A word of caution to women. As much as you love that cat of yours, in the event that you should become pregnant, you must take extra precautions in the care of your cat. That is because cats are a major source of Toxoplasmosis, an infection with the Toxoplasma parasite. The infection can also occur through handling of infected foods.
That is not to say you have to give up your cat, either temporarily or permanently. It just means that if you are not already using these precautions, you ought to at least start in your pregnancy. You will not get Toxoplasmosis just by stroking its hair or playing with it. The parasite will be excreted in its faeces. Therefore, when you are cleaning its litter box or gardening, there is the potential to become infected. Following a strict regime for regular hygiene will prevent unnecessary infections.
Some common sense advice during pregnancy suggests that if you cannot avoid having to clean the litter box (due to the absence of a partner), you should always wear gloves while doing so. The litter should be cleaned daily, with the faeces disposed of in plastic bags carefully tied up. Once bagged, it should be removed to a dustbin outside the home.
Never dispose of faeces onto the soil or directly onto compost. Similarly, while gardening, gloves should be worn, as the cat may have relieved itself outside the house. Always wash your hands before handling food – that should be requisite whether you are pregnant or not. All fresh fruits and vegetables should be washed before eating. All meats
should be cooked thoroughly. Feed your cat only cooked meat and discourage it from catching vermin (although that may be a difficult job if you are on a farm).
Further advice from your doctor or midwife may also be warranted. They may be able to run blood tests at the beginning and end of your pregnancy to check for infections. Left untreated, toxoplasmosis can cause serious
illness and may result in death. In worst case scenarios, infected newborns may have serious eye or brain injury.
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