Comments on Cat Health Problems: How to Get Toxoplasmosis From Your Cat

Oh, one more thing: Just as a reminder, please not...

2009-10-14T17:17:40.864-06:00

Oh, one more thing: Just as a reminder, please note that having a positive antibody titer after a blood test does NOT mean you are infected. It means, rather, that you have been exposed to the organism, BUT you now are immune because you have the antibodies in your blood. Same goes for the cat. Hope that puts your mind at ease. I did a lot of research on this...

Thanks for finding my article on toxoplasmosis. I ...

2009-10-14T17:08:07.713-06:00

Thanks for finding my article on toxoplasmosis. I hope it helps you to relax and feel more confident that you are doing the right thing to keep your cats. As for being "overly cautious," there is nothing wrong with being as careful as possible. The only problem I've seen with that has been when it leads to almost neurotic measures, causing harm either to you, family members, or the cat! It's typical of doctors to demand that all family pet cats be disposed of when mom gets pregnant. Now, THAT's overboard. Totally unnecessary. Though the risk is small-to-none from your description of your situation, I see nothing wrong with using disposable gloves! It's a distasteful job anyway. It sounds like you love your cats, so why not keep them? I've run a shelter for 7 years and saw too many cats die unnecessarily because they were removed from the families they loved and could not adjust to it. Cats are very sensitive.

The next issue you may encounter is that of a cat "stealing a baby's breath" once your new baby arrives. That is, of course, pure hogwash. Cats love babies and have no nefarious motives about it. Perhaps the baby smells great to them, certainly they are warm and soft, and the cat may feel an immediate bond to a new family member, just as we do. Don't discount that.

Thanks for writing!

Thank you so much for this article - the first one...

2009-10-13T14:41:45.743-06:00

Thank you so much for this article - the first one that actually makes sense and puts my mind at ease!
My cat(9 yr old who was homeless) had titres in her blood which showed positive antibodies to a previous infection of toxoplasmosis somewhere along the line between 0-5yrs ago, i have been worrying myself sick recently as we have been trying to conceive and i've been considering gettting pre-pregnancy antibody test incase i currently had any active infection. We already have another cat who is 9 yr old, do you think i am being overly cautious? p.s and i am using disposable gloves whilst cleaning the litter tray!

Thank you for your comment on this. I was beginnin...

2009-04-29T19:09:00.000-06:00

Thank you for your comment on this. I was beginning to think no one was reading these things. I can't seem to get the message out either. As a rescuer, I was inundated with people surrendering their beloved cats because their big honcho doctor told them they had to. I simply could not convince them of this "non-risk." I'm a doctor, too, but I'm not THEIR doctor. And it's also surprising (maybe not) how doctors hold their patients hostage by threatening not to treat them if they don't follow orders. Anyway, thanks for your comments. That means a lot to me.

Cat Bert, Thank you, thank you, thank you for pos...

2009-04-28T18:39:00.000-06:00

Cat Bert,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this!! As a current nursing student AND having worked in veterinary medicine for nearly 10 years, I'm still appalled by the number of my preggers friends whose OBs tell them they have to get rid of their cat or have someone else "deal" with the litter box...I'm only one person, and I can only educate so many people before I'm just too dog-gone tired!

Cheers!