Toxoplasmosis

[Clementinedam]

Hello, I am worried about toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. I am not immune and 24 week pregnant. I have a cat that goes outside and eat raw meat. He doesn't use a litter because he is always outside. I don't know where he poo. I never came across any poo or smell in our garden. When my cat is back home, I would pet him and he would stay on my knees. While reading the recommendation, I read that as soon as you don't clean the litter you are fine but now I am reading that the oocytes can spread from the feeces to the fur and stick to the fur up to one year and contamine you this way!! I probably will not be testing because it only detect possibility of transmission for the last 3 weeks but I think that I will be worried all my life if my child is safe. From now on, I will stop petting my cat. I was wondering, if you still test not immune after your pregnancy does that mean that you didn't contract the diseases and that your child is born safe?? I would prefer not to have to do the more intrusive tests...

Thanks for reading and for your comments.

[stephkp]

Hi.

When you say that your cat eats raw meat, do you mean from hunting mice/ birds or do you mean you feed your cat raw meat? You dont need to stop stroking your cat. You catch it for infected faeces not from stroking them. If worried wash your hands after interacting with them. Also if you suddenly stop showing affection to your cat you could end up with behavioural issues. If you go out and do gardening make sure you wear waterproof protective gloves, and thoroughly wash your hands. If unsure where your cat goes to the toilet, maybe avoid gardening. Don’t allow your cat to lick bowls, or cooking utensils used by people. Thoroughly wash your hands before eating/drinking. Wash all fruit and veg thoroughly before eating to remove any soil. Only eat well done meat. don’t drink unpasteurised goats milk. Are your cats up to date with their flea/ worming treatments? The risks of contracting toxo during pregnancy are low and most doctors don’t test routinely unless you are classed as high risk (working in the veterinary profession, farmers etc). If you are concerned you could request a blood test after your baby is born. You also need to stay away from lambing ewes. It is something to be aware of but I wouldn’t let it make you anxious. Once your little once is a bit older wash their hands if they’ve got dirty after playing in soil or at the park. If you plan to get or have a sand pit, make sure to keep it covered so the cats can’t use it as a litter box. The website Tommy’s has a lot of info and advice about it so maybe give that a look as well. Hope this helped x

[Clementinedam in reply to stephkp]

Many thanks for your feedback. It is now clearer. I also just ask my veterinary to check if my cat could be immune and if we can test him for that. I wasn't too anxious but then a friend which is French and know that I am always petting my cat told me that in France they are testing every women every months and that I should be extra careful. The GP and midwife don't seems too concerned here.

[Clementinedam in reply to Clementinedam]

My cat is getting raw meat from hunting mice.

[stephkp in reply to Clementinedam]

France have a significantly higher infection rate than we do, so they have reason to be concerned and to test as frequently as they do. As long as you wash your hands regularly and ask your partner to clean up any faeces, or any dead mice your cat might bring in, you should be fine x

[triplecats]

Hi there, I understand you're concerned but saying you will stop petting your cat is not the right thing to do, your cat will likely develop behavioural problems.

I have 4 children, ages range from 20 years old to 3 months old and we have 2 cats aged 15 and 7, my husband or elder children deal with the litter tray and we wash our hands after touching our cats. So long as you are not emptying a litter tray you shouldn't be too worried. Wash your hands after touching your cat. If you still feel like you can't show affection to your cat because of your fear then I would seriously think about rehoming your cat.

[Clementinedam in reply to triplecats]

Hi, I shall do I you suggest. wash my hands after petting my cat. I would never let my cat without affection and my husband is also petting him a lot. We care so much about him.