I recently saw the movie “Nine Months.” It predictably deals with a young couple having a baby. Although no Oscar contender, it certainly made me laugh.

It also made me want to scream.

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The couple consulted their obstetrician, who was portrayed by Robin Williams. In a serious moment, he informed the couple that because of Toxoplasmosis, a disease common among cats, they would have to get rid of the family cat – “It’s the cat or the baby,” he said.

This scene is familiar – a distressed, misinformed cat owner appealing to me about advice to get rid of the cat.

I say the cat can stay.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease of cats and other animals caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a single-celled organism called a protozoan. Cats are common carriers of this parasite and are usually responsible for passing the disease to other animals.

The cat acquires the infection by eating birds and rodents with the parasite in their tissues. The parasite multiplies in the cat’s intestines and is shed as oocysts (eggs) in the feces.

Within five days of being shed, these eggs can infect other animals, including humans. The eggs can survive in the environment for several months.

The infection spreads to other animals by means of ingestion. Common infected animals are rodents, ground-feeding birds, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle and humans in under-developed countries.

In industrialized nations such as the United States, people usually become infected by eating undercooked meat, especially lamb and pork. Humans also can acquire the disease by not thoroughly washing their hands after handling soil – gardening or playing in the sandbox – where cats may have gone to the bathroom. It can also be passed on by eating unwashed or uncooked vegetables.

Most humans have already been exposed to Toxoplasma (it usually doesn’t cause a significant disease), providing protection against future infection.

The danger to an expectant mother is if she has not been exposed to the disease. If exposure occurs while she is pregnant, it can cause severe and permanent damage to the baby.

I recommend that an expectant mother have her obstetrician perform a blood test to determine whether or not she has had previous exposure, and thus whether or not her baby is at risk. In either case, I still recommend the following precautions:

  • Have someone else clean the cat’s litter box, daily.
  • Wear rubber gloves while gardening.
  • Wash all vegetables completely prior to eating.
  • Avoid handling stray cats.
  • Wash well with soap and water following any contact with soil or cats.
  • Cook all meats thoroughly.

Your veterinarian can run tests to determine if your cat is in a stage of infection that may present a danger. Cats usually only shed the infected eggs once in their life, and often do it as kittens or young adults.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease to watch out for, but with proper education and understanding, we can safely continue to share our homes with our feline friends.