Can I clean the cat litter during pregnancy?
Cats and their feces may carry a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. While it’s rare to get toxoplasmosis from your cat, you should avoid changing cat litter during pregnancy, or wear gloves and wash your hands right after!
What is toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is in an infection caused by the parasite, toxoplasma gondii. While pregnant people often do not have signs of the infection, it can harm a growing fetus. When a pregnant person is infected with this parasite for the first time in pregnancy, it can lead to congenital toxoplasmosis. This can have serious consequences for a baby, including issues with the eyes and brain.
How to avoid toxoplasmosis in pregnancy:
– Don’t change cat litter, or if you do, wear gloves and wash hands
– Wear gloves when gardening, and wash hands after
– Avoid undercooked or raw meat, unpasteurized milk or cheese, and water that has not been purified