Toxoplasmosis worries

ultraviolet · Feb 27th, 2010, 11:31 AM

I am 21 weeks pregnant and stressing out about possible toxoplasmosis infection. Very early on in my pregnancy (without knowing!) I adopted two kittens from a rescue centre. They are being kept as house cats and we have their litter set up in a different room which my boyfriend changes (I try to get him to do it everyday but its a battle!) the cats jump on the kitchen counters and are constantly sitting on our sofa, I try to keep everywhere hygenic by washing the surfaces before preparing food etc but cant help worrying! My doctor was quite dismissive when I asked him about my concerns but my midwife gave me a blood test for it at the beginning of february. My next appointment with her is nearly a month away and I can't get through to her on her contact number to ask about the results (she's pretty unreachable, ive been trying for weeks!).

Am I overreacting?

**Vickie** · Feb 27th, 2010, 11:35 AM

the chances of getting toxoplasmosis from your cats is very very slim. It's great that your BF changes the litter for you (it is recommended that someone else do it or if you have to to change it with gloves and wash your hands immediately afterward). TMI here but you'd literally have to eat the infected cat poop to get it

rosie5637 · Feb 27th, 2010, 11:46 AM

i think if the tests had come back positive and you did have it then your midwife would've been straight on the phone to you. i wouldn't worry too much.

i was reading something on it earlier that said 80% of the population are actually immune to it so you'd be very unlucky for it to affect you.

ultraviolet · Feb 27th, 2010, 12:07 PM

Yes I suppose I am being a little over-dramatic as usual! I was even considering giving up my kitties but the thought made me cry! I'll just try stop worrying for now

**Vickie** · Feb 27th, 2010, 12:08 PM

I have two cats, had them throughout my pregnancy, and the only thing we changed was my husband always emptied the cat tray

petitpas · Feb 27th, 2010, 18:20 PM

Half the UK population has cats and they do fine. I agree that your midwife would have been straight on the phone had there been a problem with your bloods!

Emx · Feb 27th, 2010, 18:28 PM

If you have owned cats at some point previously in your life the chances are you have already been exposed to it and have built up an immunity.... if they came from rescue the chances are they would also have been wormed properly too xx

x-amy-x · Feb 27th, 2010, 18:31 PM

There is no need to give up your cats. The chances of you catching it (assuming you havent already contracted it at some point in your life) are slim. Don't stress, all will be fine, just take precautions xx

Lilaala · Feb 27th, 2010, 18:45 PM

Cats get Toxoplasmosis from eating infected birds or mice.

Yours are indoor cats so no worries there!! If you're still concerned just wear gloves to change the litter and wash your hands properly afterward, or keep getting your man to do it.

You can also get Toxoplasmosis from the dirt in your garden (outdoor cats poop outside) and from undercooked meat or unwashed veggies! I wouldn't be worried about your kitties at all hun! How lovely of you to give them a home

~RedLily~ · Feb 27th, 2010, 19:01 PM

you really shouldnt worry about it the chance of getting it is soo slim. let your bf empty the cat tray or wash your hands very thoroughly and spray the work tops before preparing any food and you'll be fine.

Feb 27th, 2010, 11:31 AM	#1
ultraviolet Pregnant (Expecting) New BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 6	Toxoplasmosis worries I am 21 weeks pregnant and stressing out about possible toxoplasmosis infection. Very early on in my pregnancy (without knowing!) I adopted two kittens from a rescue centre. They are being kept as house cats and we have their litter set up in a different room which my boyfriend changes (I try to get him to do it everyday but its a battle!) the cats jump on the kitchen counters and are constantly sitting on our sofa, I try to keep everywhere hygenic by washing the surfaces before preparing food etc but cant help worrying! My doctor was quite dismissive when I asked him about my concerns but my midwife gave me a blood test for it at the beginning of february. My next appointment with her is nearly a month away and I can't get through to her on her contact number to ask about the results (she's pretty unreachable, ive been trying for weeks!). Am I overreacting?

Status: Offline

Feb 27th, 2010, 11:35 AM	#2
Vickie Mum (Mom) Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 75,702	the chances of getting toxoplasmosis from your cats is very very slim. It's great that your BF changes the litter for you (it is recommended that someone else do it or if you have to to change it with gloves and wash your hands immediately afterward). TMI here but you'd literally have to eat the infected cat poop to get it

Status: Online

Feb 27th, 2010, 11:46 AM	#3
rosie5637 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: UK Posts: 695	i think if the tests had come back positive and you did have it then your midwife would've been straight on the phone to you. i wouldn't worry too much. i was reading something on it earlier that said 80% of the population are actually immune to it so you'd be very unlucky for it to affect you.

Status: Offline

Feb 27th, 2010, 12:07 PM	#4
ultraviolet Pregnant (Expecting) New BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 6	Yes I suppose I am being a little over-dramatic as usual! I was even considering giving up my kitties but the thought made me cry! I'll just try stop worrying for now

Status: Offline

Feb 27th, 2010, 12:08 PM	#5
Vickie Mum (Mom) Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 75,702	I have two cats, had them throughout my pregnancy, and the only thing we changed was my husband always emptied the cat tray

Status: Online

Feb 27th, 2010, 18:20 PM	#6
petitpas Other BnB Elite Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 11,606	Half the UK population has cats and they do fine. I agree that your midwife would have been straight on the phone had there been a problem with your bloods!

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Feb 27th, 2010, 18:28 PM	#7
Emx Other Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,678	If you have owned cats at some point previously in your life the chances are you have already been exposed to it and have built up an immunity.... if they came from rescue the chances are they would also have been wormed properly too xx

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Feb 27th, 2010, 18:31 PM	#8
x-amy-x Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Teesside, UK Posts: 13,812	There is no need to give up your cats. The chances of you catching it (assuming you havent already contracted it at some point in your life) are slim. Don't stress, all will be fine, just take precautions xx

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Feb 27th, 2010, 18:45 PM	#9
Lilaala Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 3,116	Cats get Toxoplasmosis from eating infected birds or mice. Yours are indoor cats so no worries there!! If you're still concerned just wear gloves to change the litter and wash your hands properly afterward, or keep getting your man to do it. You can also get Toxoplasmosis from the dirt in your garden (outdoor cats poop outside) and from undercooked meat or unwashed veggies! I wouldn't be worried about your kitties at all hun! How lovely of you to give them a home

Status: Offline

Feb 27th, 2010, 19:01 PM	#10
~RedLily~ Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 10,266	you really shouldnt worry about it the chance of getting it is soo slim. let your bf empty the cat tray or wash your hands very thoroughly and spray the work tops before preparing any food and you'll be fine.

Status: Online

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