feces, but it's killed with soap and water. Wash your hands after scooping the box. Wear rubber gloves if you want, or have someone else do it, but if your cat isn't a carrier, it won't be in the box for those two weeks anyway.

The CDC info on it is online, just do a search on google, it'll come right up.

Answer 4

I have had cats my whole life even during pregnancies and never had any problem. You should be fine keeping your cat just don't clean the litter box. Cat feces isn't good to breathe in while your pregnant. I haven't heard of anything else other than that but I could be wrong (ask your Dr on your next visit just to be sure).

Answer 5

The reason people make a fuss is because cats eat mice and mice are carriers of the toxoplasma. Toxoplasmosis is a disease chiefly transmitted through undercooked meat, soil, or is found in cat faeces, as they eat mice. You may already suffer from underlying infections as they generally pass in adults undiagnosed, without any affects.

You can have a blood test done at a local hospital, to make sure you are not infected, because you had the cat before you got pregnant and sharing the same bacteria it is unlikely that it will be a problem. If you are infected, you do well to make sure the foetus is not in any danger. Meanwhile as is suggested, ask someone else to scoop the poops from the litter-box. It is unlikely you have anything to worry about, but in your case, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 6

It's asfe to keep your cat. You just need to wear rubber gloves, than wash your hands when you're done cleaning the litter box. There's some sickness you can get from their bathroom messes which can have a bad impact on the unborn baby - I forgot what it's called. But we had cats (&still do) with both of my pregnancies & everything was fine. My bf always changes the litter box though & we keep it in the basement.

Answer 7

We had an indoor cat with all of my pregnancies. The babies and I were fine. Stay away from the litter box. Something with the bacteria in the poop. Have your hubby or someone else change it for you. Congratulations.

Answer 8

Nothing. The only 'danger' of owning a cat, is the bacteria from cleaning the litter box.

Solution: Wear gloves & cover your nose/mouth. Wash hands thoroughly afterwards.

Answer 9

If you are pregnant you might want to have someone else watch your cat bc if your cat poops all over the floor you have to pick it up but it is harder to get back up from cleaning it and you might start a contraction (i am young and never had a kid before but i went to health class) So it is better to have a friend or a boy friend watch your cat

Answer 10

What? do you think cats are disposable? when you are done with them or think it isnt good to have them around you then you just get rid of them? why dont you check into the hazards of cats and pregnancy and just dont do whatever is not good for you while being pregnant all that isnt good for you is the litter box...

Answer 11

Yes it is. Just make sure that when the baby is sleeping that the door to the baby's room is shut tighty or the cat will find its way into the crib. So you might want to buy a baby moniter.