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Pets and Pregnancy

What Every Expecting Woman Needs to Know

By Jacqueline Bodnar

When you become pregnant, you might immediately start wondering about the safety of what you put into your mouth. But equally important and often overlooked is what you come in contact with around your home, specifically your pets. While some pets pose no concern, there are precautions you should take with others.

Here's the latest advice for pregnant women when it comes to some of the most common types of pets.

At one time, when women would get pregnant people believed they had to get rid of their family cat. The information available now confirms this just isn't necessary. But that doesn't mean cats don't raise concerns for pregnant women. They do, but there are precautions that can be taken to try to avoid problems.

"I have two cats, and as soon as I started trying to get pregnant with my first child, my husband took over litter duty," says Natalie Cooper of Monsey, N.Y. "That was four years ago, and he's still doing it."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), toxoplasmosis is the main concern when it comes to pregnancy and cats. The infection can lead to birth defects and miscarriage in pregnant women. Cats can get the infection by eating contaminated raw meat, birds, soil or mice. Cats then pass the contagious stage of the infection through their feces. The CDC recommends pregnant women take the follow precautions:

• Avoid having the pregnant woman change, clean or come in contact with the litter box. If there is nobody else to do the job then she should be sure to wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly when finished.


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Want to see more?

• Toddlers and Pets: Four-legged Friends for Little People
• Pet Appeal: Preparing Furry Friends for the New Baby
• Daily Dangers: Preventing Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy
• Talk about it!

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