Are Cats a Threat to Pregnancy?

No, cats are not a threat to pregnancy. It’s perfectly fine to be around cats when you’re pregnant, but you do need to be very careful about a few things.

You’ve probably heard about the danger of contracting Toxoplasmosis form your cat especially during pregnancy. Cat feces (and soil or sand where cats have been) can carry a parasitic infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “people are more likely to get Toxoplasmosis from eating raw meat or from gardening.”

Cats get toxoplasmosis from eating contaminated raw meat, birds, mice, or soil. Humans can contract toxoplasmosis not only from cats but also from the infected, undercooked meat of other animals, too.

If you are pregnant and you have cats here are some steps to protect yourself against toxoplasmosis:

– Keep your cat indoors.
– Have your cat’s litter changed on a daily basis.
– Use disposable gloves when you change the litter, throw the gloves away after each use, and wash your hands well with soap and water afterward.
– Ask your doctor about taking a blood test to find out whether you’re immune to the disease. If you’ve been around cats for a while, you may have already had toxoplasmosis. If that’s the case, you have nothing to worry about: You won’t get it again, and your unborn baby won’t be at risk.
– You can also make a test of Toxoplasmosis to your cat. In case she is positive ask your vet about the treatment and she will get rid of it fast.

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