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Original poster

The doctor just told me it would be best if I got rid of the cats! Somebody please help

61 replies

AnguaVonUberwald · 09/01/2007 19:45

Nearly six weeks pregnant, just had my first doctors appointment, going down a list of things and she said "Oh yes and don't go near any cats" Well, we have 2! Indoor cats.
The doctor said we should at least get rid of them for the first trimester but would be best if we just got rid altogether!!!

So, have I damaged the baby by having cats here in my first six weeks?
Do I need to get rid of them?
I can't stop crying about it, obviously the baby is more important, but I really wasn't expecting this. They are indoor cats, so can't catch anything to pass on to me anyway. (we presume).

I don't know what to do. Also don't know how many people would want a moggie with slight skin problems and a demanding burmese. I feel like I am letting them down even thinking about getting rid of them, but I can't take any risks with the baby.

What should I do? Help somebody

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mellowma · 09/01/2007 19:46

Message withdrawn

mellowma · 09/01/2007 19:47

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cori · 09/01/2007 19:47

I dont think you need to get rid of your cats, Lots of people on here will say the same thing. Just dont change the Kitty litter yourself, and if you have too wear gloves.

cori · 09/01/2007 19:48

You might even be already immune to it, I am.

CrocodileKate · 09/01/2007 19:48

I had four cats through my pregnancies.
Get someone else to sort the litter trays for oyu.

belgo · 09/01/2007 19:49

You can have a blood test to see if you are already immune to the illness you can get from cats. If you are immune, then you don't need to worry. If you're not immune, then you need to take precautions such as not changing the cat litter tray and washing your hands after touching the cats.

mellowma · 09/01/2007 19:49

Message withdrawn

charliecat · 09/01/2007 19:49

Dont get rid of the cats. Use gloves with the litter tray and ban them out of the bedrooms as of now so they are used to not going in there.

Jimjams2 · 09/01/2007 19:50

are they kittens? Old cats are very rarely a risk as they've had it and goot it over and done with years ago. Very slight risk with kittens if they hunt small mammals. I just made dh change the cat litter (not that our cat could have caught anything anyway- it was deaf- you could hear it coming a mile off).

FrayedKnot · 09/01/2007 19:50

What a load of complete rubbish!

yes there is a risk to pregnant women and the unborn child from contracting toxoplasmosis from cat poo.

Make sure you wear disposable gloves if you have to handle their litter and ideally get someone else to do that side of things - isnt that what DH's were invented for?

IntergalacticWalrus · 09/01/2007 19:50

There;s no need to get rid, just be extra careful.

No changing cat litter (I'm sure you are gutted about that )

Make sure you wash your hands after touching the cats, esp just before eating, just to be on the safe side.

Now go and give your cats a fuss and enjoy the rest of your preganancy

SturdyAngel · 09/01/2007 19:50

No way!!! I love my cat(s) one died recently Anyway...there is no way I would have got rid of them! As other posters have said, just don't change their litter yourself and if you want to be extra cautious wash your hands after you have touched them. Both my ds's love the cat and it hasn't done them any harm.

snowleopard · 09/01/2007 19:51

Oh what nonsense - I know millions of people who've had cats while pregnant with no harm done. My doctor told me I should just make sure I didn't empty any litter trays - just get your DP/DH to do that.

On top of that, the risk of getting toxoplasmosis from a cat is very small and it's highly unlikely your cats have it if they don't go outdoors. Doctor being over-alarmist I think.

TheArmadillo · 09/01/2007 19:52

The main risk of cats as someone has already said is toxomasplosis (sp?)

You can avoid this.

Get someone else to change the litter tray if at all poss and to clear up any mess. If you can't wear gloves and be careful not to come into contact with any of it.

Wash your hands after handling the cats.

Don't let them on worksurfaces or (possibly) on your bed.

Telling you to get rid of your cats seems a bit over-zealous imo. Plenty of people have cats and kids/pregnancy - I did and so did most the people I know. We were all advised to take precautions, but afaik noone was told to get rid of the cats

Also there are precautions to take when baby is born.

MrsJohnCusack · 09/01/2007 19:55

oh FFS bloody doctors. no you haven't damaged the baby & you don't need to get rid of the cats. it's cat poo that you need to avoid, just in case of toxoplasmosis. get someone else to change any litter and wear gloves when gardening. It's actually more common to contract toxoplasmosis via badly cooked meat. And indoor cats are less likely to have it. And don't worry about so far - bear in mind that the possibility of getting it is remote - the cats have to have it, you have to catch it, then it has to cause a problem, which it doesn't always.

look here

Original poster
AnguaVonUberwald · 09/01/2007 19:55

OK, they are about 3/4 years old, never been outside. DP does change the litter tray but of course they do walk over everything we have, there are hairs everywhere etc.

They do also sometimes get on the kitchen counters etc (I know but hard to stop them)

Thanks for all the really postive advice. I have read up about it and didn't expect the doctor to say that - was totally shocked when she just said - get rid, at least for the first three months.

Really want to keep them, but don't want to risk the baby at all

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 09/01/2007 20:03

If they've never been outside then unless they've been busy catching mice inside your home you're not going to be at risk from then. And anyway you'd be at risk from the mice, so you may as well keep the cats to kill the mice.

Avoid changing the litter, if you do wash your hands. Wash your hands before eating. Your doctor has scared you for no reason.

Original poster
AnguaVonUberwald · 09/01/2007 20:07

JimJams2 - they have never been outside - and thankfully we don't have mice!!! - Does this mean that there is no risk as they can't catch it? (and if they already had it then so did I?)

I did tell the doctor that they were indoor cats, but she still said the best thing to do was get rid of them!

OP posts:
oops · 09/01/2007 20:07

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bobblehead · 09/01/2007 20:07

Didn't get rid of my indoor cats for this or the last pregnancy and have continued changing litter box the whole time. I think the vet can check your cats for toxoplasmosis and treat them if they have it but I may be wrong. I was just careful about hand washing after litter changes but didn't really worry having grown up around cats and making mud pies from a cat poo infested garden- surely I must be immune!!

Jimjams2 · 09/01/2007 20:10

cats get toxoplasmosis from catching birds and mice etc - so if they're not chomping their way through the wildlife they're fine (and once they've chomped through a few they're fine as well). A lot of adults are immune anyway- like bobblehead I spent a lot of time around cat poo growing up so am probably immune!

oops · 09/01/2007 20:14

Message withdrawn

hatwoman · 09/01/2007 20:15

as the others have said - he's talking rubbish. I had cats throughout both pgs. next time you see him show him \link{www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=370&PrintPage=1 - 25k \this} from NHS direct, smile sweetly and tell him you're confused by conflicting advice...

puddytats · 09/01/2007 20:16

Had 6 cats through both pregnancys, never even dreamed of getting rid of them. Cats and children all absolutly fine. Would change my dr tho - no one tells me to get rid of my cats, they are part of the family

Original poster
AnguaVonUberwald · 09/01/2007 20:17

Thanks everyone. DP definitly changes the litter!! and we will take some extreme precautions with food.

My doctor didn't even offer to test me for Toxoplasmosis, in case I was already immune!

I would get rid of the cats, if we had to, but I really don't want to, they are very much part of the family.

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