Pregnant and Can I Keep a Cat? A Safe Guide

It's often criticized that pregnant women are advised not to keep cats, primarily due to the risk of toxoplasmosis. But is this reason wellfounded? Let's delve into the facts about toxoplasmosis first. Toxoplasmosis, also known as Toxoplasma gondii, is a protozoan parasite that resides within cells and can affect both humans and animals. Cats, dogs, cattle, sheep, and pigs are among its primary hosts, with felines being the only confirmed definitive hosts.

Once the mature cysts, pseudocysts, or oocysts of the toxoplasma enter a cat's stomach through the mouth, the eggs will mature into adult worms in the cat's intestines. The resulting oocysts are then excreted in the cat's feces, entering the human environment. An infected cat can expel up to 20 million oocysts per day, for a duration of about 10 to 20 days.

fresh oocysts are not infectious, but they become so within 1 to 5 days when exposed to moist air. These mature, infectious sporulated oocysts can survive for months or even years, showing resistance to disinfectants, freezing, and drying. They can be killed by a 70°C temperature for 10 minutes.

There are several known ways in which toxoplasmosis can be transmitted to humans:

1. Consumption of Infected Meat

Meat that is not properly cooked to kill the cysts can lead to infection if consumed.

2. Cat Feces Transmission

Oocysts are excreted in a cat's feces and require 1 to 5 days to become infectious. However, regular cleaning of the litter box significantly reduces this risk.

3. Congenital Infection

Pregnant women can pass toxoplasmosis to their fetus if they become infected during pregnancy. However, if a woman was infected before pregnancy and has been cured, there is no risk of transmission to the fetus.

For humans to contract toxoplasmosis from cats, the process is quite specific: feeding the cat raw meat, the cat becomes infected, and within 24 hours of the cat defecating, you fail to clean the litter box. While cleaning the litter box, you accidentally touch the feces and then ingest it. The likelihood of this happening is as rare as winning the lottery. During pregnancy, by simply avoiding contact with cat feces and practicing good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis from cats is virtually nil.

Tip: For more pet care knowledge, check out "Newbie Pet Care" or consult an online pet doctor directly!