Is there a danger of me getting Toxicplasmosis (sp?) from my 4 indoor cats?

I'm trying to get pregnant and I'm some people were telling me to not scoop my cat's litter anymore. Does anyone know the chances of getting this disease if my cats don't have fleas and don't go outside?

Is there a danger of me getting Toxicplasmosis (sp?) from my 4 indoor cats?
There is always a chance to pick up Toxoplasmosis. The chances of you catching it and becoming sick or infecting your baby are very low. Most human doctors exaggerate the risks and tell pet owners to get rid of their cats.





That is not necessary, however precautions should be taken.





If possible, let someone else in the house clean the litter box. It is the only way to eliminate your exposure.





However, if you must clean the litter box yourself, here are some tips:


1. Wear a cloth mask - a bandanna will do, but the best are those blue masks that yardworkers use, one that covers your nose and mouth. That will take care of the inhalation part.


2. Wear disposable plastic gloves, which are cheap and come in a big box. You can find them at most medical stores and some stores such as Walmart.


3. Use clumping litter instead of the regular. The less dust to deal with, the better.


4. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards with a good soap for at least 30 seconds.





If you have a garden that is outside, where outdoor cats might have access, make sure to wash all vegetables/fruits brought inside. You'll also need to thoroughly wash your hands and wear gloves while out gardening.





Clean your cat's litter box daily. The Toxoplasma parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is shed in a cat's feces.





Also, it would be best not to adopt any other cats while you are pregnant and definitely keep your current cats indoors.





Otherwise, feel free to enjoy your cats and good luck with the baby!
Reply:People panic an awful lot about toxoplasmosis, but the chances of you catching it from your cats are very low (you're much more likely to get it from gardening or eating undercooked meat). If your cats don't go outside, the risk is close to negligible. Just wear rubber gloves when cleaning the litter tray or get someone else to do it.





This is a good no nonsense article about pregnancy and toxoplasmosis.





"Because it's difficult for cats to transmit toxoplasmosis directly to their caregivers, a pregnant woman is generally unlikely to contract the disease from her pet cat. Several factors keep the chance of such transmission low.





First of all, only cats who ingest tissue cysts acquire infection. Within the feline population, this would be limited to outdoor cats who hunt and eat rodents, as well as cats who are fed raw meat by their owners. In addition, only after a cat is first exposed to T. gondii does he typically excrete oocysts, and he does so for only two weeks. An outdoor hunting cat is often exposed to the disease as a kitten and is, therefore, less likely to transmit the infection as he ages.





Secondly, because oocysts become infective only after one to five days, exposure to the disease is unlikely as long as the cat's litter box is changed daily.





Finally, since oocysts are transmitted by ingestion, in order to contract toxoplasmosis, a woman would have to make contact with contaminated feces in the litter box and then, without washing her hands, touch her mouth or otherwise transmit the contaminated fecal matter to her digestive system."





http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/pregna...
Reply:The chances are relatively low of you contracting toxoplasmosis from your cats, though it's best not to take unnecessary chances.





If and when you become pregnant, you can request that your ob/gyn perform a test to see if you've already been exposed to the bacteria (many people have been exposed to it in the routine course of their lives, especially if they have lived with cats).





If you have been exposed to it already, then your body will have developed antibodies to it and you don't have to worry about it. If the test indicates you've never been exposed to it, you'll need to stay well away from the cat litter until after you give birth.
Reply:The doctor told me (when I was pregnant last year) that I was not to touch the cat litter at all. My cats stay indoors and are clean and healty but he said that it did not matter. I wasn't allowed to touch it at all. I would suggest that you avoid it as well. Better to be safe than sorry, agree?
Reply:have your cats tested for it, if they come up negative you won't get it.





Otherwise, they can be treated for it.
Reply:There is a chance of developing it and U should NOT touch the litter or keep it in a room where U spend a lot of time.
Reply:You are at more risk from eating undercooked beef, and outdoor gardening, than from your healthy indoor cats. The safest thing would be to have someone else scoop while you're pregnant (it's spread from feces), but simple good hygiene goes a long way. Disposable gloves, and hand washing, would prevent any type of infection. Discuss this with your vet who can tell you how your cats can be tested for this, and also explain what this disease is and how it can be passed. This is something that the vet is probably better informed about than your ob/gyn. You yourself can also be tested to see if you have already been exposed to this, and have antibodies in your system already.





There are so many other things to worry about when pregnant, and your cats needn't be one of them. Good luck to you!
Reply:Toxoplasmosis is passed in the feces. Many human doctors tell their pregnant patients they have to get rid of their cats. This is NOT the case. As long as you do not touch the feces, you have no chance of contracting toxoplasmosis. Many people have already had toxoplasmosis in their lifetimes. It can cause little to no symptoms in some people, while others will experience flu like symptoms. If you are the only one who takes care of the litterbox, there are ways to minimize your exposure. You can get a mask and rubber gloves to wear while you are cleaning the litterbox. There is also a box out that has a screen in it that sits on the bottom of the pan and when the cat goes, you just lift the screen up and all the litter falls through, while holding the excrement for easy disposal. I believe that once you are out of the first trimester, the danger is much lower, but you would have to confirm that with your OB. But please don't let your OB tell you that you have to get rid of your cat. I saw many cat owners give up their cats because the OB scared them so badly.
Reply:Usually there is a bigger risk with outdoor cats, but just to be safe, stay away from the litterbox when you get pregnant.

adult teeth