Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy is one of the main reasons people get rid of their cat. Working for an animal shelter, one of the most frustrating times is when an expectant mother or father leaves their family cat because they are expecting a newborn baby. They fear that having a cat will expose the fetus to toxoplasmosis.
What is toxoplasmosis?
This is a fairly common disease that can be shared between humans and animals. About 30-40 of adult humans and cats have antibodies that indicate they were exposed to the organism that causes toxoplasmosis. The disease, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is a parasite that can only reproduce in one host: cats.
The most common way that your cat can become infected with T. gondii is by eating a bird or rodent that has cysts in its body tissue. Once your cat eats an infected creature, they begin to reproduce in the lining of your cat’s intestines or stomach. The cells produce two reactions in your cat.
The immune system kicks in and blocks some of the cysts in your cat’s muscles and nerve tissue. Eventually, this helps your cat develop and become immune to the disease. The other reaction is that non-infectious oocysts are shed in your cat’s feces.
As your cat builds up her immunity, those oocysts build up in your child’s litter box, garden, or litter box. In about 5 days these oocysts sporulate and become infectious. These oocysts can survive in the environment for months or even years.
How does it get infected
Scientists believe that cats and humans get this disease when they eat cysts of tissue embedded in undercooked meat. Your cat can eat a chipmunk or bird, but you can make it eat undercooked pork or lamb. T. gondii can infect any warm-blooded animal.
There is another way to get infected. A person can come into contact with old feces. Remember, it takes 5 days for oocysts to sporulate and become infectious. Where do you find old cat poop?
You can find it in your litter box if you don’t clean it daily. You can also find it in your garden and children’s sandbox. You or your children are looking into this and you may unknowingly touch your mouth and become infected. The only way you, your fetus, or your family can become infected is by ingesting sporulated Toxoplasma gondii oocysts.
Tips for a healthy pregnancy and keeping your cat, too
1. Wear gloves when handling raw meat. It was his hands and the surfaces that the raw meat touched.
2. Wear gloves when gardening and wash your hands afterwards.
3. Seriously consider getting rid of the backyard litter box.
4. Wash fresh produce
5. Don’t drink raw goat’s milk
6. Clean your litter box daily
7. If you are in charge of cleaning the litter box, wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards.
Now you know that you don’t have to get rid of the cat if you get pregnant! Just use common sense and wash your hands often. It’s not rocket science, but it helps you and your family avoid all kinds of infections, not just being pregnant and preventing toxoplasmosis.
