How to Avoid Cats During a Pregnancy

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection. It is mild for people in general good health but could cause serious problems for the fetus of a pregnant woman. Although there are other sources of this infection, cats may be the best known. Cat owners who have had cats for a considerable amount of time have a lower risk of getting infected because they have been exposed to toxoplasmosis before. Pregnant women with low immunity can take several steps to avoid contact with cats.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Think about finding a temporary home for your cat if it is used to spending time outdoors and eating raw food. This is necessary if you have low immunity and were not exposed to toxoplasmosis prior to becoming pregnant.

2. Keep visiting cats out of your backyard. Some things you can do to discourage stray cats include attaching a wire fence to the top of your existing fence, putting mothballs around your plants, using sound frequencies that are uncomfortable for cats but undetectable to humans, and spraying water in the direction of the cat.

3. Keep unfamiliar cats out of your home, especially if you are not sure whether they have had a past as outdoor cats or whether they eat raw meat.

4. Stay away from places with cats while you are pregnant. This may include houses of friends and family who are cat owners, especially if the cats spend a lot of time outdoors.

5. Do not get a new kitten or cat while you are pregnant.

6. Do not adopt stray cats. You should also avoid handling stray cats while you are pregnant.

Tips & Warnings

• Obtain further information about toxoplasmosis from a medical professional.
• It is also possible to get toxoplasmosis from food. Wash vegetables thoroughly and cook meat to recommended temperatures.

References

• Centers for Diesease Control and Prevention