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The truth about pregnancy, cat litter and feline feces
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Before dismissing the idea that cat feces in litter boxes causes toxoplasmosis; read on to discover the truth about pregnancy, cat litter and cat feces and find out how to reduce the risks while pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite called toxoplasma gondii. It is not passed from person to person however it can be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn child and have moderate to severe consequences depending upon the mother’s immune system.
Unfortunately the symptoms of toxoplasmosis include flu-like symptoms like fever, fatigue and sore throat making it difficult to diagnose without a blood test. The effect of the disease could lead to issues like miscarriage, preterm labor, stillborn birth and/or abnormal size of a newborns head.
According to the experts at the Department of Health and Human Services, reducing the risk of exposure to Toxoplasma is as simple as following the important guidelines listed below while pregnant.
- Avoid changing cat litter if possible. If no one else can perform the task, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.
- Change the litter box daily. The Toxoplasma parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is shed in a cat's feces.
- Feed your cat commercial dry or canned food, not raw or undercooked meats.
- Keep cats indoors. Felines can contract the parasite from rodents while outside the home.
- Avoid stray cats, especially kittens. Do not get a new cat while you are pregnant.
- Keep outdoor sandboxes covered. This limits chances of other animals leaving contaminated feces within the sandbox.
- Wear gloves when gardening and during contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma. Wash hands thoroughly after gardening or contact with soil or sand.
The good news is that toxoplasmosis is treatable in pregnant women and newborns with a prescription from a medical professional; however the parasites may remain within the tissues in a less active phase due to the fact their location makes it difficult for the medication to completely wipe them out.
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