Early pregnancy & new kitten

[hovebaby99]

We have just found out we are expecting, it’s very early days. We are adopting a kitten on Sunday (first time cat parents) and wondering if we should pull out(I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed!) I have also read about toxoplasmosis which has really worried me. The kitten will be inside so will have a litter tray

we have been trying for over a year and this kitten was to be a lovely addition to fill a large hole… I never ever expected us to fall the month we collect the kitten! This feels completely wild that this is all happening at the same time

do we embrace the chaos ? Or am I having doubts for a good reason? Please no hate; we really are stuck and want to do the right thing !!

Thanks xx

There is no reason to pull out of having a kitten in early pregnancy.
Toxoplasmosis is a very small risk from cats.
You have just about the same chance if getting it whilst gardening (also slim).
Just ensure the kitten is flea and worm treated appropriately with products that actually work from a vet. Pet shop brands are not prescription strength and are not as effective.
Avoid cleaning out the litter tray also.
We have cats and husband cleans the trays while I do other things.
Our daughter has grown up with the cats and she is incredibly gentle and has a huge respect for animals.
Cats are fab pets!

The risks are low but if your partner can clean out the litter tray then that reduces the risk more.

We had similar where we had been going through fertility treatment for a while, had been putting off getting a dog due to it but thought we can't put this off forever as we may not get pregnant. Of course the same week we rescued a dog I tested positive for being pregnant. Definitely don't regret it though and we've had time to settle him in well. Due in August and we're just making sure we follow reliable advice in terms of preparing him for it (playing baby crying/noise, having baby things out ready like pram and playmat so he gets used to them being there etc.).

Good luck!

The cat will be nearly fully grown by the time the baby is born.

Toxoplasmosis oocysts (eggs) aren't infective straight away , they take a few days to become infective. Which is why garden soil where cats have been is more of a risk than a freshly used litter tray.

I'm a small animal vet, handled cats all the way though both pregnancies. Washed my hands after, kept my fingers away from my mouth, job done.

We decided to get kittens after a miscarriage and then I fell pregnant before we picked up the kittens. It was 15 years ago now and we had two kittens.

The kittens were 10 months when our DD arrived. My DH did most of the litter cleaning but when I did I just made sure I properly washed my hands. I think I may have worn marigolds too!! Was lovely to see my DD and then my DS grow up with the cats. Both cats have now passed away (aged 13 and 14) and are sorely missed but they were great for us and the kids.

I would suggest not letting them in your room from the outset so that you don’t have to change things when the baby arrives. If the kitten is anything like ours you’ll spend half your time getting them out of prams, car seats etc which mine seemed to like to get in when the baby wasn’t in them.

Good luck!!

There are some lovely clips of cats with pregnant women in You tube😻.

(My Gran used to sat that adopting a pet relaxed your tension and helped you fall pregnant…)

If the kitten is an inside cat I believe the risk is even lower as its contracted from cats eating infected animals like mice and birds. I have an older cat and have been using gloves and just washing hands well to do the litter tray throughout pregnancy. I think once cats have had it once they are no longer infectious as well.

So much misinformation and scaremongering on toxoplasmosis.

• a kitten is extremely unlikely to have it.
• it’s contracted through contaminated raw meat - if you cat doesn’t eat raw meat or go outside then it’s unlikely to get it.
• even if your cat did get it, it can take 1-5 days for the oocysts in it the poop become infectious
• not only that, once a cat has had it once its very likely to be immune so there will only ever be one episode of passing oocysts in its poo.

So, even if you were cleaning the lit tray (I do, 21w pregnant) you can just make sure you scoop the poop within a few hours and thoroughly wash your hands after in hot soapy water & sanitiser after. In all honesty, I think gloves are extreme and I don’t bother.
clean the trays with hot (over 70) water too - kettle outside will do it.

You could actually also get toxoplasmosis from touching infected soil (I do wear gloves when gardening, disposable and gardening)
undercooked meat, and potentially fruit and veg that’s been in soil - never had anyone tell me about the risks in food or gardening - always just not to change the lit tray - I’d be more worried about getting it from outside soil or food than my cats.

hope that helps!

Thank you so much for this! There is so much scaremongering It really worried me!