cats

[Chas4683]

So I'm 35 weeks pregnant and I still change my kitty litter and play with my kitty's , this is My 3rd child , & I know your not supposed to be around cat litter or change it but someone's gotta do it ! Does anyone know of anyone who had gotten toxoplasmosis (?)  I try to be safe with gloves but not every time . But it does worry me :x

[tinkerbella32]

I asked my doctor about that.he checked my bloods for me but said if you have had cats as pets most of your life its more than likely going to be in your system and u would be immune to it.he said to be on the safe side dont walk around in ur bare feet, change cats tray with gloves and always scrub your hands after petting the cat. If you have had the cat along time and had many over the years id say u are fine.

[aprilj93]

I was told if you had a cat prior to getting pregnant that its fine cause you've already been exposed and would've gotten it already. Ask your dr to be safe

[heatherrk81]

You can actually have your cat tested for it, saving yourself a poke or two. If your really worried :)

[MissAmandaB]

I read somewhere that its mostly transmitted by cats that go outside. I still freak out and dont change the litter box (I make hubby do it) but the article said that if you have indoor cats the risk is very low. Google it, im sure that's how I found it

[HopeMarie3]

I have cats as well and i wear a mask when changing the litter but i dont wear it all the time but the 2 cats i have are indoor so i believe its a low risk nd i also have one outdoor but i try by best to wear a mask

[JujusC]

The danger is toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection carried by cats, transmitted in cat feces, and found in gardens where cats poop. If you get toxoplasmosis when you're pregnant, your baby can get it, too, in utero, and it can cause significant neurological damage.

So if you know you've never had toxoplasmosis and have cats, you shouldn't change the litter box, and you'll want to be careful about gardening. (Use gloves and a mask if you have to do these things, and change the litter at least every 24 hours.) Routine blood work isn't recommended, but if you're going to be around cats and you're not sure whether you've had toxoplasmosis, you can have your blood sent out for special tests to see whether you've been exposed. If you have been, you don't need to worry about it.

Jennifer Shu, pediatrician
The concern here is toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can be transmitted through infected cat poop (or outdoor soil where cats have been). If you've never had toxoplasmosis before, you could possibly become infected while pregnant and pass the illness on to your baby.

Toxoplasmosis can cause flu-like symptoms in adults (and sometimes has no symptoms). But in a baby in the early stages of pregnancy, it can cause serious birth defects such as eye and brain damage. These possible effects sound scary, but before you resort to giving your kitty away, take comfort in knowing a few things: Cats that never go outside are very unlikely to carry toxoplasmosis. Also, if you've been around cats for a while, you may be immune. Ask your doctor if she can check.

You can also reduce your chances of getting the infection while pregnant by practicing good hygiene: Have someone else change the kitty litter (you'll never have a better excuse) or change the litter once a day (it takes 24 hours for the litter to become infectious). Wear gloves while gardening, and wash your hands thoroughly after gardening.

Just be carefull!!

[Chas4683]

Yeah iv been thinking about asking my Dr for a blood test for toxoplasmosis just in case , bc that's not a standard test they do on their own .  
Just not sure how serious it can be .

[Courtd16]

I have heard stories but its not just touching cat poop it breathing it in too. I would wear a mask too and wash your hands and clothes well just to be safe.