Pregnancy is a delicate time when it comes to the risks of catching diseases, not because it is more likely, but because catching the virus or parasites can be dangerous for the baby that is developing.
One of the most feared diseases is toxoplasmosis, and that is why in the first analysis it is checked whether the woman has antibodies against the disease (that is, if she has had it at some other time in her life), then if so, I could relax in that sense.
Now, if the analysis is negative and the woman has not had the disease, she must adopt a series of precautions to avoid getting infected, and that is when cats are in the spotlight: how do these animals transmit the disease ? What do I do if I am pregnant and I have a cat? Is it harmful for the pregnant woman to be in contact with these animals?
We clarify all the doubts about toxoplasmosis, pregnancy and the role that cats play.
“I have a cat and I am pregnant, what do I do?”
Unfortunately, there is still the false myth that being in contact with cats during pregnancy is very dangerous, as they can transmit the dreaded toxoplasmosis disease. This leads many women to really question whether they should get rid of their pet when they become pregnant; not in vain, the question that this article titles is one of the most asked in Google searches.
But when an animal becomes part of a family , whether it is a cat or any other kind of pet, the logical, normal and desirable thing is that it is well cared for, has its health card up to date and all the necessary attention, food and care you need.
If this is the case, – and despite the fact that, indeed, an infected cat could transmit the disease to humans, being very serious if this occurs in pregnancy -, the risks of contagion would be practically zero , and we will explain why.
How can a cat spread toxoplasmosis?
First of all, we want to make it clear that the cat as such cannot infect us with toxoplasmosis , so it is safe to pet them and live with them during pregnancy. In the event that the animal is infected, humans can be infected through their feces, so it is when cleaning their litter box when we have to be especially careful.
The ‘toxoplasma gondii’ is a parasite that we can find in the earth, in poorly washed fruits and vegetables, in contaminated water and in meat for consumption that is not properly cooked.
This parasite is capable of living within the cells of humans and certain animals , especially cats and farm animals such as sheep, pigs or goats, hence the association between cats and toxoplasmosis.
When the parasite infects a cat, it has an incubation period of between three and 20 days , depending on how the parasite has been ingested. After this incubation time, and for a period of one month, the cat will release the toxoplasma oocysts in its feces .
Oocysts are the immature eggs of toxoplasma gondii . When released in an immature state, they do not show infectious capacity for the next 24-48 hours . Hence, even if the cat’s feces were contaminated, if its litter box is cleaned several times a day, it is impossible for the oocysts to become contagious, as it would not give time for them to mature.
It is also important to note that although the cat can become infected with toxoplasmosis several times throughout its life, it will only release the parasite through its feces once .
Thus, several circumstances have to be combined so that a cat can infect us with toxoplasmosis :
- First, that our domestic cat goes outside, hunts animals contaminated with the parasite and feeds after them.
- It is also essential that it is the first time in its life that the cat is infected with toxoplasmosis, because if it has already had the infection in the past, its feces will not contaminate again.
- And finally, it is necessary that the contaminated cat feces remain in its litter box for between one and two days without being collected.
Therefore, if you have a cat that does not leave the house and feeds on feed or canned pet food, you clean its litter box frequently using gloves and then wash your hands with soap and water, it is practically impossible for your cat to become infected. and in turn I infect you with the parasite .
In any case, if you feel calmer, you can take the prevention measures against this disease even more extreme by asking someone else to take care of cleaning the sandbox. Likewise, it is important not to offer your cat raw or undercooked meat, and if you have a garden with sand, do not handle it or clean it yourself.
A bad reputation they don’t deserve
Toxoplasmosis is a very serious disease if contracted during pregnancy , as the parasite crosses the placenta and can cause serious damage to the baby’s brain and eyes, hearing loss, learning disabilities, and even death.
For all this, it is one of the great concerns of pregnant women, and it is essential to take extreme measures to avoid its contagion, the main route of entry being the consumption of meat, fruits and vegetables contaminated with the parasite.
Therefore, and although infected cats play an important role as transmitters of the disease to humans , it is rare for this to happen, especially if we follow the recommendations mentioned above.
Cats are wonderful animals and several studies have shown the benefits of living with them during pregnancy and childhood, but like any other animal, we must ensure good living conditions, taking care of their diet and preventing them from leaving home to that neither they nor we run any risk.
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In Babies and More | Tips for a safe diet in pregnancy, Toxoplasmosis and listeriosis: precautions to take during pregnancy
