Is it safe to clean a cat litter box while pregnant?
You can change your cat’s litter box safely while you’re pregnant, but it’s better to have someone else do this chore if possible. The concern here is toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can be transmitted through cat poop (such as in kitty litter or outdoor soil where cats have defecated).
How do you clean litter box while pregnant?
Pregnant women who clean the litter box should wear gloves and a mask, and thoroughly wash their hands when finished….
- Have someone who is healthy and not pregnant change the cat’s litter box daily.
- Wash hands with soap and water after any exposure to soil, sand, raw meat, or unwashed vegetables.
What happens if you touched cat poop while pregnant?
Toxoplasmosis is an infection you can get from eating undercooked meat or touching cat poop. Most times, there are no symptoms so you may not know that you have toxoplasmosis. If you get toxoplasmosis just before or during pregnancy, you may pass it to your baby.
How does cat poop affect the fetus?
Pregnant women can transmit toxoplasmosis, a rare parasitic disease, to their unborn babies, and a toxoplasmosis infection can lead to miscarriage or cause malformed babies.
Do indoor cats have toxoplasmosis?
It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur. In addition, cats kept indoors (that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat) are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasma.
What percentage of house cats have toxoplasmosis?
It is considered that greater than 40% of humans and 30% of cats have been exposed to Toxoplasmosis and would have a positive antibody test.
Can indoor cats carry toxoplasmosis?
What are the dangers of cat litter and pregnancy?
If possible,a pregnant woman should not change the cat litter box and should avoid contact with cat feces.
Is it safe to change cat litter during pregnancy?
Most doctors advise you not to change the cat litter, and for a very good reason. The biggest risk with cats is not the cat litter itself but getting infected with toxoplasmosis, which affects the pregnant woman and can be transmitted to the fetus.
Can you change your cats litter box while pregnant?
Still, taking precautions to avoid exposure to potential toxoplasmosis in the cat litter is a good idea for any pregnant woman. If possible, a pregnant woman should not change the cat litter box and should avoid contact with cat feces. Ideally, another household member should change the cat litter box.
Can You scoop cat litter when pregnant?
Scooping the cat litter may be gross to you, but it’s an easy way to help your wife feel safer and alleviate some of her stress during the pregnancy. Also, my hips went all wonky pretty early in pregnancy (start of the second trimester), and bending down to scoop the literboxes would have hurt.