I just got a cat yesterday and all I know
is that I can't change the litter box. Is
it okay for the cat to sleep on my pillow?
Last night it did so I really hope that
it was okay. I woke up at about 4 this
morning and I haven't fallen back asleep
because i'm so worried. I made a spot for
it on the floor and I thought it would
sleep there but I guess not. I don't have
another appointment with my doctor for a
whole week. What should I do??
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bootsie840
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Nov 2003 Posts: 113 Location: pennsylvainaia
Cats Posted: 07-18-04 07:05am
Hi when I was pregnant I had many cats, I
have never been told it was bad to have
them or that it would hurt me or my child,
yes the only thing you can not do is
change or clean the litter, something with
the urine or feces in the litter is very
harmful to your child, relax your ok
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AMAZINGSTAR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 53
Posted: 07-18-04 11:07am
Actually cats carrry a disease called
toxomaplasma (may not be spelt
right).Anyway it is carried in their
faeces.When they go in their litter
box,tthere paws are standing in there
poo.This gets trapped under the nails.If
your cat is climbing and walking on work
tops then I would say it is vital you
disinfect your surfaces,and do not touch
their litter box xx
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Jane Down
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Posts: 4 Location: London
Toxoplasmosis Posted: 07-24-04 14:28pm
Hi
i am pregnant and have 5 cats. The only
thing I don't do is change their litter
tray or do any gardening in case their
faeces is in the soil. As cats lick
themselves in theory they could be
contaminated anywhere so even handling
them may pose a risk but it is unlikely.
Not all cats carry toxoplasmosis and if
you ahve been in contact with cats over
the years before getting pregnant it's
likely you may have been infected before
and are therefore now immune. Just make
sure you wash your hands after you have
been handling your cat but do not get
obsessive! The likelihood is that your
cat poses no risk to you whatsoever and as
there are so many things to worry about in
pregnancy anyway, I wouldn't waste time
worrying about this. Just take basic
precautions of washing your hands
regularly and get your partner to always
do the litter-tray!
Jane
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 07-24-04 15:09pm
We had a post on this topic a while back
and there were a lot of facts in it.
Like the above post said, if you have had
cats before and have changed their litter
box at all then you already have that
toxi.......Thing....It is only dangerous
if you get subjected to it for the first
time while pregnant.
Chances are that is not going to happen.
The article said that this toxi.....Thing
doesn't even develop until the cat's poo
sits for two to three days. So, if you
change the litter daily, no worries.
But, still use gloves and wash your hands
directly after changing. But if at all
possible, just have someone else change
the litter.
Cats do step into their litter box, but
with as much as they groom, I seriously
doubt that you will get it from your cat.
But, better safe than sorry.
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Kit
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 41 Location: PA, USA
Why Just Toxoplasmosis??! Posted: 08-03-04 11:30am
Ok alot of toxoplasmosis talk but not
another concern that I experienced 1st
hand. Eight months pregnant my first
child, I had a cat who was a housecat.
Well, one fact I didn't know about cats,
is that when they escape out side - the
way they use their nails to sift through
unmentionables (feces, carcasses . .
.Etc..) other lovely things attach
themselves to them and come inside,
uninvited! I found out the hard way, that
because your immune system is so different
when you are pregnant you are very prone
to such things as feline carried ringworm.
Oh yes, the cat didn't get it....Nor my
husband, but within 2 days my entire belly
was covered, along with parts of my arms,
hands and face...All the places he loved
to "snuggle". This was awful, not to
mention horribly embarrassing for someone
known to shower 2x a day and scrub the
floor on my knees frequently!
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-05-04 01:39am
Oh my goodness. That is horrible!
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Kia
Supporter
Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 6594 Location: Planet Tampaxia,
Posted: 08-05-04 02:18am
The main risk is toxoplasmosis.
If you have been around cats before
getting pregnant chances are you have
already contracted toxoplasmosis and are
now immune to it.
However if you become infected for the
first time in pregnancy it can be fatal to
the unborn child (in worst cases). There
is a blood test available but this is only
useful if you have a before and after
becoming pregnant test as it only tells if
you have anti-bodies not when they
developed. So if your first test was
after you became pregnant there is no way
of knowing of you already had them or if
you became infected after you got
pregnant.
There are also a few other things to watch
out for:
ringworm (as stated - but this can also be
a risk without cats and/or while not
pregnant)
cat scratch fever (again also a risk when
not pregnant)
allergy to flea bites (possibly more
likely when pregnant due to effect on
immune system but also viable when not
pregnant)
