Cat In The House

Cat in the house

You are pregnant and you have a cat in your house. Or even two cats. Then you have undoubtedly heard that cats carry diseases that are harmful to your baby. What to do? Should you get rid of your pet?

Most likely no. Since the cat has been living with you for a long time, there is a high probability that you would have already become infected with toxoplasmosis and have developed protection against this disease. It is believed that half of the American public (in other countries, such as France - 90%) is infected, and the rate of infection is greater among people who raise cats, who often eat raw meat or drink unpasteurized milk. If you weren't tested before pregnancy to check for immunity to the disease, you probably won't be tested now unless you show symptoms of the disease (although some doctors routinely test pregnant women who have been exposed to cats).

However, if you were tested before pregnancy and found a lack of resistance, or if you are not sure of your immunity, you need to take the following precautions to avoid infection:

Have your cat checked by a veterinarian to make sure they don't have an active infection. If there is an infection, it is advisable to give the cat temporarily to a shelter or ask friends to take care of the animal for at least six months - a period during which the infection can spread. If he does not have an infection, calmly keep the animal without giving him raw meat, not allowing him to catch mice except in the house, and not allowing him to hunt birds (which can infect them with toxoplasmosis) or hang out with other cats.

Do not clean the animal’s bedding area yourself, and if you have to, be sure to use gloves and wash your hands when finished. This area should be cleaned daily, as the germs that carry the disease become more contagious over time.

Wear gloves when working in the garden. Do not dig in the soil or allow children to play in sand, which may be contaminated with cat waste. Wash fruits and vegetables, especially those grown in home gardens, with dish soap (rinsing them thoroughly) and/or peel or cook them.

Do not eat raw or undercooked meat; A thermometer placed inside the meat after it comes out of the oven should read at least 140°F (60°C). In restaurants, order only well-done meat.

Some doctors prescribe testing before or immediately after fertilization for all women, so that those with a positive result can relax in the knowledge that they have resistance, while others with a negative result can take precautions to avoid infection. Other doctors believe that the cost of such studies will be greater than their results.