Q & A: Toxoplasmosis and Pregnancy
By Dr. Kim Everson, DVM
Question: I recently learned I am pregnant. I heard there is a disease I can get from my cat’s litter box that is dangerous to my unborn baby. Do I need to find a new home for my cat?
Answer: First, congratulations on your upcoming family addition! While it is important to take extra precautions during pregnancy, you and your baby should be able to enjoy a safe relationship with your cat for years to come.
When people think of house cats posing a risk to pregnant women they are usually thinking about toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, a microscopic organism that can infect a person if accidentally eaten. Most people who become infected do not even realize it, but some may experience “flu-like” symptoms with swollen lymph nodes and chronic aches and pains. People with weakened immune systems may have more serious symptoms. A baby exposed in the womb may have no symptoms at birth but may later develop blindness or intellectual disabilities.
Cats can become infected with T. gondii by hunting and eating mice, birds and other small animals. The parasite is passed in the cat’s feces. If a person cleans the cat’s litter box and then inadvertently touches her mouth before washing her hands she may become infected as well.
When there is an expectant mother in the home, someone else should be responsible for cleaning the litter box during the pregnancy. If this is not possible, the pregnant woman should wear gloves and wash her hands thoroughly after handling the litter box. Cleaning the box every day significantly reduces exposure as well because it takes several days for T. gondii to become infectious after being passed. Interestingly, cats only pass T. gondii for a limited time after being exposed themselves, so if you have an indoor only cat who never catches a mouse in your house, your risk of Toxoplasmosis from him is small.
While feline litter boxes are often assumed to be a major cause of Toxoplasmosis, most people worldwide get infected from other sources. These sources include gardening in infected soil, eating contaminated fruits and vegetables that are not washed or peeled, eating undercooked meat or handling meat-contaminated surfaces, and drinking contaminated water (mostly while traveling in less developed countries). Good sanitation practices are never more important than for pregnant women, so get used to washing your hands regularly, preparing food properly and avoiding undercooked meat.
Like people, cats that have been infected with T. gondii may show no symptoms at all initially. With time some cats develop blindness, respiratory, gastrointestinal or neurologic disease. A specific blood test can show if a cat has been exposed to T. gondii and may respond to rigorous antibiotic therapy.
While cat litter boxes are indeed a potential source for toxoplasmosis in pregnant women, it is unnecessary to get rid of kitty during this special time. A few simple precautions and some good old-fashioned common sense can preserve the human-animal bond as well as public health!
Originally printed in Pet Journal, March 2013