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anon View Drop Down
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    Posted: 20 March 2009 at 12:51pm
I read in "What to Expect When You are Expecting" that cats can have toxoplasmosis - harmful to baby. They suggested getting your cat tested at the vet for this and if they have it, to give it away to someone to look after during your pregnancy.

I realise the book is American, but what do you cat-owners say about that?

They say a lot of people have a natural immunity to toxoplasmosis and i have had my cat for nearly three years now, plus have no one to give him to. I don't think we can really afford to take him up to the vet to test this -

I just wash my hands after touching him before eating. I must say, I have been more paranoid about touching him lately....

What are your thoughts?
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MrsH23 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MrsH23 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 March 2009 at 12:55pm
I think it is mainly to do with the poo, so make sure that if there is a litter box to clean etc that you get someone else to do it. Other than that it will be fine, especially as you have had the cat for several years, it's not as though you are having to deal with a new kitten.
Lisa mummy to Ryan
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SpecialK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SpecialK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 March 2009 at 1:12pm
We got little kittens just before I found out I was pregnant, so the whole toxoplasmosis thing scared me a bit!

I just made DH clean up the litter and deal with their poos, and didn't let them on our bed. Also didn't feed them any raw meat or chicken to avoid them ingesting it. And of course washed my hands thouroughly.

Seem to be ok so far! Good luck.
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Flutterby View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Flutterby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 March 2009 at 1:26pm
I beleive that you can get yourself tested to see if you have already had it, if so then you would already be immune. But otherwise just don't handle any kitty litter and wash your hands.
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bub View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bub Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 March 2009 at 3:46pm
yeah its fine aslong as you dont come in contact with the poo and just making sure you wash your hands and stuff.
mother to Brianna, Amelia & Mathew.

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mummyofprinces View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mummyofprinces Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 March 2009 at 5:13pm
Just and FYI, it can be passed if a cat scratches you and breaks the skin as it can be under their claws as the scratch and cover their poo and it can get in there.

DH has been in charge of litter duty, but since I have been pregnant we have only had one cat do one poo in the litter tray... its as if they know!

Another reason why you should cover your kids sandpits when they are not playing in them!


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M2Bee View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote M2Bee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 March 2009 at 6:00pm
My husband is on litter duty as well, and have also read if you've been around cats you've almost certainly become immune.
I've also read you've got more chance of getting toxo from a raw steak than from your cat... it's just a matter of not over reacting and taking precautions to make yourself comfortable.
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Gardengirl View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gardengirl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 March 2009 at 9:55pm
I've always been around cats and it hasn't occurred to me to worry. However, I don't have a litter tray - if I did I wouldn't be touching it unless I was wearing gloves. But I would be forever washing my hands if I washed them every time I simply touched my cat or someone elses. It's the faeces you need to be completely avoiding (and wouldn't you anyway?). I wouldn't be getting my cat tested, certainly wouldn't be giving her away, just observing basic litter tray hygiene.

It's also one of the main reasons you want to be wearing gloves if you are doing any gardening.

ETA My cat has been trying to 'incubate' my bump since I first became pregnant, bless her!


Edited by Gardengirl
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SMoody View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SMoody Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2009 at 8:35am
I had 4 cats around when I was pregnant with McKayla. They still slept with us on the bed, handled them quite often. Had 2 parrots, fish as well as a dog too.

I just didnt come close to cat poo at all, didnt work in the garden for fear that I will touch it by accident. Wash hands quite careful before food prep and eating.

Wasnt a problem at all and our dr never said anything about getting rid of our cats. Just be sensible about it.

This time around we just have one cat.


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Babykatnz View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Babykatnz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2009 at 11:00am
my ex SIL tried to tell me I had to get rid of my 2 fur-babies while preg with DS as it could make me sick and kill the baby... this coming from a girl who had never had a baby...

Of course I had already done my own reading and knew it was a cat poo thing, and since our cats went out in one of the back paddocks behind the house to do their business, I was never 'at risk' of coming into contact with any of it.

This time round we have had 2, now 3 cats, and they had a little tray when we moved a few weeks ago, I simply made DP clean it for me, but now they are back to going outside again, so not worried anymore. They are very finicky about hiding where they go, so like someone else said, I steer clear of the gardening for now as a precautionary step to avoiding coming into contact this time round.
Brandon - 05/12/2003


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Hope View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hope Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2009 at 6:05pm
Hey Gardengirl, my pusscat who usually is not that fussed on me (loves DH) has been very loving to me during my pregnancy and likes to cuddle my bump too!

I think that when you adopt pets you adopt them for life so there was no way I would contemplate getting rid of my kitties. Like others have said, I avoided gardening (hate it anyway!), and have been very careful to wash my hands after handling the cats. My cats don't use a litter tray so thats not an issue.

When visitors come around to visit bubs when he is born I'm going to ask them to give the cats a cuddle too, because I think their noses will be out of joint. They are used to being the babies!
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anon View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2009 at 9:32pm
Yes, my cat is my baby and his nose will definitely be out of joint. He is a pain, though. I am worried I will find him cuddled up in the bassinet we prematurely bought because it looks comfy.... and today he caught a mouse and decided to lose it in the spare room where there is tons of junk - but we'd planned to clean it out to make it the baby's room. We can't find the mouse!! Argh!! Yuck.

Naughty boy.
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Gardengirl View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gardengirl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 March 2009 at 9:31am
Newlywed, I read a great tip on here that I plan to try when putting our cot and bassinet up before the baby arrives:

Line the cot/bassinet with silver foil or fill with balloons. If the cat jumps in they will hate the feel/noise and be put off the whole idea. It's meant to be quite successful.

Hope, even in the really hot weather she was determined to cuddle up as close as possible to my bump, right from the very first few weeks.
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