Toxoplasmosis fears after seeing barn cats at strawberry patch

[Flowerpower0214]

I recently went to a small farm to pick strawberries with my toddler. I didn't eat any while we were there as there was nowhere to wash them, of course I couldn't stop my toddler from eating a couple. I didn't think anything of it until I noticed a rough looking barn cat hanging around. It was very friendly and my toddler did run over and pick it up. Then later saw two more before we left. There was nowhere for us to wash our hands at so I just used hand sanitizer and didn't touch my face.
I read later that hand sanitizer doesn't kill toxoplasmosis and even though I didn't eat/drink/put my hands in my mouth until after I got home and showered I'm worried I touched other things, like inside my car/my purse/etc and spread around toxoplasmosis.

I even left the hand sanitizer bottle I used at the farm in my purse and touched it again a couple days later without thinking and then ate a sandwich.

I'm freaking out, but my husband thinks the chances are minimal and I'm letting my anxiety get the best of me.

I know I'm toxo negative as I was tested before. Planning on retesting, but I can't do that for 3 weeks after exposure and this fear is consuming me.

You'll be fine.

You need to address this health anxiety and seek counselling before you pass it to your children and they become neurotic.

100 percent you will be fine

call either your midwife/health visitor/pharmacy/Gp tomorrow for extra reassurance but 100 million billion trillion percent you will be fine

You need help with your mental health not help for any medical issues.

Yes I agree the chances are probably low. I guess I’m worried about if the cats are using the area as a giant litter box. Like were the strawberries I was touching contaminated? They definitely had dirt on them. Did my toddlers hands become contaminated from the dirt or the cat and I touched them? I know it sounds insane because it’s literally a farm, but I just was not expecting to see barn cats there.

I try to be so careful with our two cats, I never let them out and never change the litter box.

Unfortunately no one here can tell you 100% even though it sounds so unlikely and I think you’re going to convince yourself regardless you’ve got it so 🤷🏻‍♀️

I am pregnant with a very hard-won ivf pregnancy and I sleep in bed with my cats! Cats are one of the least likely sources of toxoplasmosis; you can only get it from them if they’ve eaten a mouse infected by toxoplasmosis and then you basically ingest a piece of their poo. So cat poo doesn’t necessarily even contain toxoplasmosis and even if it did, the chances aren’t too high of getting it. I also don’t think toxoplasmosis can live on hard surfaces like your car or handbag.

The biggest risk of toxoplasmosis comes from undercooked meat or helping farm animals like sheep give birth. If you’re not on a raw meat diet and you’re not a farmer assisting with lambing then you’re fine.

I think for your own peace of mind then it sounds like a toxoplasmosis test might help you feel better. You are extremely anxious though to the point that it sounds pathological. Please get help for that; this is no way to live. Good luck with your pregnancy xxx

If your cats never leave your home and presumably you’re not overrun with rodents, it is not going to be dangerous to change their litter tray if you’re taking normal hygienic precautions

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I actually didn’t have any anxiety during my first, but after I was diagnosed with secondary infertility and conceived after much difficulty I’m just so worried about everything tbh. I’ve managed well keeping everything at bay and do have two indoor cats that don’t cause me any concern. Something about seeing those barn cats just set me off. Like I know their entire purpose is for keeping rodents away so it just felt so highly risk being in that field. I’m definitely trying to keep busy until I can get tested which isn’t until 3 weeks from now.

You know, that actually makes a lot of sense and I can understand why you’d be this anxious given that you’ve had secondary infertility. It is also true that barn cats eat a lot of mice. Mice don’t necessarily have toxoplasmosis though; my cats go outdoors and eat mice and I’m not concerned. I think you are very likely fine but it won’t hurt to have a test.

Thank you for the well wishes. Congratulations on your pregnancy too, I really hope it continues to go well!

Your husband is right, any risk is absolutely minimal and besides, it's done now. What is it you want to get out of worrying to this degree?

Pregnancy is hard and there will be so many worries and concerns and possible risks over the 9 months. You have to try and keep everything in perspective and stay rational or it will all consume you. Speak to your midwife if you find it is getting too much.

Hi OP. I had similar worries during my previous pregnancies. It’s because you so desperately want the baby to be safely here. Be kind to yourself; you’re doing a great job, looking after your toddler, yourself and your growing baby. All will be well; any risks are tiny.

I think you’d need to lick the cats arsehole before it became a risk ! I get the anxiety though, I was so so consumed by anxiety and ocd in my DD’s pregnancy due to a previous miscarriage. It’s so tough op you have my sympathy

Think about all the pregnant women who have pet cats (myself included). I’m sure you will be absolutely fine don’t worry.

Jesus Christ

Don't watch Trainspotting.

In all honesty I thought the same, pregnant with first, Aunty was a midwife (50 years before retired!). Go round for Sunday lunch and the cat is on the work surfaces, nibbling the roast...

It made me wonder.

Natural reaction, but I'm sure all will be fine.

Are you pregnant, OP? If you're not (sorry if I missed that you are!), you're very unlikely to suffer any ill effects from toxoplasmosis even if you do catch it. Most people don't even realise they've got it (a fair percentage of the world's population has had it at some point) so unless you're pregnant, it isn't usually a big deal.

I’m a vet. When cats are first exposed to toxoplasmosis they only shed the parasite for a short time (a few days), so it is extremely likely that these cats would already be immune so that any infection in their bodies was no longer active. Your own cats will pose no risk, especially as fresh faeces are not infectious for toxoplasmosis anyway. The parasite can survive in any soil for a long time, so it’s always a good idea to wash fruit and vegetables before eating, but seeing these cats doesn’t mean the fruit was more likely to be contaminated than other soil outside.