Indoor Cats and toxoplasmosis

[MountainLassMeg]

21wks pregnant and freaked out about toxoplasmosis risks… I previously had 3 unexplained miscarriages last year before this pregnancy. We have 2 cats who are strictly indoors. Our cats crawl on everything (bed, clean laundry on heated drying rack, every chair, blanket and surface). My husband does the litter trays and I am paranoid and Antibac constantly. Unfortunately one of our cats had a bout of diarrhea today, we woke up to stains in the carpet (which I stepped in), and dangly poop on her butt. My husband chased her around with scissors and baby wipes trying to clean her butt, but she of course has meanwhile sat everywhere. I’m so freaked out, I want to disinfect the entire house. My husband suggested I stay in a hotel if I’m that concerned. I really don’t want to do this, but I need to know realistically how bad the risk is and if I need to be worried enough to take extreme measures. If I ask my midwife or any advice here in the UK, I just the get the NHS guidelines quoted at me and no more. They’d never do any testing either, no chance, so I’m on my own here. I also learned that for the past 2 weeks, my husband has been washing his hands in the kitchen sink with our communal regular soap after doing the litter trays vs the bathroom I requested he use with the Antibac soap… so not happy I’ve been drinking out of that sink too….

https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/infections/toxoplasmosis-pregnancy have a look at this and you'll see the risk is very small. If you have cats you're probably already immune x

Also I did have a test during pregnancy, long story but I asked my midwife outright for one and she referred me. Just ask for one clearly and directly, and if your midwife says no go to your GP.

We also have an indoor cat. As far as my understanding goes, the risk is relatively small and even less with indoor cats. They're relatively low risk unless they're fed a raw diet and/or have contact with the outside/other animals that go outside. I've just had my booking appointment and the midwife said to just avoid the litter tray, have good hand washing with soap practice etc.

Per the NHS guidelines, if you believe you may be at risk or have symptoms, you can go to the GP and tell them and they may do a blood test.

I understand the need to be cautious, but I think unless the above applies to your cats, it's probably fine. My husband also does all the litter picking and washes his hands at the kitchen sink with soap afterwards. Many hand soaps are just as effective at loosening, removing and killing bacteria as antibacterial products. Dish soap is also a good alternative, though not as kind to the hands.

If the cats have accidents, there's not a huge amount to be done except for him to clean it all up and disinfect everywhere probable contact with you would occur. If nothing else will make you feel better, maybe the hotel isn't such a bad idea for your peace of mind?

The risk is very, very low. I had indoor cats during both of my pregnancies, and I even cleaned their litter boxes, and never had an issue. You really don't need to go crazy with the anti-bac stuff.

so not happy I’ve been drinking out of that sink too….

You mean just getting water from the tap? Why would that be an issue?

It’s only dangerous if you get it FIRST time during pregnancy.

So there’s no point doing a toxo test as that being positive means nothing. You can get an antibody test which tells you whether you have had previous infection.

I work with soils so had the test on the NHS. Good news is if it’s positive you can eat charcuteries meats! 🥳🥳🥳

I wouldn't worry, I'm a vet so am in contact with loads of sick cats. I worked full
time through two pregnancies and I wasn't careful at all other than normal hand-washing. During my first pregnancy I asked to be tested to see if I had immunity and I had never even been exposed.

Cats get toxo from rats. They generally
only have it for 2 weeks then they are immune forever. Indoor cats are at super low risk to ever catch it. Finally, if they are infected, the cysts that they poop out are only infectious after 2 days, so if everything is cleaned up before 2 days you are fine!

So in summary if you have cats, do a lot of gardening or like to eat lots of salamis/ cured hams. You likely already have had it. And therefore your pregnancy/ babe is not at risk if you are reinfected.

If by some remote chance your indoor cats have been infected by the parasite there's only a two week window in which the parasite will be able to pass to humans, after that the cat's immune system kills them.

So it's very unlikely you're at risk from your indoor cats unless you feed them roadkill or raw/undercooked meat.

About 50% of the cat owning public have already had toxoplasmosis. If you have had cats, or do gardening, you are probably already immune. Don't worry unduly. It is really rare to catch and transmit in pregnancy. Just wash your hands, and wear gloves to clean up after the cats.

Thanks everyone for your replies. To add more info, following my 3 miscarriages last year, my husband and I took a 5 month sabbatical in Norway. We left our cats with my in-laws, who until a month ago (had to be put down) had a very old outdoor maincoon who shared the litter tray with my indoor cats. I also found out that my in laws had been occasionally giving our cats raw chicken. We only came home and got the cats back 2 weeks ago. So not out the question they could have been exposed. Our cats are very young and had been only indoors previously so unlikely they had it before, and no I don’t do gardening.

to clarify what I was saying about the kitchen sink, I wasn’t worried about the water tap itself, but the on off switch that he would have been touching before he washed his hands, then I’d come along and touch it before then eating and drinking.

staying in a hotel for 4months isn’t an option especially after being away from our home the past 5 months.

First of all I hope your current pregnancy goes well and I'm very sorry to hear about your miscarriages last year.
Kindly, and I would never normally suggest this to anyone, I think you might be better off rehoming your cats for the benefit of your own mental health. You are massively overthinking the risk of having your pets, and your worries and stress about hygiene around cats may get much worse when you have a baby.

They are my babies too, I’d never give them up. After a few months of being with us indoors I know they’d not be at risk for having toxoplasmosis anymore and I’ve not heard about it being a problem with babies once born. I was without them for 5mo and I felt like that impacted my mental health more. But for the immediate time post being exposed at in-laws, yes I’m concerned. We had it semi handled until my sweet girl got diarrhea and wanted to jump on our bed for cuddles.