Cats & Pregnancy

One common opinion is that once you become pregnant that the cat should go. It is believed that cats can expose your unborn baby to toxoplasmosis & then there’s the risks of the cat smothering baby once it comes along.

Toxoplasmosis:

Toxoplasmosis is an intracellular parasitic infection caused by the protozoan known as toxoplasma gondii. It infects multiple of warm blooded including humans, livestock, birds etc., however cats are the definitive hosts to toxoplasma gondii. This means that the parasite is only able to sexually reproduce in cats (both wild & domesticated). 

Most people have heard of toxoplasmosis due to the risks infections pose to pregnant women. If infection occurs during pregnancy it can cause abortion or congenital defects to the fetus. Toxoplasmosis infection in humans is extremely common & approximately 30 - 50% of the population have been exposed to it. Your doctor can take a blood test to determine if you have had prior exposure to toxoplasmosis.

What about pregnant women & toxoplasmosis?

If a pregnant woman hasn't had prior exposure to toxoplasmosis her immune system wouldn't have had the chance to build up a resistance to the disease. Therefore if she is exposed to it during pregnancy she is at risk of becoming infected & passing it on to her unborn fetus. 

Having said that, there is a greater chance of her becoming infected from eating undercooked meat or improperly washed fruit & vegetables than from her cat. 

If you have a cat & become pregnant it is strongly recommended that you speak to your doctor, midwife or obstetrician about this, they may recommend a blood test which will check for antibodies to toxoplasmosis. If you have antibodies, you have been exposed to toxoplasma gondii at some stage in your life. This means your immune system has already built up a resistance therefore you are very unlikely to become re-infected. My own obstetrician tested me multiple times during my two pregnancies as I was negative & he wanted to ensure I remained negative. 

What precautions can a pregnant woman take to avoid toxoplasmosis?

Cats aren't the only source of infection to humans. They can also become infected via improperly cooked meat, improperly washed vegetables, drinking untreated water (from a stream or river for example) & gardening. 

·         Avoid cleaning the litter trays, if this is not possible wear gloves & a mask. During my pregnancy I would also change & wash my clothes after cleaning litter trays. 

·         Ensure litter trays are scooped at least once a day. 

·         Ensure your meat is cooked thoroughly. This means it is no longer pink in the middle, the juices run clear & it has been cooked at 160F. 

·         Wash your hands after handling animals. 

·         Wear gloves  while gardening.

·         Wash fruit & vegetables thoroughly before eating. 

·         Wash your hands after handling raw meat, fruit & vegetables. 

·         Wash your hands before eating.

·         Don't let your cat(s) hunt.

·         Cover sand boxes to prevent cats defecating in them. 

·         Don't drink unpasteurised milk. 

·         Thoroughly cleaning chopping boards & utensils. Use separate boards for fruit/vegetables & meat. 

·         Keep the litter tray away from the kitchen & other eating areas.

There are other diseases cats can pass onto humans such as ringworm, but they are thankfully quite rare. It is a good idea to have your cat examined by a veterinarian who can run some tests to determine if your cat is in good health & free of disease & parasites.

Risks to the baby once it’s born:

Another common belief is that cats pose a risk to the newborn. There are two schools of thought. The first being that the cat will seek out the baby for warmth & accidentally smother it, the other being that the cat will intentionally smother the baby due to jealousy.

It would be utterly irresponsible to say that there are no risks, however these are extremely rare. In my research, I could only find one vague article where a cat reportedly smothered a baby.  Cats smothering babies is more urban legend than truth. However, that doesn’t mean that caution shouldn’t be used when cats are around the baby.

Preparing your cat:

Firstly, if your cat isn't up to date on it's medications, flea & worming treatment then make sure this is done prior to your baby coming home. Also take your cat to the veterinarian for a health check.

Trim your cat's claws before the baby arrives.

If possible, obtain a recording of a baby crying to play in your home.

Many parents slowly set up the baby's arrival before it is born. Allow your cat to become familiar with the baby's items. Let it become used to smells such as baby powder & wipes. While I think it's a great idea to let your cat become familiar with the baby's furniture, I wouldn't recommend allowing the cat to jump in or sleep in the crib, as it will lead to confusion once the baby arrives & the cat is no longer permitted to do this.

Before you bring your baby home from the hospital, send home a blanket that your baby has been wrapped in, so your cat can become familiar with the baby's smell in advance. When the cat sniffs it, give it lots of praise.

If you are concerned that your cat may be upset by the new addition, you could try using some Feliway diffusers around the house. They are synthetic pheromones which have a calming effect on your cat.

The homecoming:

Keep the same routine for your cat. They are creatures of habit.

When you are with your baby, talk to your cat. Make sure that the cat has positive associations with the baby.

Let the cat become familiar with the baby in it's own time, don't rush the introduction. We found our cats showed mild curiosity by coming up & sniffing the new baby in our arms, but that was the extent of it. Naturally, only permit your cat to come near the baby when you are around to supervise.

Set aside time during the day just for your cat, so he still feels included in your life. This time may be spent grooming him, stoking him, playing with him, walking him on a leash or some other activity your cat enjoys doing with you.

It will be some time before your baby is mobile, but it's always an idea to think ahead of time. Place food bowls & litter trays in an area your crawler can't access. Also, provide your cat with a place to escape to if need be. We have a large scratching post for our cats which our children can't climb. We also have two gated areas which the cats can hop over but the children can't.

Ensure that when your baby is sleeping, your cat doesn't have access to her. You can either put her in her own room & close the door, put her in her own room, replacing the door with a screen door, so the cat can see but can't actually get into the room, or you can buy a crib net to keep the cat out.

If your cat is having problems adjusting to the new baby it is worth talking to your vet, who should either be able to assist, or put you onto a feline behaviourist.

Summary:

It is quite possible to live safely with cats both during & after pregnancy as long as some basic common sense steps are taken. Many shelters are left to pick up the pieces after a family has surrendered their cat because they believe they are putting their unborn baby at risk. It would be a terrible shame to lose a family pet when all that’s required are some simple & basic precautions.