When you become pregnant your doctor should warn you not to change and clean the litter box for your cat. Cats who are allowed to be outside, or who were born outside, or whose mother was outside could have contracted toxoplasmosis and can pass it along in their excrement.
Toxoplasmosis is an infection that can threaten the health of your unborn baby. It is caused by a parasite that doesnt cause an illness to your cat. The parasite, Toxplasma gondii is carried by birds and transferred to cats when they are eaten.
About 80% of domestic cats carry toxoplasmosis after having eaten a bird, mole, squirrel or other infected prey.
The parasite multiplies in the cats intestines and then excreted into the litter box or soil outside. You can also get the parasite from eating undercooked meat from animals infected with the parasite.
Healthy adults dont usually suffer ill effects from toxoplasmosis and many times dont even have symptoms to suggest they have an infection. But if you become infected when you are pregnant your baby can also become infected. The infection can seriously damage your childs brain and eyes. If you have been infected between 6-9 months before you become pregnant (flu like symptoms) you will develop immunity and there is rarely a risk to your baby.
How will you know if you have Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy? Toxoplasmosis will cause flu like symptoms in yourself. Although blood testing is available for past or recent exposure it isnt routinely used unless its suspected during pregnancy.
There are several things that you can do to avoid contracting the parasite during pregnancy. If you have a cat at home and arent sure of his history (was he or his mom an outdoor cat) then have someone else clean his litter box or even have someone else care for the cat during the pregnancy. If for some reason you HAVE to clean the litter box clean it with rubber gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterward. Try to have the litter box completely cleaned and filled with boiling water for 5 minutes.
If you are gardening outside or using soil in the house use garden gloves because the parasite is able to live in the soil as well. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Cover any sandboxes you have in the back yard for other children because outdoor cats will use them as a litter box.
Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy can be spread by flies or cockroaches; toxoplasmosis that will spread through contaminated soil or cat feces onto food. Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables. Anytime you are cooking you should wash your hands before eating either fruit, vegetables or raw meat. Avoid rubbing your face or eyes when you are preparing foods also. Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy can also be spread through raw eggs and drinking unpasteurized milk.
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