Re:Do I Need to Get Rid of My Cat?
The “infection” your mom means is called toxoplasmosis. It is transferred by a parasite and won’t hurt you but could potentially be very risky to your unborn child. Very few women contract this illness during their pregnancies and not all of them pass it along to their babies. In fact, very few babies are born with toxoplasmosis but the infection does cause stillbirth or long term damage. So, it is something to take seriously. But you don’t have to get rid of your cat – as long as you are cautious.
Unlike a lot of other pregnancy risks which drop as you progress towards 40 weeks, toxoplasmosis is more likely to be passed from mother to baby the further along she is in her pregnancy. So, don’t get lax on your precautions as time passes. Somewhere between 1 and 10 in 10,000 babies in the United States contract toxoplasmosis in utero annually.
Most toxoplasmosis infections are actually caused by eating raw or undercooked infected meat. But you can also get it through unwashed contaminated produce, contaminated water, or handling contaminated soil, cat litter, or meat and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
What you should do to avoid toxoplasmosis – short of ditching the cat
• Cook meat to 160 degrees or well-done.
• Avoid salt-cured or smoked meats
• Don't drink unpasteurized milk or eat raw eggs.
• Wash or peel fruits and veggies.
• Keep your counters, cutting boards, knives and hands very clean using hot, soapy water.
• Wear gloves while gardening, and don't touch your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes until they've been washed thoroughly afterward.
• Have other people empty the litter box daily. If you do have to empty the box, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands well afterward. You may even want to wear a mask.
• Keep the cat off the counters and tables and don’t feed him any raw or undercooked meat.
• Wash your hands immediately after playing with the cat.
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