Should pregnant women avoid litter box and cats?

During pregnancy, you need to watch not only what she eats or drinks, but also what she does.
Pregnant women who have a cat at home have probably heard that cat feces are dangerous for them. Indeed, cat litter with animal excrement poses a risk of infection with the prostitis Toxoplasma gondii, which causes the disease toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which reproduces only in cats. A woman who has recently become infected with Toxoplasma during or just before pregnancy can pass the infection to her unborn baby (congenital infection). The expectant mother may have no symptoms, but the consequences for the unborn baby, such as nervous system and eye diseases, can be serious.

How common is the disease?

The parasite is very common. According to the WHO, it is present in every country, but the number of people who have been infected by it varies greatly - from less than 10 to more than 90%. This is determined by the presence of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies in the blood, which indicates that this infection has ever been present in the body.

This prevalence makes toxoplasmosis one of the most clinically significant foodborne illnesses in pregnant women.

The disease itself, toxoplasmosis, usually occurs easily in a healthy person, often even unnoticeably. But it poses a particular danger to women during pregnancy, as it can be transmitted to the child, as well as to people and cats with weakened immune systems, which can even be fatal.

Who is the FDA in the US and why does everyone listen to them?

Everything is very simple (it’s a pity that everything is not so simple with us). I copy the explanation from Wikipedia: “An agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the federal executive departments. The department controls the quality of food products, medicines, cosmetics, tobacco products and some other categories of goods, and also monitors compliance with legislation and standards in this area.”

According to the FDA's classification of the effects of drugs on the fetus, budesonide (tafen nasal) is in category B, which means that there is evidence that the drug is safe to use during pregnancy. At the same time, the bioavailability of budesonide is 33%. This drug has moved from group C to group B, thanks to several high-quality studies in Sweden since the beginning of the 21st century, which have proven its safety.

Also, according to modern recommendations of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology (AAAAI), ICS are considered safe and effective in the treatment of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis during pregnancy. But there is no indication of specific drugs. Other competent medical associations also do not provide any recommendations regarding the choice of drug. Therefore, summing up all of the above, and also according to the latest review, mometasone, fluticasone, budesonide can be considered as safe and effective agents in the treatment of RB. It should also be noted that an experienced ENT doctor should prescribe the drug and manage the patient, since these drugs are sold without a prescription in the Russian Federation; We strongly recommend not to self-medicate.

Why do cats increase the risk of infection?

There are two main ways toxoplasma enters the human body - through the meat of infected animals and from cats.

The first is to consume undercooked meat from infected animals (especially pork, lamb), in the tissues of which cysts of the parasite were present, as well as shellfish (oysters, mussels, etc.). And according to one American study, this happens in up to 50% of infections.

The second route of infection is associated with cats and poor hygiene. The fact is that T. gondii is capable of infecting almost all warm-blooded animals, but domestic cats and their relatives (family Felidae) are the only known hosts in which the parasite can undergo sexual reproduction.

Therefore, cats are carriers of Toxoplasma. They become infected by eating infected rodents, birds or other small animals that act as intermediate hosts. The microscopic oocysts (enclosed fertilized eggs) of the parasite are then released in the cat's feces.

Kittens and cats shed large numbers of oocysts in their feces for only 1-3 weeks after infection. But there can be a lot of them in the stool, which makes the tray a source of infection.5

As a result, Toxoplasma can be transmitted from a cat to a person by:

accidental ingestion of oocysts or anything they come into contact with after cleaning a litter box containing feces from an infected cat;
contact with contaminated soil (for example, not washing your hands after gardening or eating unwashed fruits or vegetables from a flower bed) where the cat defecated;
drinking water contaminated with the parasite.3

Therefore, during the period of bearing a child, it is better to entrust the change of cat litter to someone close to you, since there is a possibility of infection from animal feces. You also need to follow hygiene rules and not eat undercooked meat.

Routes of transmission of Toxoplasma

And grandma said...

As soon as a woman announces that she is expecting a child, she is bombarded with hundreds of instructions, teachings and advice. Particularly pleasing are arguments in the manner of: “my grandmother did it, my mother did it, I did it, and everything was fine.” As for pets, relatives usually categorically state that a four-legged animal and an unborn child should not live in the same house. If your family has different laws, rejoice, but do not forget about precautions.

So, drum roll, signs, superstitions and scares associated with cats:

A pregnant woman should not pet a cat because the baby will be born hairy - no comment.

The expectant mother should not play with the cat or pick it up, otherwise she will make enemies of the child ... also without comment, if the “great minds” did not mean street cats affected by worms.

A woman should not trip over the cat, kick it or stroke it with her feet, otherwise there will be complications during childbirth. There is really no need to trip over your pet, as this will harm the pet. You shouldn't kick a cat either... but as for stroking it - many pregnant women praise their purrs because they settle down on their legs, which eliminates the feeling of heaviness.

A tricolor cat protects pregnancy - if you sincerely believe in omens, protect your “turtle” with all your might. It is believed that if a calico cat leaves home pregnant, the child will not survive. According to the same sign, the tricolor cannot be driven away if it came and asked to come into the house.

A cat can strangle a newborn baby out of jealousy - such cases have occurred, but they did not happen because of jealousy, but because the cat tried to warm the child and lay on him. For safety reasons, the pet should be isolated from the baby during sleep until the child learns to roll over confidently.

This is interesting! According to a very ancient superstition, in order for a baby to sleep well and soundly, you need to first put a cat in his cradle.

There is also an opposite sign - a pregnant woman should shelter an abandoned kitten or cat. It is especially important that the animal is street, that is, not purchased, otherwise the superstition will not “work.” A similar sign suggests that if a family cannot have a child for a long time, they need to shelter a street kitten or puppy. The logic is very simple, the expectant mother is worried about what “is not working out” and is in a state of stress. The body, understanding the danger of stress, does not want to “accept a new life” and everything spins like a wheel. An obvious example is childless couples who took a baby from an orphanage, and after a short period of time found out that they themselves were expecting a child.

Important! If you decide to “use” your pregnancy in order to have a long-awaited kitten, you need to understand that a street animal may be unhealthy or infected with parasites. Act smart!

Toxoplasmosis and risks for pregnant women

The Toxoplasma parasite can persist for a long time in humans (and other animals), perhaps even for a lifetime. However, infected people most often do not notice any signs, since the immune system of a healthy person usually prevents the parasite from causing illness. However, women expecting a baby and people with compromised immune systems should exercise special caution - infection with Toxoplasma can cause serious health problems.

For women who have not previously had a toxoplasma infection (and have not developed immunity to toxoplasmosis), exposure to this parasite immediately before or during pregnancy can result in infection of the fetus. If you have already been infected before, as evidenced by the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma in the blood, then the immune system will prevent the disease. Therefore, primary infection with Toxoplasma during pregnancy poses a danger to the unborn child.

Primary infection with Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women occurs worldwide with an incidence of 0.1 to 1%. In approximately 40% of cases, the unborn child becomes infected. Babies with congenital toxoplasmosis are then largely asymptomatic immediately after birth, but long-term studies show that 85% develop complications, including chorioretinitis, leading to severe visual impairment, hearing loss or mental retardation.

The severity of the child's illness is inversely proportional to the gestational age at which the mother becomes infected. That is, the later a pregnant woman acquires the infection, the less consequences it will have for the child.

Is it possible for a pregnant woman to clean a cat's litter box?

Pregnancy is an important process in a woman’s life. During this period, mother and child have maximum contact and interaction. Any disease that a pregnant woman suffers is transmitted to the fetus. If the mother can still recover and have no consequences, then for the child this is often a disastrous process. Beloved pets are the first carrier or source of infection for their owners, especially when the animal is not cared for. The appearance of worms and other parasites in a cat can cause human illness.

During pregnancy, a woman is very vulnerable, so doctors recommend generally limiting contact with pets, and especially not changing their litter tray.

Is it possible to keep a cat at home during pregnancy?

The sudden realization of the harm that cat feces can cause can make you question the very presence of a pet in your home. Perhaps your child just wants to get a cat at the same time that you are planning a pregnancy. Therefore, the question arises, is it possible to keep a cat at home at this time? Yes, you can keep an animal, however there are several precautions you should take to avoid exposure to Toxoplasma gondii, including the following:

Make sure your cat litter is changed daily. The Toxoplasma parasite in feces must mature immediately, so it is not infectious for 1-5 days after it enters the cat's feces.
Avoid replacing your cat's litter box yourself if possible. If no one is available to perform this task, put on disposable gloves and then wash your hands with soap and water.
Keep the animal indoors as long as possible. This is because cats become infected with Toxoplasma by hunting and eating rodents, birds or other small animals infected with the parasite.
Do not touch or take stray animals (especially kittens) into your home. While you are expecting a baby, do not get a new cat.
Feed cats only canned or dried store-bought foods, or well-cooked homemade foods, rather than raw or undercooked meat.6
If you live in a private home with a backyard or outdoor garden where your cat likes to play, it is important to prevent her from exposing other cats and their feces to prevent her from becoming infected.

The danger of toxoplasmosis for humans

Unfortunately, in humans, Toxoplasma is especially prone to attack the nervous system and brain. Foci of destruction that arise in the brain are then surrounded by a fibrous capsule and calcified. In the future, these lesions can cause disruption of the normal functioning of the central nervous system.

For pregnant women, infection with toxoplasmosis is dangerous due to the fact that toxoplasma that penetrates the placenta to the fetus can cause serious disturbances in its development. The most severe consequences of infection occur in the first trimester of pregnancy, but most often it ends in miscarriage and rarely in the birth of a child with significant developmental disorders.

Doctors often suggest that a pregnant woman get rid of her cat in order to prevent infection and the birth of a child with pathologies. How justified is this?

Ideas about toxoplasmosis and the role of animals in its transmission are often erroneous not only among ordinary people, but even among specialists - doctors and veterinarians. Incorrect information about this invasion often leads to “toxoplasmophobia” - a panicky fear of pets.

Some statistics

: From studies by American and Hungarian statisticians, it follows that only 0.5-1% of pregnant women in the USA and Europe are infected with toxoplasmosis, and only 40% of them pass it on to the fetus. And only a small part of infected fruits show obvious signs of the disease. And in almost all cases, the cause of infection was undercooked meat.

How not to separate from your cat and not get sick?

Is it possible to protect yourself and maintain a good relationship with a cat without parting with your pet during pregnancy? Can! Veterinarians at the RosVet VC remind that a pregnant woman needs to:

thoroughly wash vegetables, fruits and berries, even from your own garden;
do not dig in the ground without gloves (cats can leave feces with oocysts there);
do not pick up or eat food with dirty hands;
do not clean the cat litter, leaving the “honorable mission” to other family members. If there is no one, the feces are removed with a spatula, hands are in gloves and then they are washed thoroughly.

You can take your cat to an appointment with a veterinary infectious disease specialist (parasitologist), conduct a full examination and make sure that the pet is not sick. But even if she has toxoplasmosis, following basic hygiene rules will help you maintain your health and not part with your pet.

If you want to conduct a full examination of your cat, call the RosVet VC by phone: +7 (495) 256-11-11. Appointments with a veterinary infectious disease specialist (parasitologist) are available 24 hours a day. You shouldn’t succumb to general hysteria and part with your cat; most “pregnant scares” are based on ignorance and lack of basic knowledge about cat diseases and the route of their transmission to humans.

What diseases can a cat transmit to humans?

Most often, cats transmit the following diseases:

ringworm;
helminthiases;
toxoplasmosis;
cat scratch disease.

In cats, ringworm is usually detected at the stage when bald patches have already appeared. At this point, the expectant mother may already be infected. The disease is often transmitted to children after childbirth. This is not the most dangerous form, however, in some cases, in the presence of background pathologies, due to increased load on internal organs, there is a risk of developmental abnormalities in the fetus.

Helminthiasis is an infection with worms. Even domestic cats can have parasites. Animals often become infected after eating raw meat. Sometimes the owners themselves bring worm larvae from the street on their soles. In most cases, helminthiasis does not threaten the health of the mother and child, but the drugs used to treat the disease are toxic. In addition, with severe infection, many decay products enter the bloodstream and poisoning occurs.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease. It can either occur in the form of a mild respiratory infection or cause developmental abnormalities in the child. Infection of the fetus in the first trimester often leads to miscarriage. In later stages, premature birth is often observed. It is difficult to distinguish toxoplasmosis from ARVI on your own, so if the temperature rises to +37.2 °C or higher, enlarged lymph nodes and headaches and muscle pain appear, you should consult a doctor.

In the case of cat scratch disease, infection occurs through scratches and bites. Pathology appears in the form of a red spot 3–10 days after injury. After 2–3 weeks, the lymph nodes enlarge. Mild malaise and muscle pain may occur. Sometimes the disease leads to fetal hypoxia, and even less often - to the threat of premature birth. Fortunately, in most cases the pathology is mild.

The spots may be raised, but usually do not cause discomfort

Precautionary measures

To avoid infection, follow these rules:

Pet only domestic cats. It is strongly recommended to avoid contact with other animals.
Keep your cat dewormed and vaccinated on time to reduce the risk of your cat becoming infected.
Do not feed your pet raw meat, eggs or milk.
Don't let your cat go outside.
Ask other family members to clean out litter trays.

A cat is not only a cute pet, but also a dangerous predator and a potential carrier of diseases. A pregnant woman is responsible for two lives at once: her own and her child. For this reason, it is better to refrain from contact with street animals, and to carefully treat your pets for parasites and regularly vaccinate them.

What to do if a pregnant cat has fleas?

Removing fleas is usually not a problem - there are a lot of remedies for this problem on sale. But what to do if the cat is pregnant, because chemistry can have a negative impact on future offspring?

In this case, you can treat the animal’s fur with Frontline spray; it has no contraindications such as pregnancy. The main thing is to follow the instructions and not let the cat lick itself until it dries out. However, to be on the safe side, it is best to consult a veterinarian before using any antiparasitic drug.

Psychologist's opinion

In addition, any psychologist will confirm that an animal in the house always has a beneficial effect on the child’s psyche. Children growing up in families where there is an animal are more socially adapted than those who did not communicate with our smaller brothers. It’s not for nothing that animal-assisted therapy—the treatment of certain diseases through contact with animals—is becoming increasingly popular in the West.

Instead of dragging your child to a psychologist, it is better to give him a cat or dog. At the same time, the future member of society will also learn responsibility, which will be very useful to him in adult life.

Topics immunity pregnancy

Diagnostics

It can be quite difficult to understand that an animal has toxoplasmosis. Why?

When infected with Toxoplasma, the body develops a response from the immune system. Therefore, the circulation (reproduction, movement and damage of new cells) of Toxoplasma in the body is limited in time. When re-infected under the influence of immunity, Toxoplasma no longer forms cysts in the intestines. As a result, Toxoplasma affects the cells of internal organs and becomes “blocked” in them. This condition can persist throughout life without external manifestation.

If the initial infection of healthy animals causes minor symptoms, then subsequent infections occur without them at all.

Symptoms of toxoplasmosis appear when the cat's body is weakened and the immune response develops very slowly or does not develop at all.

It is also difficult to determine toxoplasmosis in cats because in early manifestations of the disease, fecal analysis for toxoplasma cysts may not yet reveal infection.

How can you find out if a cat has toxoplasmosis?

In large cities, veterinary clinics perform immunological tests for toxoplasmosis on animals. That is, such an analysis cannot be done everywhere.

The symptoms of toxoplasmosis are so nonspecific that cats are often diagnosed with toxoplasmosis even though they are suffering from another disease with similar clinical signs. You cannot make a diagnosis without laboratory tests(!).