Is it safe to change cat litter during pregnancy?
Cat or dog faeces can carry a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, an infection that isn’t serious for you but can pose a danger to your developing baby. Some birds and other animals, as well as some raw, cured or undercooked meats, can also carry the parasite. Toxoplasmosis causes most severe damage to the foetus if a woman comes down with it in her first trimester. Happily, the odds of contracting toxoplasmosis during pregnancy are low, and if you’ve had it once, you can’t catch it again. What’s more, it’s rare for a woman to be infected for the first time during pregnancy. Some experts even argue that you’re much more likely to catch it from eating raw, undercooked or cured meat than from your cat. Plus, if you live with cats, the likelihood is even higher that you’ve already contracted the disease and developed an immunity to it. Read our article on toxoplasmosis for more information. Experts, however, recommend that pregnant women should avoid emptying the cat or dog litter. Ideall
