Freaked out about toxoplasmosis...

[Toposlonoshlep]

I am in my first trimester and currently staying at my mom's house. She has 4 indoor/outdoor cats who definitely catch mice and the occasional bird and leave them on the porch. I have stayed away from the litterbox, but could toxoplasma be released into the air from them digging in the litterbox? Can it be carried on their paws and fur and then deposited on furniture? I grew up with these same cats, so I may be immune, but my mom
Definitely doesn't clean their giant litterbox every 24 hours....

It just makes me nervous if it can be spread aroundon their fur or paws...

[scottishmommy]

If you grew up with cats chances are you are immune already. However, just to be on the safe side always wash your hands before eating and try not to touch your face without washing first. Also, make sure that food prep surfaces are clean. I really wouldn't lose any sleep over this!

[1love4ever]

I would guess you are immune as well.  I dont believe it can be spread through the air, although I imagine it could be on their paws, but I dont think you have to worry about sitting on the same furniture as them.   I had a cat that I picked up and spent time around and lived with all the time during my last pregnancy as well as this one, and this pregnancy I have been picking up a lot of strays.  I grew up around a lot of cats out in the country, and changed many litter boxes so I imagine I am immune.  I wouldnt worry!

[vtechmom]

First, I wouldn't worry, but second I would suggest no one assume immunity either.

Here's the deal on toxo. Cats are the only animals that can SHED the disease but other animals can catch it (including humans).  A cat catches toxo from eating another infected animal BUT that only happens once in their lifetime and they only shed the disease for 10-14 days following that initial infection.  A cat will never again shed toxo after those first 10-14 days so if these are cats that have been indoor/outdoor hunters for awhile I wouldn't be overly concerned.

How does toxo pass?  It's fecal-oral transmission, meaning, not actually easy to catch.  There IS a potential risk of inhaling some dust while cleaning a litter box and catching it that way.  It won't just be in the air though as you walk through the room with the litter boxes.  Basically, be on the super safe side and get someone else to change the boxes and you'll be fine.  If you had solely indoor cats I wouldn't even worry that much (though for the record my DH and kids did take over litter box duty for our indoor only cats, but that's cause I enjoy the break and never explained how transmission works to them, lol).

I would definitely NOT assume immunity though.  I'm a vet tech, cat rescuer, and have multiple cats of my own, and I'm not immune.  I know 3 other techs who have gotten pregnant in the past two years and were tested for toxo and none of them were immune either, they also all at least owned cats and 2 were active rescuers.  On the one hand, that kind of stinks cause if you are immune you don't have to worry at all (simple blood test will tell), on the other hand it does show just how difficult it is to acquire. 

The bigger risk in my mind for toxo transmission is digging in dirt outside.  You have no control over any neighbor's outdoor and/or feral cats in the area and no idea if they've been using your garden as a giant litter box.  I think it says something about the risk of toxo exposure being overblown that that fact is almost never mentioned but that people get so scared of having a cat in the house they get rid of it.

[Toposlonoshlep]

EXACTLY the info I was looking for! I just really needed a breakdown minus the fear-mongering of the interweb. LOL. Thanks tons. I feel better. 

Originally Posted by vtechmom 

First, I wouldn't worry, but second I would suggest no one assume immunity either.

Here's the deal on toxo. Cats are the only animals that can SHED the disease but other animals can catch it (including humans).  A cat catches toxo from eating another infected animal BUT that only happens once in their lifetime and they only shed the disease for 10-14 days following that initial infection.  A cat will never again shed toxo after those first 10-14 days so if these are cats that have been indoor/outdoor hunters for awhile I wouldn't be overly concerned.

How does toxo pass?  It's fecal-oral transmission, meaning, not actually easy to catch.  There IS a potential risk of inhaling some dust while cleaning a litter box and catching it that way.  It won't just be in the air though as you walk through the room with the litter boxes.  Basically, be on the super safe side and get someone else to change the boxes and you'll be fine.  If you had solely indoor cats I wouldn't even worry that much (though for the record my DH and kids did take over litter box duty for our indoor only cats, but that's cause I enjoy the break and never explained how transmission works to them, lol).

I would definitely NOT assume immunity though.  I'm a vet tech, cat rescuer, and have multiple cats of my own, and I'm not immune.  I know 3 other techs who have gotten pregnant in the past two years and were tested for toxo and none of them were immune either, they also all at least owned cats and 2 were active rescuers.  On the one hand, that kind of stinks cause if you are immune you don't have to worry at all (simple blood test will tell), on the other hand it does show just how difficult it is to acquire. 

The bigger risk in my mind for toxo transmission is digging in dirt outside.  You have no control over any neighbor's outdoor and/or feral cats in the area and no idea if they've been using your garden as a giant litter box.  I think it says something about the risk of toxo exposure being overblown that that fact is almost never mentioned but that people get so scared of having a cat in the house they get rid of it.

[HawaiianBlesing]

I'm a cat groomer and have had cats all my life.  I too tested negative.  They said not to worry because it's not like I'm handling fecal matter and then licking my hands lol.  You have just as good a risk at getting toxo from meat as you do from cats so the risk is out there no matter what.

I just tried not to worry about it.

[vtechmom]

I didn't know that about meat and just looked it up, toxo can only be contracted from raw or undercooked meat.  As long as your meat hits 150 degrees you are fine.  It's basically the same rules as avoiding salmonella or e. coli and it's usually found in game meat in the case of toxo.