Can pregnant women keep cats?

　　There are many taboos in pregnant women's life, and one of them makes it difficult for cat lovers: stay away from cats. So, does this statement make sense?

　　In fact, this is related to the tendency of cats to carry Toxoplasma gondii. According to a survey by the American Cat Lovers Association, 80% of domestic cats may be infected with Toxoplasma gondii during their lifetime, usually by eating dead mice or other infected small animals.

　　Although this is unlikely to occur in cats that live entirely indoors and have never been exposed to rats, domestic cats can also be exposed to Toxoplasma gondii when eating contaminated raw meat, such as cold meat dishes.

　　Once a cat is infected, its body fluids can shed the microorganisms, and anyone who comes into contact with them can become infected. According to the United States disease According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 60 million Americans will be exposed to Toxoplasma gondii at some point in their lives, but healthy The human immune system is able to kill it, so only a few people will develop the disease. However, pregnant women are much more vulnerable, with approximately 3,000 women transmitting the contagious disease to fetus , eventually a small number of newborns will have hydrocephalus, delayed brain development and anemia Waiting for birth defects or miscarriage.

　　Of course, pregnant women do not need to get rid of their cats. They can take some preventive measures to prevent Toxoplasma gondii infection: do not touch the cat's nest, litter box, and all its excrement. If you must contact it, it is best to wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Even so, in order to ensure the health of the baby, it is best for expectant mothers to leave their cats to friends or relatives during pregnancy. 》》》 Common mistakes made by pregnant women5kind of error