I have heard that pregnant women aren't supposed to handle anything that has to do with a cat's litter box and I was wondering, what about it is dangerous to only pregnant women?
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Kitt-tastrophy
ANSWERS: 6
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It's a bacteria found in cat fecal matter. Don't remember what it's called, but the bacteria may cause damage to the fetus.
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Its called Toxoplasmosis. It can cause serious birth defects in the baby.
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Ii found this: "The risk to pregnant women, from cats, is primarily due to the disease toxoplasmosis, which is caused by a protozoan, not a bacteria. Protozoans are single celled organisms that sometimes have complex life cycles. In the case of toxoplasmosis, the organism that causes it is Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is found everywhere that cats are found. Many mammals can be infected with toxoplasmosis, but only cats shed the organism in their stools, where they can be passed to other animals. Oddly enough, though, most humans are not infected because of exposure to Toxoplasma organisms in the soil, litterpan or other source of exposure cat stools. Most humans are infected by eating undercooked meat, especially pork and lamb. Cats actually acquire the infection from eating raw prey most commonly, too. Adult humans who become infected usually are unaware of the infection but may have flu-like symptoms. In humans with immune compromise, such as victims of AIDS, Toxoplasmosis is a much more severe infection, though." Source and more: http://www.vetinfo4cats.com/crisks.html
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Everyone else gave you the answer. But I want to add that it's a great time to have Audio doing that job. And make sure you tell him that the risk lasts for years after the baby is born. Which of course isn't true but a great excuse if he buys it. Which he probably won't but it's worth a try.
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You could get toxoplasmosis! It can cause serious birth defects. Here's an article with more information: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/pregnancy_and_toxoplasmosis.html
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Because of the risk of toxoplasmosis, caused by parasites that may be in the cat's feces. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis#Pregnancy_precautions
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