I'm pregnant and have always been a cat lover. But I've heard that cats can
cause problems for a fetus. Is it safe to have a cat during pregnancy, or do I have
to get rid of my beloved pet?
– Cyndy
You can keep, and continue to cuddle with, your friendly feline — just don't
change your cat's litter box. An infection called toxoplasmosis
can be spread through soiled litter boxes and can cause miscarriage and serious problems
in a fetus, including seizures and severe eye and brain damage. A pregnant woman who
becomes infected often has no symptoms but can still pass the infection on to her
developing baby.
But avoiding the infection is pretty easy — just have someone else change
the litter box daily, making sure to clean it thoroughly and then washing his
or her hands well afterward. What better reason than pregnancy to get out of an often-unpleasant
job! It also can help to keep your cat indoors and to not feed it any raw or undercooked
foods.
