Is Cat Toxoplasmosis for real?
Even if you are not a cat lover, one time or another you might have heard that cats and pregnant women do not mix.
More often than not, people tend to be on the safe side and let go of their cats when they find out that a baby is on the way. This is sad for the cats and I am here to correct this misinformation.
First, let me tell you about Cat Toxoplasmosis.
Toxoplasmosis comes from the parasite toxoplasma gondii. This parasite can be found in soil, raw meat and cat feces among others. For normal human beings, they can get infected and may never know it. They may only feel flu-like symptoms and will be fine eventually.
Now for pregnant women, the case is different.
Women affected with toxoplasmosis even within three months before getting pregnant can affect the unborn child. The infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or significant damage to the baby’s brain as well as other organs especially the eyes. Some develop blindness during childhood or even in adulthood.
This sounds scary, I know, but only 4 out of 10 cases of cat toxoplasmosis infection will pass to the baby.
So the ultimate question then is this: Can being pregnant and keeping your cat possible?
The simple answer is YES.
Yes, you can have a cat and take care of it even when pregnant. You do not have to give away your cats or let them live in a shelter just because you are expecting. In everything there is a solution and that includes keeping your cat while waiting for your little bundle of joy.
Cat Toxoplasmosis: Guidelines To Ensure Safety For The Pregnant Woman
Of course, there are precautions you have to follow. And you have to make conscious effort to ensure that you follow the guidelines.
- Avoid touching cat feces. Assign someone else to change your cat’s litter box. If you have to do it, wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
- Avoid eating cured meat and raw meat.
- If you handle raw meat for preparing dishes, make sure that you wash the chopping board, utensils, knives and your hands properly with soap and water.
- Wash fruits and vegetables before cooking or eating them that all traces of soil are removed.
- Do not drink unpasteurized goat’s milk and dairy products processed from it.
- If you have other children in the house, cover the sandbox when not in use. Your cat may make it another litter box.
- If you are into gardening, do not touch soil directly. Always use a glove, when doing your garden works. Do not forget to clean up afterwards.
Other than not touching cat feces and soil directly – the other guidelines are more of practical advice. Something that most if not all should be doing in their house already. These may be a lot but with practice and understanding what Cat Toxoplasmosis is about, you can continue to live with your cat even if you are pregnant.
If you want to learn more about toxoplasmosis and your cat’s test, you can call us at these numbers: Or just go to Makati Dog and Cat Hospital from 7AM to 5PM, Mondays to Saturdays. These are the numbers to call: (02) 8896-6386 / 8896-2860 / 0908-896-7113.
Want to know the proper schedule of vaccinations for your cat? Check out the right time to go to the vet for your cat’s vaccination: http://makatidogandcathospital.com/cat-vaccination-schedule-when-is-the-right-time-to-give-the-vaccine/
Enjoy peace of mind,
Dr. Sixto Carlos, DVM, MS
Makati Dog and Cat Hospital
Serving Pet Parents near Mandaluyong, Makati, and BGC