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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Pregnant with toxo, should I get rid of the cats

127 replies

apachepony · 17/07/2012 11:44

that's it really. Told this morning testing positive for toxoplasmosis. It's not the cats fault & upset to get rid o them but will we be able to look at them if we have a disabled child? In tears and feel so guilty especially as my family went on and on about the cats

OP posts:
Polyethyl · 17/07/2012 11:52

Have you been told when you caught toxo? Do have a reason to believe you caught it during your pregnancy. You could have caught it years ago, and been carrying the antibodies ever since, in which case there's no problem.

Floggingmolly · 17/07/2012 11:53

What stage of your pregnancy are you at? It has more serious repercussions in the last trimester, iirc. It can be treated though, hopefully they'll have caught it before it crossed the placenta.

Hope it all works out for you.

KatherineKavanagh · 17/07/2012 11:54

How many cats?

ColouringIn · 17/07/2012 11:55

Hello apachepony, yes - you could have had it for a long time and if so then there is no problem as it won't be the same repercussions as if you had only just caught it.

Original poster
apachepony · 17/07/2012 12:00

Two cats. Midwife just said it's not immunity - it's active, recent & I've it had a while. Seeing specialist tomorrow. Am 13 1/2 weeks. Don't know when they can test to see if passed to baby - understand from dr google that less chance of passing in first trimester but consequences more severe

OP posts:
hairylemon · 17/07/2012 12:01

You may have had it for a while. I personally couldn't get rid of them for something I have already got, whether its from them recently or not.

What are your family saying about the cats? plenty

hairylemon · 17/07/2012 12:03

Plenty of people get pg with cats and some even keep them when the baby is born Shock Wink

KatherineKavanagh · 17/07/2012 12:05

I would have to get rid of them. Personally. What does your partner think?

Original poster
apachepony · 17/07/2012 12:06

It will be the younger cat, he's a year old, went out for first time in last 6 months and rat hunts. This house designed so cat flap opens into kitchen and they used to walk over counters until we taped up flap when we found dead baby rat in kitchen. He lives me and gets lots of cuddles. Emotions all over the place, feel stupid

OP posts:
Ormiriathomimus · 17/07/2012 12:07

Presumably once you have it you have it. Is there any point in getting rid of them now? Hope it can be treated successfully.

Original poster
apachepony · 17/07/2012 12:08

Partner had them in box to got to the dspca, he rang me & I heard them crying in the background. I had to leave work in tears. When i next rang him he said he couldn't do it & he has just put them outside for now instead

OP posts:
FluffyJawsOfDoom · 17/07/2012 12:09

I have cats and no toxoplasmosis?? I don't see the need to get rid tbh, just steer clear of their poo and wash your hands religeously before eating/etc. Hope your consultant appointment goes well x

Tiago · 17/07/2012 12:10

You can test positive for toxo even if you caught it years ago. Given that you already have it, there is no point getting rid of your cats. Unless the doctors have spotted some signs, your DC is unlikely to be disabled. And it is not necessarily the case that you got it from the cats (especially as according to my vet infection is only a risk for a few weeks after cats start going outside) - you can get it from undercooked meat (that is why there is a higher incidence of infection on the continent), catch it when gardening, etc.

It sounds from your post that your family's opinion is what is influencing you here. Simply, your family was wrong to obsess about the cats. I am 24 weeks and have two cats, and I presume that you take normal precautions when dealing with the cats - e.g. wearing gloves/washing hands when dealing with their c**p.

Tiago · 17/07/2012 12:11

x-post

Even if it is recent, there is still no point getting rid of your cats now.

Polyethyl · 17/07/2012 12:12

Very sorry. It must be awful to be so stressed. Good luck with the specialist tomorrow. He'll tell you whether to keep the cats, he'll know better than us lot. My guess is that now you've got toxo there is no point in getting rid of cats you love. Good luck.

AmandinePoulain · 17/07/2012 12:13

A friend of dh's was positive for toxoplasmosis in early pregnancy (she lives in France where it's tested for routinely), she was treated as soon as it was found and she's now got a perfectly healthy 3yo. Why not see what your GP/MW recommend before taking such a drastic step? You might not even have caught it from the cats (dh's friend doesn't have any pets), and once you've had it you're immune anyway so what good will it do now?

KatherineKavanagh · 17/07/2012 12:14

I think op is thinking along the lines of how they would feel strong resentment towards them if the Baby is affected from this, rather than catching anything else.

hairylemon · 17/07/2012 12:15

Be vigilant with cleaning, washing hands etc as its more likely been caught from bits of poo than directly from cuddling the cat from what I understand. Cat will need checking out at vets aswell i imagine.

Could even be from another cat coming jnto your home via cat flap?

Trazzletoes · 17/07/2012 12:15

Ormiria and Hairy the OP isn't concerned about getting it again, she isn't sure how she can face the cats in future if DC is disabled as a result of toxo. Hope everything works out ok, OP. Perhaps it might be worth waiting until you know what the results are and then seeing how you feel. Hopefully it's a moot point and DC will be fine.

JugglingWithTangentialOranges · 17/07/2012 12:16

I think getting rid of your cats will probably just add to the upset you're feeling.
If you decide to find a new home for them later you can do that at any time.
Just hope things will work out well with your pregnancy x

Original poster
apachepony · 17/07/2012 12:19

One of the first things I asked was was it immunity - I know about immune antibodies - & she said no. I guess it could be a source other the youngest cat, but looking at the facts, I think it would be foolish to believe otherwise. Factually I know the damage has been done - that's what I told dh- but emotionally how can I cuddle him again. Dh says he only didn't take them away cos he felt sorry for older cat

OP posts:
bakingaddict · 17/07/2012 12:20

There are a number of tests that labs perform to verify a toxoplasmosis diagnosis which distinguishs between past or current infections. Some antibody tests determine immunity status while others show an active infection

What exactly did they say, have they put you on antibiotics for treatment? Advised you of potential problems re baby? If i've been told i've got toxoplasmosis in pregnancy then i'd look to re-home the cats

Biscuitbreaker · 17/07/2012 12:27

Have you been unwell? What made you get tested for toxoplasmosis? I'm just wondering if there is any possibility of it being a past infection.

hairylemon · 17/07/2012 12:29

If you do 'get rid' please try to get them in a no kill rescue instead of just taking them somewhere in a card board box on a whim. I don't think the rspca just take in unwanted animals from the public and if they did they would prob be pts

anotherteacher · 17/07/2012 12:37

You might have contracted it from the cats but you won't ever know for sure if it wasn't meat or salad leaves. Maybe wait and see if the infection may be treated without causing harm to baby? I hope it can and that you and your baby are healthy. Very best wishes.