Why Can’t Pregnant Women Change Cat Litter
If you’re pregnant and have a cat, you may be wondering if there are any special precautions that need to be taken. Cats don’t just do their business in the litter box. They also spray it all over your house! And yes, this is an actual thing that happens. So what can you do to protect yourself from becoming infected with toxoplasmosis? It may surprise you to learn that one way of being exposed is through changing the cat’s litter box or gardening outdoors near people who allow their cats outside unsupervised (or even those who don’t have cats at all).
Toxoplasmosis, a bacterial infection caused by an intracellular parasite, can be fatal for unborn babies.
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a single-cell parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The disease is usually harmless for adults and can be easily treated with medication, but it poses a serious risk to unborn babies. If you’re pregnant and you’ve had contact with cat feces or other sources of the parasite, there’s a chance that your baby will be born with congenital toxoplasmosis.
The effects of this birth defect can include:
- Seizures
- Blindness
- Mental retardation
The parasite is found in undercooked meat, inadequately washed vegetables and fruits, and even in the soil.
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It’s most common in people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women, but it can infect anyone. The parasite is found in undercooked meat, inadequately washed vegetables and fruits, and even in the soil.
Feces from infected animals are thought to be a major source of exposure to the parasite.
Cat feces are thought to be a major source of exposure to T. gondii. Cats are the most common carriers of this parasite, which can shed in their feces for up to two weeks after infection. The parasite can be transmitted to humans by eating undercooked meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables that were contaminated with cat litter or soil containing infected cat feces. Toxoplasma gondii is also known as “crazy cat lady syndrome.”
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered that humans can also be exposed to Toxoplasma gondii by inhaling air contaminated with the parasite.
In addition to being spread by eating undercooked meat and vegetables, Toxoplasma gondii is also found in cat feces. Cats are known as carriers of the parasite, which can be expelled through their urine or feces—and they may also become infected after eating mice carrying the parasite.
Because it’s so contagious, pregnant women are advised not to change litter boxes during their pregnancies.
Cats are carriers of T. gondii and shed millions of oocysts — the form of the parasite that is shed in feces — each time they defecate.
Cats are the primary host for T. gondii, which is shed in their feces. Each time a cat defecates, millions of oocysts — the form of the parasite that is shed in feces and found in cat litter — are released into their environment. These oocysts can be found on horizontal surfaces such as floors, countertops, bedding or even carpeting where they may be ingested by humans or other animals.
Oocysts are not killed by freezing or cooking; therefore they must be removed from all foods prior to consumption.
The wind-borne route of transmission is significant because it explains why some people who don’t have cats are infected with T. gondii and how a person can acquire this infection from litter boxes indoors as well as outdoors.
The wind-borne route of transmission is significant because it explains why some people who don’t have cats are infected with T. gondii and how a person can acquire this infection from litter boxes indoors as well as outdoors. Cats shed millions of oocysts every day in their feces; the wind carries these microscopic cysts outside and into the environment, where they can be ingested by other animals (e.g., rodents) or humans. Ingesting oocysts may not even require direct contact with cat feces: soil that contains oocyst-contaminated cat waste has been shown to harbor infective stages of Toxoplasma that can be inhaled by humans through inhalation or ingestion via food preparation utensils or unwashed hands.
If you don’t have a cat but you garden or live near someone who does allow their cats outdoors, you may want to consider wearing gloves while gardening or taking other precautions to protect yourself from infections.
If you don’t have a cat but you garden or live near someone who does allow their cats outdoors, you may want to consider wearing gloves while gardening or taking other precautions to protect yourself from infections.
Wear gloves when handling soil and plants, especially if you’re pregnant.
Wear a mask when doing any kind of strenuous work outdoors and do not breathe through your nose. This can help prevent breathing in the bacteria that causes toxoplasmosis from getting into your lungs.
Wash hands with soap and warm water after handling soil or plants (especially before eating). Make sure children wash their hands too!
Avoid gardening when it’s windy outside because this helps prevent getting dirt blown onto the clothes of people who might be infected with toxoplasmosis parasites without knowing it—which could lead to transmission through subsequent contact with others’ clothes as well!
Protect yourself!
In addition to the precautions you should take while pregnant, consider these tips for protecting yourself and your baby from toxoplasmosis:
- Wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly after handling cat litter.
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat. Meat can be contaminated with T. gondii oocysts if it was handled by someone with infected hands who didn’t wash them before handling the meat.
- Wash fruits and vegetables before consuming them, as they may also become contaminated with animal feces during growth processes, such as irrigation or fertilization.* Avoid drinking water from streams or rivers that may be contaminated with animal feces, especially if you know there are cats nearby (or any other animals that shed parasites).
In conclusion, pregnant women should be aware of the dangers associated with Toxoplasmosis. By taking proper precautions to avoid contact with cat litter, a pregnant woman can significantly reduce her risk of acquiring this infection.
