Pregnancy and Cat Litter

I have a question for everyone.  I am 2 months pregnant and the "mother" of 2 cats as well. I don't see my doctor until the end of this week, but I have a question I am sure someone will have the answer to.  What is it about cleaning the cat litter box that is bad for pregnant women?  The Mayo Clinic Guide to Heathly Pregnancy says that its only harmful if the cats hunt and eat rodents which causes a toxic substance in their poop.  Mine are inside cats.  My neighbor, who is a nurse, told me it had something to do with the fumes.  Does anyone know the correct answer?  I just want to be careful and one of my kitties sometimes elects to poop outside the box and, of course, my husband is never around when this happens.  I have been wearing rubber gloves and using paper towels and every precaution I can think of.  I even just bought a new handy-dandy self-cleaning litter box, too.  Has anyone else had to deal with this?  I appreciate your guidance and answers.

[Adevotee]

you can also get your dr to run a test for toxoplasmosis. If you have had your cats for a long time and it sounds like you have, you are probably immune to toxoplasmosis. It is a simple blood test that can be done to see if you are actually immune to it.

Take Care

[Tamara551]

Toxoplasmosis is transferred from cat to human through cat feces.  Cats get it if they eat raw meat that is infected with it.  If your cats are strictly indoors and only eat cat food you should not have anything to worry about.  Like above poster stated you are probably immuned to it by now if your cats did have it at one time.  Just to be safe have your husband clean the box or wear rubber gloves and wash your hands right after words.  I have three cats at home and they are strictly indoor and have never been outside, but I let my husband clean the box just in case.  Hope this helps.

[Trudy80]

I agree with the above two posters and just want to add that the toxoplasmosis is found in the cat feces so it is very important that you dont come into direct contact with there feces when changing litter trays...if so ensure to rinse really well.

[Trudy80]

Seems we had the same thinking time but you beat me! lol....well said.

[Angiconda]

Some cats can have toxoplasmosis I have heard and read that it is usually outdoor cats. I know you can bring your cats to the vet and they can test to see if your cats have this. If they do it can be fatal to the baby if they get it I have also read that if your cats do have it then you have most likely had is and a immuned to it. If you have to change the litter box I think I would just contiune to wear the gloves and maybe even like a doctors mask or something just so you dont breath anything in.

[ArmyWife315]

Thanks for your help, ladies!

[sparkypuss]

I begged my husband that we should get a cat 3 years ago in the agreement that I would look after it (feed, change litter etc) and he has insisted on doing it ever since. They are very close my two furry boys.

[Adevotee]

I also read that toxoplasmosis can be found in soil, so if you are into gardening, make sure you wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after.

Take Care

[Trudy80]

WOW, thanks for the update with your research of it tracing in the soil.  I have a cat but it is totally indoors however I am still really careful.  I do alot of gardening tho and never knew that it could be found in the soil, I will make a must of wearing my gloves from now on, thanks again!

[ima1]

I also have a cat, and my dr said if it doesnt go outside it is fine.  I still dont do the litter duty though.  have any of yo uhad babies and cats?  Mine sleeps in my bed, and though i do not let my babies sleep in my bad, i invariably fall asleep while i am nursing.  im only in my 6th week, so i have time to train him to sleep in my daughters bed before i deliver, but he doesnt like to.  any ideas?

[AnnieBrooke]

I have had cats all my life and I also garden, so when I got pg I asked the doctor to run a toxoplasmosis titer on me to see if I had already been exposed.  Imagine my surprise, after all that potential exposure, to learn I had never had toxoplasmosis!  I guess it isn't all that common, as the earlier poster's doctor commented.  Toxoplasmosis is transmitted by touching the fecal matter and then touching your mouth without having washed your hands, so fumes have nothing to do with it.  It lives in the soil and kitties can get it from prey, and it is also sometimes present in raw meat.  If you do need to clean the catbox, wear gloves, and that really should be enough to handle it.

[toyml99]

MY CAT HAS NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE EITHER BUT JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE MY DH DOES THE LITTER.  HE COMPLAINS EVERYTIME BUT HE DOES IT.  MY DOC SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER ONCE SEEN A CASE OF TOXIO...WHATEVER.  BUT I AM A WORRY WART AND JUST STAY AWAY FROM IT.  I DO NOT TOUCH ANYONE ELSES CATS EITHER.

[ange800]

As long as you wear gloves all should be good toxoplasmosis can also be caught off dogs and raw meat not just cats I have only heard of 1 person ever catching it and she got it off dogs she was very lucky as it was caught late in her pregnancy and picked up straight away. It is very rare I had 4 outdoor cats with my first pregnancy but I guess I could be immune to it as I been around cats all my life. I wouldnt worry too much about it just remember to wash your hands after you have handled your cats thats what the midwife told me. Take care