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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

pregnant with a cat?

24 replies

alittlehelp · 31/05/2014 09:19

Hi all,

I'm stressing about our cat a bit, even though my husband deals with the litter (she mostly goes outside anyway). I always wash hands after touching her, so I guess my worry comes from knowing she walks about outside where there are cat poos, tends to track in bits of soil (maybe with poo in it?!?), and then comes and sits on the sofa. Am I worrying about nothing? Do/did you take any extra precautions with your cat when pregnant? Husband thinks I'm being silly.

Thanks for any thoughts. I know rehoming the cat isn't the answer as if I wasn't worrying about her I'd be worrying about something else (it seems to be my natural state!), and she's part of the family.

ta xxx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

tinkerbellvspredator · 31/05/2014 09:22

This is my second pregnancy and I do nothing different with my cat except DH does the litter tray. I don't know anyone who washes their hands after stroking their cat

AntinousWild · 31/05/2014 09:24

ARF @ pregnant with a cat. Has a scan confirmed it or you using old wives' tails tales?

Seriously, don't change the litter yourself or wear gloves if you do. Guidelines on the NHS page. Chances are if you have a cat, you've had toxo. If not, it's highly unlikely you'll catch it. Good hygiene re cats and veg/salad.

ilovepowerhoop · 31/05/2014 09:25

Why shouldn’t I change the cat litter during pregnancy?

whereisthewitch · 31/05/2014 09:29

If it goes outside why do you use a litter tray? I have two cats who stay in all night and most of the day lazy bastards but they are trained to go outside.

Anyway, I never wash my hands after holding them kissing them and I have survived 2 pregnancies :)

Lanabelle · 31/05/2014 09:30

Calm down, Your risk of contact with toxoplasma is low, You know statistically the cat population is the lowest carrier of it, pregnant ewes much more common. Just keep doing what you are doing, wash hands before putting them in your mouth or preparing food etc, keep cat off worktops where food is prepared and wipe before using with an anitbac spray if you are really worried.

FoxSticks · 31/05/2014 09:36

I've also read that if you have a cat you have probably already had toxo. Try not to worry and enjoy not being on litter tray duty.

Original poster

alittlehelp · 31/05/2014 09:50

thanks very much for your replies. Hopefully not pregnant with an actual cat, I can't imagine claws are much fun during labour!

Will try to chill out. I know I haven't had toxo before (had a test) so will keep being cautious though.

We keep the litter tray because every couple of weeks she decides she doesn't fancy going outside and does a bunch of poos in there for some reason!

OP posts:

TightyMcTight · 31/05/2014 09:57

Is this your scan?!

ffallada · 31/05/2014 10:09

Lol. Pregnant with a cat! Cheered me up no end. Hopefully your actual baby won't be hairy.

Original poster

alittlehelp · 31/05/2014 10:17

that picture is going to give me nightmares!

OP posts:

whereisthewitch · 31/05/2014 10:30

If you get riddof the tray she wont have a choice, honestly every cat we've ever had, once they were spayed and outside I binned the tray and made sure they went out before bedtime and first thing in the morning.
Cats tend to not like defecating where they eat or sleep so it will force her outside to do it. The only time I've had to clean up cat poo was when my cats missed the tray as kittens or kicked it out.

squizita · 31/05/2014 11:02

Wear gloves and wash your hands after petting her.

TBH when we're walking about on the street or on a bus, and we touch something, who is to guarantee a cat/cat owner's not touched it 1st (apparently that's how many people get toxo already- 80% of us are immune) so if you just wash your hands before eating it should be fine. :)

TheBuggerlugs · 31/05/2014 12:50

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

QuietTiger · 31/05/2014 14:23

Try not to stress - the secret is good hygiene.

I say that as someone who is 10 weeks pg, has 10 cats (who live in the house with litter boxes but are indoor/outdoor), 6 dogs, 400 sheep - many of whom were lambing when I found out I was pg, and 200 cattle. :)

I haven't caught toxoplasmosis yet, but I DO follow really good hygiene precautions.

moggle · 31/05/2014 16:01

Also the only way you can catch toxo if your cat also has toxo for the first time- after the first time, like humans, they are immune and don't excrete the eggs in their poo. Finally, cat poo has to have been hanging around for a while (24hrs) for the eggs to appear. So really the chances are pretty small that all the right circumstances occur, especially if you are taking sensible precautions.
FWIW I have had 2 cats for 4 years, who have a litter tray that I scooped out every other day until feb, and I do not have toxo antibodies. So don't assume you're immune.

Original poster

alittlehelp · 31/05/2014 17:24

thanks very much all - will keep up the hygiene stuff and try to relax a bit!! Your posts have made me feel much better xx

OP posts:

CoolCat2014 · 31/05/2014 20:03

Being pregnant with a baby is more traditional, but ok :)

My mum had a cat with all 3 of us and we all came out ok. Get someone else to do litter duty though :)

rightsaidfred · 31/05/2014 20:41

As others have said- get rid of the litter tray. If you are freaking out now imagine how bad it will be when a crawling baby wants to play in the litter tray- or worse!
I actually thought thread was going to be about cat harassment. Since I have been pregnant this time the cat has practically attached himself to me...... sits on my shoulder or my head and have to barricade the bedroom door shut at night because he wants to sleep on my head too!

Plateofcrumbs · 01/06/2014 09:46

I keep laughing at the thread title

I have used pregnancy as an excuse to shirk litter tray duties but other than that still treat cat exactly the same, still does gross stuff like drink out of my bedside glass of water before me!

We have one of these litter boxes which are absurdly expensive (although you can get them cheaper than this) but when thinking ahead to inquisitive toddler days seems like a reasonable investment!

Kels13 · 01/06/2014 09:56

The only different thing I've done is that my hubby now deals with the litter and the flea treatment. Steer clear of both of those and you should be fine as others have said!

CaseyRossi · 02/06/2014 12:13

I have 2 male cats, not done anything different really right from the off, other then stop them walking on my belly or sleeping on it, that's the hardest part but they have adjusted now 26 weeks in. Ours go outside so no litter tray but like most cats i'm pretty sure they use neighbours gardens to mark terriotory, but i use gardening gloves and wash hands after just to be sure.

Husband does the treatments anyway, there is a spot on worming treatment which they say that women don't do, even if not pregnant, as in rats is been known to cause mutations, but there's been no human links but dh does that anyway to be safe and i don't give them any neck scratching for a few days after.

All going rather swimmingly with me and baby and i always refer to baby as the cats, (Casey and Rossi, hense my name just to show) little brother so don't even think about breaking up your family.

BilboTheAlmighty · 02/06/2014 12:22

CaseyRossi I'm glad to see that I'm not the only cat who will be considered an older sibling

Observer78 · 02/06/2014 15:52

Still disappointed to find out that there is no actual pregnancy involving imminent birth of a cat (to a human mum).

Used to work at a rescue centre and it was so appalling to see how easily cats (and dogs) were discarded as soon as there was a pregnancy. Bearing in mind that no vet, no doctor ever has recommended rehoming an animal in order to protect pregnancy.
Would be great if people educated themselves more, rather than cull their family members (sometimes that is not such a metaphorical phrase... ).

"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world....

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Little Prince

In the name of fairness I would recommend a chat with a good vet to put your mind at rest. Cats have been given this status of a devil for far too long.
I had McDonalds once and puked my guts out right there in their toilets, yet how many million people don't get a bad batch? On top of that - with cat poo you've control (good hygiene, precautions), unlike me with the contaminated cheeseburger. Undercooked / rare meat is far more dangerous than kitty litter (NOT your cat).

cheshirem2b · 02/06/2014 17:13

We have two kitties and a litter tray that our pedigree indoor cat uses... the other is a bruiser and loves being outside! I no longer clean the litter tray but other than that I still play with them, stroke them etc and everyone seems fine!

Obviously in terms of feeding and cleaning up after them, make sure you observe hygiene (i.e. wash hands if you have to clean up cat sick/hairball) as you would before you were pg.
I can't wait for our cats to meet baby!

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