• Pregnant women should avoid cleaning the cat litter box to avoid the risk of exposure to toxoplasmosis.pregnancy image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
  
  If you are pregnant (or plan to be) and own a cat, you may have heard about the rare, but potentially dangerous infection that can threaten the health of your unborn child. The condition is called toxoplasmosis, and originates from a parasite. One common source of the parasite is from cats, as it grows and multiplies in a cat's intestines and ultimately in the feline's feces. Toxoplasmosis is also transmitted from eating undercooked meet from animals who are infected with the parasite.
  
  

Avoid the Cat Litter Box When Pregnant

• Replace litter altogether and sanitize the cat box when pregnancy is determined.cat near the master image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com
  
  While most healthy adults do not experience any effects from exposure to toxoplasmosis and many are already immune to the infection, it is the unborn child who is at risk. Luckily, simple changes to a pregnant woman's routine can minimize or even eliminate the chance of getting or passing along the infection. The easiest step to take is to have someone else in the family change the cat's litter box during pregnancy. Once pregnancy is established, consider completely replacing the litter with new litter and washing and sanitizing the litter box.
  
  

Put a Stop to Your Cat's Prowling While Pregnant

• Putting a halt to your cat's prowling while you are pregnant can minimize the risk of exposure to toxoplasmosis.cat image by tnk333 from Fotolia.com
  
  Another simple step to minimize the risk of exposure is to limit the household cat's prowling during pregnancy. Since your cat can become exposed to the parasite by interactions with other infected animals or through infected feces, keeping the cat indoors is a simple preventative step.Cats may often share sandboxes or like to dig in dirt where other cats have been, and fights between cats also provide the opportunity for the infection to be spread from one feline to another.
  
  

Practical Precautins to Take While Pregnant

• Your feline can still safely receive lots of love for everyone while you are pregnant.chat image by justine falzone from Fotolia.com
  
  There is no reason why a family needs to get rid of a beloved feline during pregnancy. However, while pregnant, you may be careful in your contact with your cat. Cats love to knead on people with their paws, and sometimes even their claws. Since that is how they dig around in their litter bx, any parasite could easily be spread to humans in this fashion. By no means does this mean you can't pet your cat or let him enjoy you lap, if you are the one who is pregnant. Simple precautions like placing a pillow under your cat when he wants a lap should help minimize the risk of infection.
  
  

When You Must Change the Litter Box While Pregnant

• Wear rubber gloves if you must change the litter box yourself when you are pregnant.medical gloves image by sasha from Fotolia.com
  
  If there is nobody else to change the litter box fr you when you are pregnant, it can be done safely with a a few extra precautions. If possible, wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from any contact with the litter or feces. If your cat's litter is dusty, you might consider wearing a mask to avoid inhaling the dust as well. Avoid touching other surfaces while changing the litter box and avoid any contact with your eyes or other parts of your body. After you are finished, safely dispose of both the litter and the gloves, and then thoroughly wash your hands.