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Pregnancy

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

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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

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

AnguaVonUberwald · 09/01/2007 20:22

p.s. they do sleep on the bed at the moment, would it be a good idea to stop them coming into the bedroom at all? - Difficult as that might be

OP posts:

Bubbaloo · 09/01/2007 20:24

Your doctor is obviously not a cat lover!

I've always had cats and still have two now(I'm 25 weeks pg).As long as you either wear gloves or get your partner to change the litter,I'm sure you'll be fine.The only thing that really bothered me with the cats last time was when ds started crawling and would have the odd cat hair on his hands.

lazyemma · 09/01/2007 20:35

You should really have a word with your doctor, next time you see her - she's totally misinformed, and shouldn't really be allowed to go round spouting that sort of alarmist nonsense.

cazzybabs · 09/01/2007 20:36

Maybe she is my neighbour - she is a GP and hates cats! I am sure she is going to posion ours - she stands in her garden and rants about them!

clayre · 09/01/2007 20:37

poor you being told that from your dr, other than the usual hygene stuff i let my cat sleep on the bed when i was pregnant, she goes outdoors, the only advice i would give is keep them out the room the baby's going to sleep in so when its born its not such a shock to them getting kicked out a room they're used to

Bagpuss30 · 09/01/2007 20:45

Have just scanned the thread quickly so apologies if I repeat. I had a house cat when I was pg with my first baby and was never told to get rid of it. DH did the cat litter tray for me and on the one occasion he didn't I just bought some gloves and did it myself.

There is no other reason why you need to rehome your moggies IMO and besides which it is very important to have a cat during the first trimester while you languish on the sofa with morning sickness as he can help by curling up and keeping your feet warm .

EdieMcredie · 09/01/2007 20:46

Oh my god I cannot believe a doctor would say that to you? Where are they being trained these days FGS.

CATS ARE FINE DURING PG-you will be immune to toxoplasmosis by now anyway. Use gloves when cleaning their trays/make someone else do it.

Enjoy the cats-research suggests that stroking cats releases endorphins that are very very good for you and baby xxxxxxx

daisy1999 · 09/01/2007 20:52

keep the cats and get rid of the doctor keep clear of doctor poo

Spidermama · 09/01/2007 21:05

I would get rid of the doctor, not the cats.

Spidermama · 09/01/2007 21:05

Daisy .... great minds eh?

nightowl · 09/01/2007 21:19

please dont worry, ive had over 25 cats (not all at the same time!) at various stages of pregnancy and kids etc etc...its all been fine, never a problem. (well, only the things they break and muddy little footprints..but nothing bad for the kids). you dont need to get rid of them.

Original poster

AnguaVonUberwald · 09/01/2007 22:31

Thank you all so much, feeling much better over here. When I got home I couldn't stop crying (what with pregnancy hormones on top of everything else).

Viva mumsnet!! It was the first place I thought of checking when I got home, and DP has been siting right next to me reading all the messages.

OP posts:

Miaou · 09/01/2007 22:36

I bet your doctor is a cat-hater. Ask her if you dare. Silly cow

(nothing useful to add to the good advice, so I just thought I'd have a grump on your behalf!! )

Imagine if every pregnant person in the land got rid of their cats - no don't. It's beyond stupid isn't it?!

xenabelly · 10/01/2007 00:48

I know all these messages will have reasurred you but just wanted to add mine too! I am outraged that a doc has said that to you - i'd be exactly the same if someone told me to get rid of my cat.

The doc has obviously not got pets otherwise she would know what a ridiculous thing it is to ask someone to get rid of their pet - they're family!!

My cats have slept in, on and under our bed through both our pregnancies, they used to sit on my shoulder while i was feeding newborn and we have cat hair EVERYWHERE!

The only different thing we did was I didn't change litter (pregnancy being great excuse for that job!) and we didn't let cat lie in babies things eg:cot, pram, bouncer.

Our cat is an outdoor cat and has lots of 'friends' and we also have other cats from our street wandering in and out all the time.

You WON'T harm baby, a pet keeps your blood pressure down and stroking animals increases happy hormones - give your cats big cuddle for me!

suis · 10/01/2007 04:18

I don't have anything extra to say but want to "post up and be counted" too. My two cats go outdoors, hunt small things, which they then eat, they sleep on my bed, and they cause no problem at all. When my LO is born they'll be kept out of the room where he/she is sleeping, and not allowed in the cot, but that's the only thing we'll change at all.

Sounds like your doc is just one of those bizarre cat hating people who like any excuse to get rid of them.

Hothead · 10/01/2007 06:02

Just to add to the mounting evidence;
With first pregnancy had 5 cats all of whom went outside, slept on beds and sat on kitchen worktops (though not the ones we prepared food on). Advised by sister-in-law who is a GP to steer clear of the litter, but other than that it never even entered my head to get rid of them. When the baby came they were not allowed to go in her room, and no amount of scratching at the carpet on the other side of the door changed that! Now I am 18 weeks pregnant with no.2 and don't bother to wash my hands after I have touched them, it is just not practical............stop worrying, change doctors and enjoy your cats and the pregnancy! - There is almost nothing better than to see the delight on my daughter's face when she sees one of the cats has come in the room!

Catalepticdru · 10/01/2007 07:00

Stupid GP! I have a cat, he goes outsides but has a litter tray to (we don't have a cat flap). He does hunt, but doen't eat his kills.
He is my furry baby and I wouldn't dream of getting rid of him!
Just make sure that you wash you hands before you touch food, and if your cats do get on kitchen surfaces (mine does), make sure you wipe them down with a good anti-bac or bleach containing cleaner before you do any food prep.
And I would keep them out of any places you intend your baby to sleep... as cats do like to find a nice warm place to curl up, and cots are rather appealing! Don't really want a cot full of cat hair.

Anglaise1 · 10/01/2007 07:45

I'm 7 months pregnant and I have 4 cats and no immunity to toxo - I'm tested every month and so far no problem. As everyone else has said, make sure you wear gloves to change the litter tray.
You can catch toxo from other places too - unwashed fruit and veg, doing the gardening without gloves etc. As long as you are careful, you will be fine. It is especially importanct early in the pregnany.

lancarra · 10/01/2007 10:51

There is the same risk to people who handle sheep at lambing time as well I have been a shepherd for 20 yrs and have been in contact with hundreds of ewes with toxoplasmosis and I have never caught it. I was also pregnant twice at lambing time and I have cats as long as you are careful about hygene I would not worry.

colditz · 10/01/2007 10:53

Hmm, in the same way it would be best never to walk near a road in case a caar veers off course and squishes you, yes it would be better to be rid of the mogs.

Honestly doctors don't live in the real world sometimes.

Original poster

AnguaVonUberwald · 10/01/2007 13:54

Thank you so much all of you. Honestly by the time the doctor had finished yesterday I didn't even want to come home in case the cats infected me.

Really gratefull for all the advice and support.

OP posts:

incy · 10/01/2007 13:55

I had two indoor cats during my last pregnancy and was told only a problem if you eat the cat poo (unlikely!) or it gets into your blood stream (eg you could have a cut on your hand, clean the litter tray and the infection enters the body).

So as long as you refrain from eating cat poo !)and wear gloves to clean the litter tray or to clean up any 'accidents' then can't see a problem. Obviously cover up any exposed cuts.

Was also told that an indoor cat unlikely to have the infection as they don't go and eat dead birds etc.

Same rules apply when gardening so perhaps your GP should advise you to move to a flat with no garden !

On a sad note I found the only problem was that my two cats were very upset when the baby arrived and staged a 'dirty protest' over anything that smelt of the baby and so after 6 months they were re-homed.

Don't want to upset you just that I found this more of an issue than toxiplasmosis.

andiec · 10/01/2007 13:55

I cannot add anything to what other people have said but wanted to also add my support. As other people have said, your doctor is being alarmist. I have two young children and have had the same two cats throughout my two pregnancies. I avoided changing the litter tray as much as possible or if I did, I used gloves and washed my hands afterwards. I also got the cats used to being shut out of the room which we would be using for the baby rather than waiting until we came home from hospital with a baby. Once the baby was born, I kept the cats away from her cot, pushchair etc. Just take sensible precautions really. I cannot see any reason to get rid of loved family pets.

Original poster

AnguaVonUberwald · 10/01/2007 14:08

I have been so happy to hear these messages of support about keeping the cats. I hate the thought of abandoning them, at the same time of course the baby comes first.

Incy, I can see that could be a problem, especially with our burmese who is very clingy, will try and prepare him as much as possible and wait and see.

Still, at least it sounds like its safe for me to keep the cats!

OP posts:

incy · 10/01/2007 14:17

Sorry I forgot to mention that I was also advised that if I was still concerned I could have the cats tested for toxiplasmosis at the vets (to see if they had the infection for me to catch - unlikely in an indoor cat)

Or be tested myself at the GP's to see if I was already immune ( a lot of us have already had the infection and not known so in this case no need to worry.)

But as I've already said as long as you don't eat the poo or handle poo with an exposed cut you should have nothing to worry about.

Is worth noting that even if you were exposed to the infection and you are not immune you wouldn't necessarily catch it anyway.

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