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- Mar 31, 2010
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I recently found out that I'm expecting, which is a minor miracle since we've been trying to conceive for years and I am now in my early 40's. The thing is, we have 9 cats, and we've all heard the stories and read the warning labels on cat litter about pregnant women and cat feces. This is my first pregnancy and since I am likely to have complications due to my age alone, I'd like to explore all other risk factors. My goal is to carry this child to full term and give birth to a happy healthy baby. I've done my research about this but still have some questions and am not quite sure where to go to ask them. I figured that alot of people on here probably have large feline families like me and surely some of you have been pregnant/had children while living with that many cats, and maybe someone can help.
So what I do know is that cat feces can carry a parasite known as toxoplasmosis which can cause major problems in unborn children and infants, even miscarriage. Most of the time there are no symptoms in cats or humans. Cats get the parasite from eating a rodent that has the parasite or from playing in soil (nobody says why exactly soil is a risk, but I assume it's because animals that have the parasite may have defecated in it?). Everything I've read says that indoor-only cats rarely come in contact with it, unless they are fed raw or undercooked meat (humans can get it this way also). I've also read that a woman who already has the parasite prior to conception of a child will not pass it to her child because her immune system is already familiar with it and will protect the baby (similar to a vaccine, in a way).
Of my 9 cats, one was indoor/outdoor prior to my taking him in 7 or 8 months ago, and (much to his disappointment) he has been indoor only since. 2 have escaped and gotten outside for no more than a day, both about 2-3 years ago. The rest either came to me as young kittens, barely weaned, or were born in my house (a litter that resulted from the above mentioned escape), and have never even seen the outside except for in a kennel on the way to the vet. They live on a diet of commercial canned food and kibble, the only time they've ever eaten real meat is from my plate when I eat. I know it is plausible that if my ex-indoor/outdoor cat had it, he might have spread it to the others.
All of my cats have eaten off my plates and silverware, drank from my cups, one has even eaten directly out of my mouth at times. I know that's not exactly hygenic, but for a very long time I had accepted that my cats were the only children I would ever have and I treated them as such. Also, I was the one who changed the litter boxes up until a few weeks ago. So if any of my cats have it, there is a very good chance that I have already been exposed, therefore, my unborn child isn't at risk.
I am just wondering, how common is this parasite? Does anyone know? I've read that it's very uncommon and that there is greater risk of getting it from store-bought meat and produce that hasn't been washed or cooked thouroughly. But obviously it must be an issue if there are warnings right on bags of litter, am I right? Does anyone out there really know? I've read too many horror stories to just let this go.
So what I do know is that cat feces can carry a parasite known as toxoplasmosis which can cause major problems in unborn children and infants, even miscarriage. Most of the time there are no symptoms in cats or humans. Cats get the parasite from eating a rodent that has the parasite or from playing in soil (nobody says why exactly soil is a risk, but I assume it's because animals that have the parasite may have defecated in it?). Everything I've read says that indoor-only cats rarely come in contact with it, unless they are fed raw or undercooked meat (humans can get it this way also). I've also read that a woman who already has the parasite prior to conception of a child will not pass it to her child because her immune system is already familiar with it and will protect the baby (similar to a vaccine, in a way).
Of my 9 cats, one was indoor/outdoor prior to my taking him in 7 or 8 months ago, and (much to his disappointment) he has been indoor only since. 2 have escaped and gotten outside for no more than a day, both about 2-3 years ago. The rest either came to me as young kittens, barely weaned, or were born in my house (a litter that resulted from the above mentioned escape), and have never even seen the outside except for in a kennel on the way to the vet. They live on a diet of commercial canned food and kibble, the only time they've ever eaten real meat is from my plate when I eat. I know it is plausible that if my ex-indoor/outdoor cat had it, he might have spread it to the others.
All of my cats have eaten off my plates and silverware, drank from my cups, one has even eaten directly out of my mouth at times. I know that's not exactly hygenic, but for a very long time I had accepted that my cats were the only children I would ever have and I treated them as such. Also, I was the one who changed the litter boxes up until a few weeks ago. So if any of my cats have it, there is a very good chance that I have already been exposed, therefore, my unborn child isn't at risk.
I am just wondering, how common is this parasite? Does anyone know? I've read that it's very uncommon and that there is greater risk of getting it from store-bought meat and produce that hasn't been washed or cooked thouroughly. But obviously it must be an issue if there are warnings right on bags of litter, am I right? Does anyone out there really know? I've read too many horror stories to just let this go.