https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:45:27 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1267141 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 18:51:06 +0000 PurplePeony 1267141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Add me to the list of ladies who had to scoop the box when my DH was traveling and did the disposable gloves-dust mask-wash REALLY well thing. I wasn't that worried because our cat hasn't been outside since we got him over 6 years ago and the only things he's ever killed are moths and flies. But I did take as many precautions as I could just in case, and everything is fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1267089 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:41:24 +0000 avivoca 1267089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two cats, and for a couple of months I had litter duty while my husband traveled. I wore rubber gloves, a dust mask, and washed my hands and gloves well when I was done with the litter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1267083 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:38:15 +0000 GrapeCrush 1267083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have cats and I didn't worry. DH changed the litter </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1267035 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 16:54:24 +0000 blackbird 1267035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have two indoor cats. Used gloves and a mask when I cleaned their box. </p> <p>Did not worry about it at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1267003 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 16:09:57 +0000 lemondrop 1267003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's really simple to request a toxo titer for your cat from your vet. Then you'll have your answer and not have to worry. I know there was someone on here with a toxo positive cat some time ago, and we do see it from time to time in practice.</p> <p>I've worked in many situations with some less than healthy cats for the past 15 years, and for what it's worth, my toxo titer has been 0 for both pregnancies. I've always practiced good hygiene around litter and washed up well after handling it. Frankly, my husband sucks at cleaning out the litter boxes, so we tested our cats and I clean the boxes and wash my hands. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266956 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 15:12:18 +0000 lilteacherbee 1266956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Exact same answer as @Pepper!</p> <p>We have 2 indoor cats and they've always stayed inside. My husband changed the litter and I'm still letting him do it at 3 weeks pp ;) I never really worried too much about it (and that's saying a lot because I had lots of crazy anxiety during my pregnancy). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266951 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 15:09:09 +0000 heartonastring 1266951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't worry about it. It's really not much of a concern at all if you have an indoor cat, as cats contract it, mainly, from eating animals they hunt and kill. I used disposable plastic gloves when I did the litter and washed my hands afterward. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266946 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 15:06:14 +0000 BeachMama 1266946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eh, I have a cat. My husband changed the litter when I was pregnant (and still does!) I wouldn't worry about it too much, especially if it's indoors. You can drive yourself crazy with all the things you're not supposed to do/eat. Try not to obsess about them too much =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266876 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 13:39:14 +0000 bookwormmama 1266876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I obsessed about it at first, but I think it was a little crazy to be worried. Our cat has lived in doors the whole time he has lived with us, but he did stay at my parents' house for a few months before we moved to our current place and he would occasionally go outside. Even if he had gotten toxoplasmosis during that time period he wouldn't have it anymore and we would all likely be immune to it (according to my husband who did tons of research to try to calm my fears). I don't really worry much about it anymore because according to one vet assistant you would have to eat cat poop with toxoplasma on it (within a 2 days of your cat pooping it out since it dies after that) to get the disease and even then it is not guaranteed your baby would get it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266875 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 13:38:34 +0000 Pepper 1266875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 2 cats, and they were here while I was pregnant. They're indoor cats and my husband cleaned the litter boxes throughout my pregnancy. He was so used to doing it, that he still cleans them now that LO is here. Yay for me, haha ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266852 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 13:07:52 +0000 KT326 1266852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never worried because our kitties are strictly indoors. If they were outside at all then I might be a little more cautious. But I did use it as an excuse to get out of litter box duties :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266840 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 12:57:36 +0000 Mae 1266840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two cats and I've never worried at all. My husband cleans the litter box. I'm not the sort of person who is kissy all over them. And they are indoor only anyways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266832 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 12:51:25 +0000 ZombieBullfrogHoller 1266832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did and didn't worry at all. I still was the primary liter changer. Since contraction is strictly fecal to oral I just made sure to wash my hands. Kitty is an indoor cat her entire life, has never caught a rodent or eaten raw meat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266829 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 12:47:18 +0000 MsLipGloss 1266829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two kitties--they're both indoor kitties. Hubs took over litter box duties (haha - doody-ies!) and I washed my hands a lot. Everything was just fine. There were a few times I had to do litter (because hubs was travelling), but I wore gloves, washed my hands before and after, and changed my clothes afterward. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266828 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 12:46:25 +0000 littlek 1266828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Claire.Peonies: are you pregnant? I missed your announcement. Congrats!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266805 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 12:22:03 +0000 mrsjazz 1266805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did worry, I didn't hang out with the cats as much and I never handled their litter while pregnant. My cat ended up getting sick and the doctor mentioned toxoplasmosis (luckily she didn't have it) and I was FREAKING OUT. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266803 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 12:19:10 +0000 cmomma17 1266803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Claire.Peonies: I was! Indoor cat and hubby did the litter duties. I worried a little, washed my hands a ton and everything turned out fine. Congrats on your pregnancy :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cat-during-pregnancy#post-1266801 Sat, 07 Dec 2013 12:16:51 +0000 Claire.Peonies 1266801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone owned a cat during pregnancy before and worried about toxoplasmosis? I am probably over-reacting, but it has crossed my mind. My husband is cleaning the litter box regularly, and he is an indoor cat only, but I am still obsessing about this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-216645 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:22:33 +0000 LuLu Mom 216645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck, I'll be thinking about you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-216549 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:38:05 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 216549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So was the IgG negative? Well, at any rate, that is fast turn around, but I'll be worrying with you nonetheless! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-216437 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:02:09 +0000 mrsjyw 216437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>thinking of you, hoping for good results~ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-215625 Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:36:12 +0000 littlebug 215625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: I guess it can present with flu-like symptoms, but it's kind of rare. The effects can vary, anywhere from nothing at all, to miscarriage, to neurological defects. If positive, they'll continue ultrasounds to monitor for developmental issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-215610 Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:24:55 +0000 MrsBrewer 215610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@eiko2010: Good luck, I hope the test results come back negative!</p> <p>So since you do have some sort of infection, can you feel it? Are there any physical symptoms or can this only be detected through blood work? What are the possible side effects to the baby? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-215595 Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:05:42 +0000 littlebug 215595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi girls! So the appointment went ok. Ultrasound looks good so far, so that's encouraging. After the ultrasound I met with the high-risk OB to discuss everything. There are two markers for toxoplasmosis - IgG and IgM. IgG typically indicates an older infection, where as IgM indicates a newer infection, and positive IgM is what raises the red flag, and also what I have. So further bloodwork is being sent out to the lab in Palo Alto that specializes in toxo. If the results are negative, nothing to worry about. If positive, there is a treatment (antibiotics, I think) that I can take to help (but not completely) prevent passing the infection to the baby. I should get the results in a week, which is way faster than I expected.</p> <p>The ultrasound tech took a bunch of pictures and one of them was of the baby's hand extended so you could see all 5 fingers. The tech typed "Hi Mom" underneath the picture. I think she's saying "Hi, Mom! Doin ok in here! Don't worry about me!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-211633 Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:31:07 +0000 sslm 211633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope everything works out ok!!! Sending positive vibes your way :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-211554 Thu, 05 Jul 2012 12:36:07 +0000 mrsjyw 211554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@eiko2010: positive juju and thoughts your way; i hope everything turns out ok~ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-211458 Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:47:32 +0000 littlebug 211458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I remember correctly, she was writing out the script for all the initial blood work (rh testing, anemia, etc). There were like 12 things on the script. Then she asked if we had a cat, I said yes, and she added the toxo screen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-211456 Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:44:57 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 211456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Was there a reason they screened you? Was it because you mentioned the cat's issues? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-211450 Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:40:27 +0000 littlebug 211450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: We got our cat in February, and one week later she had the infection in her eye. Like I said, we got her treated and everything. I would imagine if I were exposed to it, that would be when. Although I did grow up with a cat who went outside all the time. So it's hard to say. I got pregnant in April. </p> <p>I'm trying not to over-diagnose with Dr. Google. But it definitely has me worried. Hopefully these results from the lab in CA won't take too long to get back! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/positive-toxoplasmosis#post-211423 Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:19:23 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 211423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Get your confirmatory testing before reading too much or getting too worked up about this. If the IgG was positive and the IgM was negative, it is far different than if the IgM was positive and the IgG was negative. There are also lots of false positives with the serological testing. Maybe it's because you had a past recent infection? I'll keep my fingers crossed and will try to provide you links to reputable information sources if it comes to more than that!<br /> Hugs! </p>