We often get somewhat frantic or upset owners asking this question in the clinic.  It is a great topic to discuss and share some facts around the safety of household cats during pregnancy. 

The kitty cat themselves is not the problem, but rather the risk of contracting a disease called Toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma is a parasite which uses cats and rodents as part of its reproductive lifecycle and in this process, there is the potential for humans and other mammals to become infected.  The parasite or its eggs can be found in a wide variety of places including:

• Soil;

• Unwashed fruits and vegetables;

• Raw or undercooked meat;

• Unpasteurised dairy products;

• Cat’s faeces;

• Contaminated water.

Many people have been exposed or have a dormant infection of Toxoplasma in their system that never causes an issue. However, if a woman becomes infected for the first time while they are pregnant, it can cause significant harm to the unborn baby. 

Therefore, managing risk factors and gathering information is important during this time. Understanding your status early in pregnancy is important and can be done by requesting a blood test from your GP.

If you have previously been exposed there are no further risks in relation to Toxoplasma, only infection for the first time during pregnancy is a concern. If you have not been exposed then considering testing your cat is a good idea, your vet can help with this.

If your cat has been infected, then they are protected and cannot be re-infected and a risk to you.  If the cat is negative, and has not been infected, then they are a risk and there are some steps to adopt to reduce the risk of them contracting Toxoplasma. These steps include avoiding feeding any raw meat (or ensuring it’s frozen for a minimum of three days) and stopping them from hunting rodents or wildlife. 

To reduce the risk of infection at any time, but especially during pregnancy, ensuring these protections are in place will help to keep you safe. These strategies include:

• Don’t adopt a new kitten whilst pregnant or trying to conceive so that they don’t bring the disease into the house.

• Ensure the litter tray is cleaned of faeces daily as it takes several days for the eggs to mature. 

• Ideally, as the woman, avoid cleaning the tray completely or wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterwards.

• Wear a mask when gardening and turning over soils as well as gloves.

• Wash fruit and vegetables well, especially homegrown ones.

• Do not handle raw red meat as it can be infected or if unavoidable, wear gloves and wash hands afterwards.

• Practise good hand hygiene always.

While this might seem like a lot, they are simple steps to keep you safe and certainly do not require you to say goodbye to your feline friend.  Spending some time with your vet and or GP to understand the risks, make decisions about appropriate testing and then adopt a plan that is appropriate for your situation can lead to great outcomes and a happy household for all.  We are always happy to assist with further questions and are available through our Barossa Vet website.