Cat urine and human pregnancy?

As already posted, I am trying desperately to find homes for the two street kittens I rescued. One family are considering it, but say they are worried because they are contemplating another pregnancy, and have heard that something in cat urine can affect the development of a human foetus. I had cats during pregnancy as did many friends, and also of course many TCS members. Has anyone heard of this or could give it a name so I can search for it?

I'd be interested in this as well because my nextdoor neighbours a few week pregnant.

I know they have to be careful with their poops but my neighbour won't be touching their litter trays at all.

Oh i hope they take them on Jenny!, but then a part of me worries that it might be too much for them if they do have kids and decide that they can't cope with the kitts as well?!.

Does that make sense?!

There is a condition that can be picked up from kitties litter boxes (is it toxoplasmosis??) but there's also a simple solution - pregnant women stay away from kittie litter boxes! I have had friends who have had perfectly normal healthy babies whilst being cat owners, and they also got off litter duty for 9 months or more!

Yes, I mentioned toxoplamosis to the prospective owners, but that is a parasite and rare in indoor cats. So as long as I make sure these two are healthy when they go that should not be a problem. He seemed to think it was a chemical thing, and that I have never heard of!

Originally Posted by Purity

There is a condition that can be picked up from kitties litter boxes (is it toxoplasmosis??) but there's also a simple solution - pregnant women stay away from kittie litter boxes! I have had friends who have had perfectly normal healthy babies whilst being cat owners, and they also got off litter duty for 9 months or more!

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it is also very rare - media loves to hype things up and create fear. Fear leads to people spending more.

There is a simple preventative. Wash your hands before AND after you go to the bathroom!

i have never heard of it.
I only know that women should not clean litter boxes while pregnant, but im sure that many have and nothing has happened to the fetus

Jenny,

I know I've been retired from being a high risk labor and delivery nurse for 10 years now, but I did quite a bit of antepartum nursing as part of my job, and worked with a lot of pre-termers with various conditions. I have never, ever heard of anything except toxoplasmosis.

I had also been warned by "well-meaning" people about the terrible disease I could pass to my unborn baby through my beautiful cat. How I also should get rid of her as she was Siamese and very attached to me and would be jealous of the baby, etc., etc. Well, there was no way I was going to part with her and she was so gentle and tolerant of our daughter that most people would not believe it. She always lay on my lap while I was breastfeeding and never felt left out.

My family doctor said he wished people would not pass all these horror stories on to pregnant women. He said my body would have any antibodies associated with my cats and that the only thing he would suggest is have my husband change the litter instead of me while I was pregnant.

Sometimes we are inundated with "too much information" from well-meaning folks when we get pregnant and often they are old wives' tales.

I do believe in erring on the side of caution and would suggest having the husband do the litter but other than that I believe my doctor when he says there should be no problems.

I had also been warned by "well-meaning" people about the terrible disease I could pass to my unborn baby through my beautiful cat. How I also should get rid of her as she was Siamese and very attached to me and would be jealous of the baby, etc., etc. Well, there was no way I was going to part with her and she was so gentle and tolerant of our daughter that most people would not believe it. She always lay on my lap while I was breastfeeding and never felt left out.

My family doctor said he wished people would not pass all these horror stories on to pregnant women. He said my body would have any antibodies associated with my cats and that the only thing he would suggest is have my husband change the litter instead of me while I was pregnant.

Sometimes we are inundated with "too much information" from well-meaning folks when we get pregnant and often they are old wives' tales.

Ditto, Ditto and Ditto!!

I was pregnant (many moons ago) in a small apartment with "4" cats. Never had a problem with the pregnancy nor the cats I even cleaned the litter boxes wearing rubber gloves (just in case). A bit off-topic but one of my adult females was practically "hatching" my baby by trying to sleep on my large belly all through my pregnancy...she must have sensed life & became very maternal...they are so brilliant

I agree with everyone-I've only heard that pregnant ladies should not have any contact with the litter boxes.

Originally Posted by leesali

I had also been warned by "well-meaning" people about the terrible disease I could pass to my unborn baby through my beautiful cat. How I also should get rid of her as she was Siamese and very attached to me and would be jealous of the baby, etc., etc. Well, there was no way I was going to part with her and she was so gentle and tolerant of our daughter that most people would not believe it. She always lay on my lap while I was breastfeeding and never felt left out.

My family doctor said he wished people would not pass all these horror stories on to pregnant women. He said my body would have any antibodies associated with my cats and that the only thing he would suggest is have my husband change the litter instead of me while I was pregnant.

Sometimes we are inundated with "too much information" from well-meaning folks when we get pregnant and often they are old wives' tales.

Ditto, Ditto and Ditto!!

I was pregnant (many moons ago) in a small apartment with "4" cats. Never had a problem with the pregnancy nor the cats

I even cleaned the litter boxes wearing rubber gloves (just in case). A bit off-topic but one of my adult females was practically "hatching" my baby by trying to sleep on my large belly all through my pregnancy...she must have sensed life & became very maternal...they are so brilliant

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Furthermore, toxoplasmosis comes from contact with contaminated cat feces, not urine. All that's needed is to avoid contact with the litterbox during pregnancy. And whoever does clean the litterbox to wash hands after doing it.

this may sound random..but if someone absolutely (who was pregnant) had to scoop a litter box..what about wearing one of the masks that doctors/dentists wear?? i dont know what they are specifically called! lol but they just cover your nose/mouth?? would that be of any help? or pointless?? im not preg. just thought about it though!

Yes it would help, inhalation of oocysts from the infected stool is one concern, so a mask would help, as well as wearing rubber gloves.

Thanks everyone. I have downloaded some stuff too and I will take it to them. Keep everything crossed!

Isn't it more or less "standard" nowadays to test pregnant women for prior exposure to toxoplasmosis, i.e., antibodies? Or is that only done if they own cats?
The last time I was hospitalized, one "roommate", an elderly woman who was an avid gardener, had a severe case of toxoplasmosis. She had incredibly swollen lymph nodes, some of which were so huge they had to be surgically removed. So handling raw vegetables without thoroughly washing your hands afterwards can be just as dangerous as cleaning litter boxes.

That is a good if scary thought!

Originally Posted by jcat

Isn't it more or less "standard" nowadays to test pregnant women for prior exposure to toxoplasmosis, i.e., antibodies? Or is that only done if they own cats?
The last time I was hospitalized, one "roommate", an elderly woman who was an avid gardener, had a severe case of toxoplasmosis. She had incredibly swollen lymph nodes, some of which were so huge they had to be surgically removed. So handling raw vegetables without thoroughly washing your hands afterwards can be just as dangerous as cleaning litter boxes.

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They were as of 10 years ago when I was still a l&d nurse Good point btw, pregnant women who garden need to be very careful as well.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

Yes it would help, inhalation of oocysts from the infected stool is one concern, so a mask would help, as well as wearing rubber gloves.

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This is what my pregnant friend was told to do since her husband is deployed. She has to change it so he told her to use a mask and rubber gloves and she should be just fine.