Many pregnant female cat owners wonder if it is safe to own a cat while they’re expecting. With a few precautions, the answer is “yes” It’s perfectly fine to be around cats when you’re pregnant, but you need to be very careful about cleaning the litter box or let someone else do it for you.
The main reason most people are afraid of cats during pregnancy is toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can infect mostly humans. Cats are among the most prevalent carriers of this parasite. Most individuals never know they have it because few (if any) symptoms appear.. However, if a woman is infected while pregnant, it can cause serious birth defects.
How to protect yourself from Toxoplasmosis.
The parasite is transmitted orally, therefore putting a contaminated hand to your mouth may result in infection.
- You have to be really careful about cleaning the litter box. Ideally, get someone else to do it for you. If this is not possible make sure to clean your cat’s litter box daily, as the parasite doesn’t become infectious for 1-5 days.
- Always wear gloves and wash your hands after cleaning the litter box. You should also wear gloves while gardening, cleaning vegetables and handling raw meat.
- Do not adopt any stray cats during pregnancy, as they’re exposed more often to toxoplasmosis. This is because they eat small animals and they could have weak immune systems.
Toxoplasmosis is serious for an unborn baby, however, it is also really hard to be infected. There is nothing to be worried about if you follow the guidelines above and remember to wash your hands every time. Also, many people with cats have been infected and now they’re immune.
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