Can having a cat prevent you from getting pregnant?

If you have a cat and are thinking about becoming pregnant, you may be at risk for toxoplasmosis. T. gondii infects essentially all cats that spend any time outdoors. Cats get this parasite by eating small animals or raw meat that’s infected.

Are cats bad for women’s health?

Conclusion. While some cat feces do have the potential to cause serious or even fatal complications in a developing fetus, the fact remains that women do not need to avoid cats altogether during their pregnancy. Staying clear of the litter box will dramatically lower the risk of toxoplasmosis.

Do cats affect human pregnancy?

How can Toxoplasma affect my unborn child? If you are newly infected with Toxoplasma while you are pregnant, or just before pregnancy, then you can pass the infection on to your baby. You may not have any symptoms from the infection.

Can toxoplasmosis make you infertile?

Conclusions. Toxoplasmosis is thus, an easily treatable cause of abortions and infertility. All antenatal females and females with infertility should be screened for toxoplasmosis.

Do all cat owners have toxoplasmosis?

As many as 30 to 50 percent of all cats, dogs, and people have already been exposed to toxoplasmosis, meaning their bodies have already made antibodies to it.

Is smelling cat litter bad for pregnancy?

This is because cat poo can carry a parasite that causes the infection toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis isn’t serious for you but it can pose a danger to your developing baby if you catch it shortly before or during pregnancy. Thankfully, the odds of contracting toxoplasmosis during pregnancy are very low.

Why do cats cause infertility?

Cats can carry Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that causes birth defects, miscarriages and death in people with weakened immune systems.

Do all cats have Toxoplasma gondii?

Toxoplasma (Toxoplasma gondii) is a tiny parasite that infects people as well as birds and other animals. Only cats and other members of the cat family shed Toxoplasma in their feces.

What percent of cat owners have toxoplasmosis?

Infection is more common in pets that go outside, hunt, or are fed raw meat. The prevalence of oocyst shedding in cats is very low (0-1\%), even though at least 15-40\% of cats have been infected with Toxoplasma at some point.

Can indoor cats get Toxoplasma gondii?

In addition, cats kept indoors (that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat) are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasma. But, if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or have a weakened immune system, it is important to protect yourself from infection.