Kitty advice??

lindsayanne14

I had an appointment on Friday, it was the first time meeting this particular Dr, there are 8 in my practice. He asked me if I have a cat, which I do. I was expecting the kitty litter warning that I was given during my first PG but this Dr went off! He basically told me to not touch, pet, sleep with or brush my cat. It seemed a little extreme to me. Has anyone else been given this type of cat warning? I feel like maybe it's just something he's particular about. I've never read or been told anything about cats other than the danger of litter and watching them around the baby as you would any other pet. Thoughts ladies???

AmeliaKris

I have a cat and assume the same as you. I have also heard that if you have been around cats for some time that there's a good chance you already contracted toxoplasmosis at some point and probably have the antibodies to it. Hence the baby is protected. Not sure if its true though.

kateisgreat

Wow. That's a little overboard. DH got put on litter duty, and my cat hates everyone and doesn't want to get petted anyhow, but I was never told to not pet her. Did your Dr give any reasons for all the precautions? 

lindsayanne14

kateisgreat:

Wow. That's a little overboard. DH got put on litter duty, and my cat hates everyone and doesn't want to get petted anyhow, but I was never told to not pet her. Did your Dr give any reasons for all the precautions?nbsp;

Just toxoplasmosis...but it's not like I'm licking the bottom of her paws or something!!

skittles230

Well, that's a LOT extreme. I've never heard of someone going that crazy about cats... I just got the standard "don't change the litter and wash your hands a little more frequently" lecture. 

MrsSteSte

Is your cat an outdoor cat? I think the toxoplasmosis issue is almost entirely limited to those cats. Indoor cats have rare opportunity to come in contact with the carriers otherwise. My H is on litter box duty, too, but... I'm not really concerned. Our cats are indoor only, though. I have done litter once or twice, and just scrubbed my hands immediately after. I've read it's safe with gloves on, too.

I hope your dr was just being overly reactionary.

lindsayanne14

MrsSteSte:

Is your cat an outdoor cat? I think the toxoplasmosis issue is almost entirely limited to those cats. Indoor cats have rare opportunity to come in contact with the carriers otherwise. My H is on litter box duty, too, but... I'm not really concerned. Our cats are indoor only, though. I have done litter once or twice, and just scrubbed my hands immediately after. I've read it's safe with gloves on, too. I hope your dr was just being overly reactionary.

She's an indoor cat. Maybe he just isn't a cat person, haha! 

lynn97

I tend to think that it isn't that big of a deal. I would just avoid litter duty and wash your hands after petting the cat. I have a doctor that hates cats and is always all about no one should have them as pets because they're the root of all evil. Whatever. I don't have cats but he seems a bit extreme to me. He is an allergist, though, so his reasons are very different from your OBs, I suspect.

Missuskeekers

My cat is indoors and I was just kissing her face lol. I don't change her litter and I try not to touch her right after she comes out of the litterbox but I am not too worried.

CharmedBAcMF

Your doctor sounds like a uneducated fearmongerer. Lovely. I hope his patients don't abandon their pets because of that bs.

Normal precautions are fine including having s/o clean littler box and washing your hands more frequently. Other than that you're fine.

katharine25

Your dr. Is being way extreme. I have 3 very cuddly cats cats, a history of loss [completely unrelated], and nothing has changed in my house. I still do the litter box even, I just make sure to thoroughly wash my hands afterwards. The Two specialists and two OB's I've seen have all said this protocol is just fine.

Frankly, I would be more concerned about a doctor who freaks you out about something like that.

coastalchristina

That's redic.  Just avoid the cat litter and wash your hands more often. 

peanutmuse

CharmedBAcMF:

Your doctor sounds like a uneducated fearmongerer. Lovely. I hope his patients don't abandon their pets because of that bs.

Normal precautions are fine including having s/o clean littler box and washing your hands more frequently. Other than that you're fine.

Thumbs up!

LnR70707

That doctor is a neurotic a$$.  My one cat was glued to me my whole first pregnancy and it looks as though that is his plan again.  I don't change the litter unless I have to (ie, DH is away) but other than that I live my life with my pets as normal.

lindsayanne14

katharine25:

Your dr. Is being way extreme. I have 3 very cuddly cats cats, a history of loss [completely unrelated], and nothing has changed in my house. I still do the litter box even, I just make sure to thoroughly wash my hands afterwards. The Two specialists and two OB's I've seen have all said this protocol is just fine.

Frankly, I would be more concerned about a doctor who freaks you out about something like that.

He didn't freak me out or convince me to shun my kitty for the next 7 months, I just thought the info about it seemed extreme. It seems most of you agree! Other than the cat stuff, I liked him and the other Drs in the practice. I guess this is just a piece of Drs advice I won't be following!

dinomama13

My doc is fine with my THREE cats. It's my mom and grandma that constantly badger me asking "any luck giving away your cats?" Ughhhh I've already told them I'm not getting rid of them countless times!

aessary03

Lmao. Keep petting your cat. Kiss her and hug her if you want! Lol just have someone change her potty box. I have an indoor cat that is 7. She's scared to death of the outside. I seriously doubt she has toxoplasmosis. But she's not a very lovey cat ... She doesn't like being picked up and only wants to be lived on her terms. Me and the doggie get along better. :
I totally wouldn't worry about it too much

katharine25

lindsayanne79:

katharine25:

Your dr. Is being way extreme. I have 3 very cuddly cats cats, a history of loss [completely unrelated], and nothing has changed in my house. I still do the litter box even, I just make sure to thoroughly wash my hands afterwards. The Two specialists and two OB's I've seen have all said this protocol is just fine.

Frankly, I would be more concerned about a doctor who freaks you out about something like that.

He didn't freak me out or convince me to shun my kitty for the next 7 months, I just thought the info about it seemed extreme. It seems most of you agree! Other than the cat stuff, I liked him and the other Drs in the practice. I guess this is just a piece of Drs advice I won't be following!

I'm glad he didn't freak you out, but I'de still be weary of him because saying that will cause SOME women to freak out. This is one reason why so many people flip out and Abandon their cats for no good reason... It happens, a lot. Maybe next time when you see another You should mention how overly cautious his one doctor was... It's really not something he should be saying to women.

lindsayanne14

katharine25:

lindsayanne79:

katharine25:

Your dr. Is being way extreme. I have 3 very cuddly cats cats, a history of loss [completely unrelated], and nothing has changed in my house. I still do the litter box even, I just make sure to thoroughly wash my hands afterwards. The Two specialists and two OB's I've seen have all said this protocol is just fine. Frankly, I would be more concerned about a doctor who freaks you out about something like that.

He didn't freak me out or convince me to shun my kitty for the next 7 months, I just thought the info about it seemed extreme. It seems most of you agree! Other than the cat stuff, I liked him and the other Drs in the practice. I guess this is just a piece of Drs advice I won't be following!

I'm glad he didn't freak you out, but I'de still be weary of him because saying that will cause SOME women to freak out. This is one reason why so many people flip out and Abandon their cats for no good reason... It happens, a lot. Maybe next time when you see another You should mention how overly cautious his one doctor was... It's really not something he should be saying to women.

I agree with you! It didn't even seem logical to me, PG women have been around cats for a very long time.  I just found his reaction so extreme I wanted to see if anyone else had heard something similar. The other Dr I met in my first PG just brushed over the cat with a quick "have your DH change the litter".  I think I would abandon my DH before my pets! Just kidding! 

LJR 84

I've never heard such extreme advice. My dh now does the kitty litter, but that's it. 

TurtleMomma

I'm a lifelong cat owner. I have worked in the veterinary field for years. I think the vet should be warning me to wash my hands before handling the cat!

adnama36

My doctor specifically told me NOT to change anything about the way I handle my cats, other than to avoid taking care of the litter box.

Millie1984

peanut+muse:

CharmedBAcMF:

Your doctor sounds like a uneducated fearmongerer. Lovely. I hope his patients don't abandon their pets because of that bs. Normal precautions are fine including having s/o clean littler box and washing your hands more frequently. Other than that you're fine.

Thumbs up!

Yup! 

atyler727

MrsSteSte:

Is your cat an outdoor cat? I think the toxoplasmosis issue is almost entirely limited to those cats. Indoor cats have rare opportunity to come in contact with the carriers otherwise. My H is on litter box duty, too, but... I'm not really concerned. Our cats are indoor only, though. I have done litter once or twice, and just scrubbed my hands immediately after. I've read it's safe with gloves on, too. I hope your dr was just being overly reactionary.

 

i agree. I feel like I've read this in "what to expect when you're expecting". I have two indoor only cats and they're my babies so I have no intention of giving them any less attention. It's probably absolutely safest to have no contact, but you can't be in a plastic bubble the duration of your pregnancy. You have to be reasonable and take into consideration what the chances are of something actually happening. I also had seafood last night; no big deal, just have to pay attention to how much you eat and what. It's also safe to have A cup of coffee...same thing.