Actual risks of toxoplasmosis when...

[1Catherine1]

I have 2 cats and a good intentioned lazy boyfriend. I have been clearing out cat litter for the past 4 years but stopped when I got pregnant because I read that it was bad for the baby due to the chance of catching toxoplasmosis.

My problem now lies with the issue of how clean the box is kept while my boyfriend is managing it. Now I know many people will think I should take it up with him and get him to sort it but I know him, he'll do 18 hour shifts a day to buy me anything I want. He'll go out at midnight and drive 40minutes to get me something but getting him to clean the cat litter box more than once a week is never going to happen.

My boyfriend apparently has no sense of smell and while mine is substantially better than his I know my 2 girls sense of smell is even better so letting them suffer for the next 7 months makes me feel a tad guilty.

So I was wondering if anyone knows exactly how risky is it to do the daily cleaning of the box (partner will still made to do the weekly clean) if I wear disposable latex gloves while doing it and wash my hands immediately afterwards? I'm assuming since its still safe to have a cat while pregnant it cant be air-born.

I have also read it is possible to be tested for the antibodies for toxoplasmosis but is this realistic on the NHS? My booking appointment with my midwife isn't until next week.

I think you'd be fine if you did that and were very very careful to not touch your face, body, clothes or anything else while doing it.

I just wear gloves, am careful and wash afterwards to do gardening and we have lots of neighbourhood cats using our garden as a litter tray!

I think it's fine if you wear gloves and wash your hands.

Wear gloves and wash your hands. The chances are if you've had cats for the past 4years and you've been doing the litter tray, you've probably already been exposed in which case it's not an issue anyway.

Some contries test your amunity when PG but in the UK they woun't do it unless you work with animmals.

Most people have been previously exposed as MigGril says, whether its from your cats or playing in dirt as a child or even gardening.

I emptied the litter tray while pregnant this time as we'd just got a kitten when I found out I was pregnant. He wasn't going out a lot so I suppose it wasn't that high risk but I just emptied it using gloves and washed hands afterwards. I personally think that is safer than having dirty litter around all the time as Cats are more likely to have walked in something and then come and sit on you.

You can get a blood test from the GP (I did it) to see if you have already had it. You may well of, in which case you don't need to worry. Otherwise I think you would be fine with disposible latex gloves and washing hands etc.

I bet you've already been exposed - most cat owners have, particularly as you've always been the one to do the tray. But even if you haven't, if you wear gloves and wash your hands very thoroughly straight afterwards with soap (scrub under your nails) the risk is minimal. Make sure your cats are treated for fleas and worms very regularly too.

I was told by our vet that I wasn't at risk at all, because my cat never goes outside. Didn't tell DH this, though, as I quite fancied a few months off cat poo duty!

I thought it was fine if you had been doing it before as you were already exposed to it, it would just be someone that wasnt exposed to cats that would be at risk

I've got cats and have been tested, unfortunatly I'm not immune, so do have to be careful.

I read that if you wear latex gloves as you say, then thoroughly wash, you should be fine. I'd just avoid cleaning it out totally.. we do ours twice a week but sift for mess twice a day. Could you tell him that because of the risk it should be cleaned out at least twice a week and sifted at least once a day as cats will walk poo everywhere if not?

You are lucky your cats will go in if full of poo, mine refuse and wait until it's clean, then fight over whose turn it is to use it!

I use tray liners (from our local pet shop) so the actual tray doesn't get poo on it, and have gloves and a little poo scoop, so I'm not actually touching anything, and then do a very thorough hand wash after - my midwife says this is fine.

Wow, I find the liners worse and gave up on them, my cats scratch through them! Lucky you!

Hello,
I had cats (who were out every night scrabbling around in the countryside) for years but still wasn't immune. Here in Brussels they test all pregnant women for toxoplasmosis as it's so prevalent, and most Belgian women are actually immune. I was convinced I'd be immune too but for whatever reason I've never contracted it.

Anyway I would think it would be far better to clean out the tray regularly yourself (obviously being extremely careful about hygiene and handwashing, as you suggest) than letting the cat poo lie around and potentially be tracked around the house - presumably that would pose a much greater risk.

But obviously if you can get tested that would be the best solution, as if you are immune you can relax!

A friend of mine contracted toxoplasmosis while pregnant and it certainly wasn't a barrel of laughs for her (fortunately child was OK) so I always think it's best to err on the side of caution.

Thanks for all the replies. Has put my mind at rest since I can now live in a house that doesn't smell without worrying that I could be damaging my baby. I'm seeing my midwife on Wednesday so I'll ask about the test anyway to be on the safe side.

@ Tarlia, my girls also rip through the standard liners that they sell in the supermarket and at pet shops but a fantastic alternative that I've found is the "Catsan Smartpack". They're a tad expensive but it makes the full clean a breeze. Simply lift out the bag (which seems to be made out of the similar stuff as cheap nappies) rinse the tray with water and disinfectant, dry and put in a new smart pack. I tend to add a bit more litter too since there's not quite enough for the large trays my girls use.

I've had cats all my life, some with and some without litter trays. Plus I never used to garden with gloves, and never washed fruit and veg, so I was quite surprised when I learnt that I wasn't immune to toxoplasmosis. We live in France so I have to have a blood test every month to check that I've not contracted it - am feeling a bit like a pin cushion now!
My DH is on litter tray duty at the moment, but he is a bit lax, so I have done it, wearing gloves and then washing my hands straight after. I'm disinclined to use the tray liners as I'm really trying to cut down on the amount of plastics we use, but that's just my little project at the mo .