The Real Risk: Toxoplasmosis
Pregnant women are advised to avoid changing cat litter because of a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite lives in cat feces and can cause an infection called toxoplasmosis. If a pregnant woman gets infected for the first time during pregnancy, the parasite can cross the placenta and harm the developing baby.
The risk is not that you will get sick — most healthy adults infected with toxoplasmosis have no symptoms at all, or only mild flu-like symptoms. The concern is what happens to the fetus. Infection in the first trimester carries the highest risk of serious complications, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects affecting the eyes, brain, or liver.
The infection is preventable. If you have never been infected before (which your doctor can test), avoiding the litter box during pregnancy eliminates one of the main routes the parasite can reach you.
Key Takeaways
- Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite in cat feces, can infect a pregnant woman and pass to her fetus, causing serious complications including miscarriage or birth defects.
- Most adults with toxoplasmosis have no symptoms, so you cannot tell by how you feel whether you are infected.
- A blood test before or early in pregnancy tells you whether you have immunity from a past infection, which means you cannot be infected again.
- If you have never been infected, ask someone else to change the litter box during pregnancy, or wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
- Outdoor soil, unwashed vegetables, and undercooked meat are also sources of infection, so food safety matters as much as avoiding the litter box.
How the Parasite Spreads
Cats shed Toxoplasma gondii in their feces for a few weeks after they first become infected — usually after eating infected prey like mice or birds. Once the parasite is in the litter box, it can survive in the soil or litter for months. When you scoop or clean the box, you can inhale dust containing the parasite or get it on your hands and then touch your mouth or food.
The risk is highest with outdoor cats or cats that hunt, because they are more likely to have eaten infected prey. Indoor cats that eat only commercial cat food have a much lower risk of carrying the parasite. Even so, you cannot know for certain whether your cat is infected just by looking at it.
Testing Before or During Pregnancy
Your doctor can order a blood test called a toxoplasmosis serology or toxo titer to check whether you have been infected in the past. If the test shows you have immunity, you cannot be infected again, and you can safely change the litter box. This test is not routine in all pregnancies, so ask your doctor whether it makes sense for you.
If you have never been infected and want to keep your cat, the safest approach is to have someone else change the litter box for the duration of your pregnancy. If that is not possible, wear disposable gloves, change the box daily (the parasite takes a few days to become infectious), and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water afterward.
Other Sources of Infection Matter Too
The litter box is not the only way to get toxoplasmosis. Undercooked meat — especially pork, lamb, and venison — can carry the parasite. Unwashed vegetables and fruits grown in soil can also be contaminated. During pregnancy, the same food safety rules that protect you from other infections also protect you from toxoplasmosis: cook meat to a safe internal temperature, wash produce under running water, and avoid unpasteurized dairy products.
These precautions matter whether or not you have a cat. If you have tested positive for immunity, you still need to follow food safety guidelines to protect yourself from other infections that can harm pregnancy.
What Happens If You Are Infected During Pregnancy
If you become infected with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, your doctor can treat you with antibiotics to reduce the risk that the infection will pass to your baby. The earlier in pregnancy the infection occurs, the lower the risk of transmission to the fetus, but the higher the risk of serious complications if transmission does happen. Later in pregnancy, transmission is more likely, but complications tend to be less severe.
Your doctor may recommend additional testing, such as amniocentesis (a test of the amniotic fluid) after 18 weeks of pregnancy, to determine whether your baby has been infected. Treatment can begin before birth if needed, which improves outcomes.
Cats and Pregnancy: The Bottom Line
Having a cat during pregnancy is safe as long as you take precautions. You do not need to give up your cat or avoid petting it — the parasite is only in the feces, not on the fur or skin. The key is to keep the litter box off-limits during pregnancy if you have never been infected, and to follow food safety practices regardless.
Talk to your doctor about whether a toxoplasmosis test makes sense for you. If you test positive for immunity, you can resume changing the litter box. If you test negative or have not been tested, ask a household member to take over litter box duty until after your baby is born.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get toxoplasmosis from petting my cat?
No. The parasite lives only in the feces, not on the cat's fur, skin, or saliva. You can safely pet, play with, and sleep near your cat during pregnancy. The only part of cat care to avoid is handling the litter box and the litter itself.
What if I already changed the litter box before I knew I was pregnant?
One or two exposures to the litter box do not may provide infection. Many people who handle cat litter never get infected. Tell your doctor what happened, and ask whether a toxoplasmosis test would give you peace of mind. If you are concerned, your doctor can test you and monitor you during pregnancy.
Is my indoor cat at risk of carrying toxoplasmosis?
Indoor cats that eat only commercial cat food have a very low risk. Cats become infected by eating infected prey, so outdoor cats and cats that hunt are at higher risk. Even so, you cannot tell by looking whether a cat is infected, which is why avoiding the litter box is the safest approach if you have not been tested.
Can I get toxoplasmosis from my partner or other family members?
No. Toxoplasmosis is not contagious from person to person. You can only get it from cat feces, contaminated soil, or undercooked meat. Your partner cannot give it to you, and you cannot give it to anyone else.
Do I need to get rid of my cat if I am pregnant?
No. You do not need to rehome your cat. straightforward have someone else change the litter box, wash your hands after petting your cat, and follow food safety practices. If you test positive for immunity before pregnancy, you can handle the litter box yourself.