Toxoplasmosis......and cats

[xtara2003x]

Hi mamas...

Do you change your cats litter boxes while pregnant?

My understanding is that toxoplasmosis is only a "danger" if you don't wash your hands after handling feces. My husband is "supposed" to change the litter box...however he could stare at a full litter box and STILL not think that it's time to clean it out......

Our mama cat had kittens 4 weeks ago so we have lots of extra stuff to clean up....and apparently I'm the only capable on in my house.....

So what do you do?

[Lady Lilya]

In my first pregnancy we had a cat, and my husband had to change the litter. Though I don't think there is that much danger, if you have had cats all along. Supposedly you build up an immunity.

Anyway, there are disposable kitty litter trays. I've bought them on occasion. They run about $3 a piece, and lasted me about a week with 2 cats. Then the whole thing went in a garbage bag.

[teeg1973]

I have not been exposed to toxoplasmosis despite having had cats all my life (mostly indoor cats, but growing up we had an indoor/outdoor cat and have taken in strays).

I have been the sole litter changer in our home and have no worries. If you have indoor cats, it really shouldn't be a worry at all. If they are outdoor cats, just scoop frequently and wash your hands...if the cat were indeed a carrier, I believe is takes at least 24 hours after the feces has been dropped for the buggers to develop!

HTH a little bit

Tracy

[karen1968]

Are the cats indoor only? Then it shouldn't be a problem. If you are worried, wear rubber/latex gloves. If you are super worried, wear a dust mask. And wash afterwards, of course

If they are outdoor cats, I'd be more worried, as they can pick up toxo from other outdoor cats.

We have an area in front of our house where the neighbor's two cats like to poop I haven't gardened/weeded in that area since we started trying to become pregnant.

[xtara2003x]

Thanks ladies!

We got the mama cat toward the end of June. I am not sure if she was an outdoor cat previously...but she's not been outside since the beginning of June with the human society got her (unbeknown to them she was pregnant!).

None of the kittens have been outside either. We do feed our cats raw food (some store bought specialty cat food and some raw chicken parts, etc) but I guess I'm just not really worried and just wondered if I "should" be. I've been around cats my whole life as well....and watched this mama cat give birth, etc. I always wash my hands afterward and never touch the feces directly. I'm still going to attempt to get my DH to take care of the majority (mostly because it's really just not that pleasant but if I do have to clean it once and a while I won't stress over it. I kinda figured it might be one of those things that ppl make a big deal out of while pregnant when it's really not (just like eating raw meats - there is no way you are gonna get me to eat well done steak this pregnancy like with DD...it's just not gonna happen...I can do medium..but that's it! ).

Thanks fellow pregnant ladies!

[LSUtwinMama]

Even if you cat did somehow contract toxo, they only actively shed the organism in their poop for 1 week in their ENTIRE life.
The chances are beyond slim that a healthy indoor cat could be exposed to and shedding toxo in their poop for one week during your pregnancy (and you'd have to handle poop with bare hands and not wash afterward... *Who does that?).

I wouldn't worry about the kittens unless you're feeding them a diet of raw wild mice.

Toxo is a much bigger concern with unwashed raw veggies (especially if you home garden and have outdoor cats that poop there) and raw meats. Even then it's extremely rare.

(I still make my DH change the catbox... what he doesn't know won't hurt him...)

[Lady Lilya]

I didn't know that about the one week. Kinda low probability, then.

[Ellen Griswold]

My vet also mentioned something about this being a concern only during the first trimester as well.

[womenswisdom]

You are more likely to get toxo from eating undercooked meat (and your cat could also get it from a raw diet) if you practice good hygiene when cleaning the litterboxes. I would actually be a bit concerned about the raw diet bit, because that could be a cause of infection for the cat, depending on what kind of meat you are feeding.

I have worked professionally with cats for over 12 years (currently work at a cat-only hospital for the past 9 years) and I still have never been exposed (had titers run with both pregnancies), so simply having owned cats all your life certainly doesn't guarantee that you've been previously exposed. It's more dangerous to the baby when acquired in early pregnancy, but can be harmful at any stage.

[kittywitty]

https://www.mothering.com/discussion....php?t=1238296

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

Originally Posted by LSUtwinMama

Even if you cat did somehow contract toxo, they only actively shed the organism in their poop for 1 week in their ENTIRE life.
The chances are beyond slim that a healthy indoor cat could be exposed to and shedding toxo in their poop for one week during your pregnancy (and you'd have to handle poop with bare hands and not wash afterward... *Who does that?).

I wouldn't worry about the kittens unless you're feeding them a diet of raw wild mice.

Toxo is a much bigger concern with unwashed raw veggies (especially if you home garden and have outdoor cats that poop there) and raw meats. Even then it's extremely rare.

(I still make my DH change the catbox... what he doesn't know won't hurt him...)

THIS!

I couldn't have written it better.

[dizzysmom]

I got into a *major* fight with my OB's nurse about toxo my last pregnancy. We have an indoor-only cat, and she completely freaked out when I told her I had no intention of leaving the box-cleaning duties to DH (who refuses to do it anyway until the box is so nasty that the poor cat is going in potted plants ). I have been around cats my whole life, but have apparently never been exposed - my OB checked for titers.

This time I met with a different nurse for my appointment, and just ignored everything she babbled on about regarding the cat.

[xtara2003x]

We feed our cat raw food that has been previously frozen, as well as organic/all natural chicken bits and such. I *know* that this is the absolute healthiest thing for cats to eat...as it is what they eat in the wild and has all the vitamins they need to stay healthy.

It's a shame people think you should just get rid of your cats. My dad said the same thing to me now that we have 7... I don't think so. I am in love with them and they are my babies!

Will have to check out that other discussion now!!!!