There are many things you need to avoid or be careful of during pregnancy. Since the body is going through such major changes, and the baby’s health is also at stake, pregnant women do their best to make sure their environment is also safe.
Although most of this seems sensible, some people might take it to the extreme and go to unreasonable lengths to be careful. This is exactly what happened when one overly concerned mom tried interfering during her daughter’s pregnancy and attempted to kick out her roommate’s cat.
More info: Reddit
From all the possible risks that a pregnant person could face, getting an infection from a pet cat is the least likely
Image credits: Rumeysa Yılmaz / Pexels (not the actual photo)
The 22-year-old poster explained that she had been living alone in an apartment with her pet cat and that she also used to foster and volunteer with the local cat rescue organization
Image credits: Kindel Media / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Recently, her best friend, Kristy, moved in with her because she could no longer stay with her toxic mom and stepdad, and the poster was more than willing to help
Image credits: Anastasia Bekker / Pexels (not the actual photo)
A little while after moving in, Kristy learned she was pregnant, and her mom came over and began causing drama, saying that the poster’s cat needed to go as it could affect Kristy’s health
Image credits: This-Guidance-9105
The poster refused to get rid of her cat and suggested she’d keep the cat’s litter boxes and foster kittens away from Kristy, but the mom didn’t back down and called her selfish
The poster very generously helped her best friend Kristy with a space to live in and made sure that she was safe from her toxic mom and stepdad. It was only when the other woman got pregnant that any problem actually arose. Kristy said that she and her boyfriend were planning to get their own place soon, after which she’d move out, but until then, she’d live with the OP.
This proved to be an issue when Kristy’s mom suddenly turned up and asked the poster to get rid of her pet cat. The mother felt that having a feline around would increase the risk of her daughter getting toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. It is an infection involving a parasite that can be passed onto the baby if the pregnant mother gets infected.
To get an expert’s opinion on this situation, Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Lora Shahine, MD. She is a reproductive endocrinologist at PNWF in Seattle, a clinical associate professor at the University of Washington, and the host of the Baby or Bust Fertility podcast.
Dr. Lora told us that “pregnant women don't necessarily need to avoid cats or other animals completely, but they should take precautions, particularly with cats. The concern with cats is their litter, which can contain the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. It’s mainly cat feces, especially from outdoor cats that hunt or eat raw meat, that poses a risk.”
“The risk of contracting toxoplasmosis from cats is relatively low, especially if you follow good hygiene practices. The parasite Toxoplasma gondii that causes toxoplasmosis can be found in cat feces, but not all cats carry it. The infection is most likely to be present in outdoor cats that hunt and consume raw meat.”
“Indoor cats that are fed commercial cat food and don’t hunt are much less likely to carry the parasite. The real risk occurs when a pregnant woman accidentally ingests the parasite, which can happen if she comes into contact with infected cat feces (like when cleaning the litter box) and doesn’t properly wash her hands afterward,” she explained.
The incidence of a toxoplasmosis infection during pregnancy in the United States is estimated to be just between 0.2-1.0%. Although it’s not something to be taken lightly and can cause serious health issues for the baby after birth, as Dr. Lora mentioned, being around a pet cat is not the likeliest way of getting the infection.
The OP knew that her pet cat did not actually pose a health risk to Kristy. Just to be on the safe side, she said that she would keep the cat’s litter boxes clean, limit how much she fostered, and do everything in her power to make sure Kristy had minimal contact with any felines. All of this still did not satisfy the mom.
Image credits: KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA / Pexels (not the actual photo)
The poster felt confused about what exactly to do to satisfy Kristy and her mom because she had given ample suggestions, and all had been vetoed. Netizens told her that the mom was probably creating such a hassle to convince her daughter to move back home during her pregnancy. They also said that Kristy needed to take care of her own health and that it wasn’t the OP’s responsibility.
Toxoplasmosis is no joke and can seriously affect a person's and baby’s health. That’s why if someone is concerned about the risk of infection, they need to take matters into their own hands and keep themselves safe.
- Pregnant women should avoid changing cat litter if possible. If they must do it, wearing gloves and washing hands thoroughly afterward is essential. Having someone else take care of the litter box during pregnancy is ideal.
- After touching animals or working with soil (while gardening), women should always wash their hands to reduce the risk of exposure to any parasites or bacteria.
- Animals that roam outdoors might carry various infections. It's wise to avoid direct contact with their feces or areas where they might have been.
- Toxoplasmosis can also be contracted from undercooked meat. OB-GYNs usually recommend that pregnant women ensure the meat is cooked to a safe temperature.
- Other household pets, like dogs, generally don’t pose significant risks during pregnancy as long as they are healthy and cared for properly. However, if any pet shows signs of illness, a pregnant woman should avoid contact and consult a veterinarian.
- The parasite can also be present in soil contaminated with infected cat feces, so wearing gloves while gardening is a smart precaution.
Luckily, Kristy and the OP made up and decided to put the situation behind them. It’s also great that her mom was banned from their house, especially after her crazy behavior and accusations. She obviously had devious intentions and wanted to pit both roommates against each other.
How would you have handled this situation if you were the OP? Tell us in the comments.
People sided with the poster, saying that her pet cat could cause no harm to Kristy and that her mom was only trying to stir up drama
