Is it ok if my baby touch a cat ?

Morgan - posted on 09/09/2009

toxoplasmosis... is really only dangerous if you are pregnant. you can get it if the cat is infected and while preg. you change the litter box and breath it in. my son carries our outdoor cats around all day long and he is the healthiest kid i know.

Kim - posted on 09/08/2009

my cat was always watching out for my baby when she played on the floor the cat was always at her side no way to stop it from happening

Jennifer - posted on 09/07/2009

I had cats my whole life and apparently had taxoplasmosis at some point in childhood because it came up for +antibioties when tested with pregnancy.. the symptoms are that of a high fever etc.. chills.. not a big deal.. probably looked like a bad virus to my parents. good i got it young so i never had to worry about during pregnancy..NO BIG DEAL.. cats are safe pets..

Angela - posted on 09/03/2009

Yes, they can touch cats. It is the cat feces/urine that you want them to stay away from. That is where the bacteria is. That is also why pregnant women should not clean litter boxes.

September - posted on 09/02/2009

I think that it's fine for your child to touch a cat. I would not worry. In fact I was worried because our nanny has three cats so I talked to my Doc. and she said that it's good for my son to be around cats while he is young because it will help to lessen any allergies that are cat related. Just be sure to wash your childs hands after he or she touches the cat. As long as the cat is healthy I don't think there is anything to worry about :)

Suzan - posted on 09/02/2009

Relax. Millions of families around the world, for several decades, have cats living in their homes and have no problems with their babies. Cats sleeping in kids beds, cats walking through the house, cats playing with kids - none of that is a problem. Just don't let them play in a litter box. Also, if your child does get bitten or scratched - occasionally happens if they push kitty a little too far, clean it with warm soapy water and make sure you Polysporin it as they can become infected a little easier than other cat scratches.

Terrie - posted on 09/02/2009

My child had an allergy test done and he could not be with cats so I am leary of children touching cats especially if you are not right there to wash their hands before they get a chance to put them in their mouth!

Trista - posted on 09/02/2009

Toxoplasmosis is an infection you get from cat poo and not washing your hands after cleaning the litterbox. Unless your child is playing in the litter box, there is very little to worry about. Toxoplasmosis is a problem during pregnancy because you cannot take anything for it then and your immune system is compromised because of being pregnant - it can be more serious in children if they get it, but a normal, healty immune system can fight the infectioin, if contracted, with little problems. I have had a very close relationship with cats, dogs, horses, sheep, cattle, etc., ever since I was a very small baby because my family lived on a farm - none of my brothers, sisters, or me ever got sick from animals, even though my parents never washed our hands. Proper handwashing can prevent the spread of illnesses and prevent you and your child from getting sick. As long as you practice good hygiene, there is no reason your son can't play with cats, dogs, etc.

Lisa - posted on 09/01/2009

if it is clean cats then your baby will be fine petting it as long as you keep there hands washed, or any other body part of the child that they put in their moths (toes, wrists, ect.) if the cats are not yours, i would be a little more cautious. some cats like to knead so you need to really watch the cat around the child. after a cat uses the litter it usually scratches in it. you want to be sure the cats nails arent scratching into the baby's skin, which could lead to infection.

Emma - posted on 09/01/2009

I have 4 cats and as long as you wash the child's hands and the cats are wormed etc then it will be fine - they are cleaner than dogs!

Dianne - posted on 09/01/2009

its ok for your child to pat a cat :) just wash hes / her hands after :) all 3 of my kids grew up with cats & dogs :) so it is safe . ppl only get that toxo.... if they come in touch with the animals poo & not wash their hands after.