I heard a recommendation about pregnant woman, who should keep away from cats as she might get infected by bacteria in the cat, and then get an abnormal baby. How come? Is that true?
The reason that pregnant women should avoid changing cat litter boxes is
because cats can be infected with a disease called toxoplasmosis. This
often happens when cats hunt and eat other animals. Therefore, it is rare in house-bound cats. A pregnant woman can catch the infection through touching or breathing particles (such as dust) from cat feces. If a woman gets the infection during pregnancy it can affect the developing baby and cause birth defects, particularly in brain development. Therefore it is generally advised that women who are pregnant ask to have someone else change the cat litter boxes. It is safe to hold and pet your cat however, so feel free to give your pet all the affection it deserves.
-- S. Yates, 12/6/95; Category: Women's Health
