Question & Answer with Dr. Moses

Q: I’m pregnant.  Do I have to get rid of my cat?

A: No. You’ve probably heard that cat feces is a major source of toxoplasmosis, but that doesn’t mean you need to get rid of your beloved pet. You’ll want to take some extra precautions, though. Here’s the scoop on how cats can become infected and transmit the infection.
The cat is the only primary host for the parasite, and it reproduces in their intestines. A cat may become infected with toxoplasmosis from eating infected prey or undercooked meat, or by drinking unpasteurized milk or contaminated water. The parasites then form “oocysts” in the cat’s gut, and the cat excretes millions of these oocysts daily for up to three weeks. (Oocysts can’t be seen with the naked eye, and in most cases you’ll have no idea that your cat is sick.) The oocysts become infectious 24 hours or so after they’re excreted. Under the right conditions, they can live in the soil, sand, or litter and remain infectious for up to 18 months. During this time, they spread, contaminating water, fruits, and vegetables, and infecting warm-blooded species, including humans, that come in contact with them and ingest them.
So while it’s possible to get infected with toxoplasma oocytes from direct contact with cat feces (such as handling the litter of a newly infected cat), you can also be exposed to oocytes elsewhere – while gardening, eating unwashed vegetables, or drinking contaminated water, for instance.
Fortunately, the number of women who contract the infection during pregnancy is still relatively small, and not all of them transmit it to their babies. The good news is there’s a lot you can do to avoid becoming infected in the first place.
Precautions:
Do not eat raw meat
Have someone else change cat litter box daily
Do not feed raw meat to cats
Wash vegetables well to remove any contaminated soil
Wash hands after handling cats and raw meat

For more information on Toxoplasmosis,
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