Litter box

Did you clean it while you were pregnant? We just got a kitten and are trying but we have a litter box and I am the person who cleans it. My husband is frustrated with me for getting the kitten knowing that the cat urine can/does cause/s birth defects. Should I get rid of the cat? especailly with my first loss?

I have always heard it was an ingredient in the litter that could be harmful to baking baby not cat pee. If you really like the cat - keep the cat! Make hubby change the box.
HTH,
Cathie

it's actually the feces.... I have Toxoplasmosis (the disease you get from cats)  My mom swears up and down she didn't change the cat litter and that I actually got it from our outside sandbox that all the outdoor neighborhood cats probably used as a giant litter box....... lol.... anything to take her guilt away ha ha.

I've gone blind twice and it made me gain 140 pounds due to high doses of steroids.... it's a nasty nasty disease and had a huge part in my obesity.

I had two cats with all three of my pregnancies and I just made sure someone else changed the litter.  I would think hubby would be a little more understanding.  Good luck...Penni

It's actualy the feces of cats- especially Kittens that is harmful. I have the disease you get from that. It's called Toxoplasmosis. I've gone blind in my left eye twice and had to take very high doses of steroids and about 7 other medications to restore my sight. I have a permant scar on retina from this.

Do not clean the cat litter..... Make your husband do it... it's the least he can do right now. I don't think you should get rid of your new cat if your hubby can man up and clean the litter for 9 months.

If you have any other questions about Toxoplasmosis let me know....

Thank you so much for the information, and I'm sorry about you having it. Thank goodness you are able to be treated. I read up more about it online, There's so many wise tales about the litter box, I can't believe it.

And in addition to the cat feces diseases, the clay dust in litter is very dangerous too.  In college, my pottery class teacher always said if we were pregnant or got pregnant during the class we would have to withdraw.

its perfectly ok to change the cat litter for inside only cat.  you have to take precautions and wash your hands.

I was cautioned against gardening without gloves on because I'd have an easier time getting it from that then changing my 3 indoor cats litter.

seriously. its ok. lol

I have read in many books, been told by OB, my nurse, and have been told by many friends that I should NOT change the litter box. There was nothing mentioned regarding whether the cat was indoor or outdoor. I wouldn't take that risk!! Just to be safe I would make husband do it. If that upsets him that would worry me because a baby is a lot harder than a kitten and it's litter box... lol!!

-Ashlie

we can't all do that. lol

my husband is gone for days/weeks at a time and the cats are still going to poop.

it does make a difference if they are indoor or outdoor.  and its safe to do it. I'm on my 3rd child and have seen 4 different ob's at my high risk clinic that have all agreed with my first ob that its ok to do if you wash your hands. 

according to the FDA, you get it by INGESTING the INFECTED feces off your hands.  so as long as you wear gloves and wash your hands I don't really see how you'd ingest it.

http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/HealthEducators/ucm083327.htm