Is it true that cats cause infertility?

Can cats cause infertility ?

• im planning to get pregnant and i heard that cats causes infertility so they advice me to stay away but i love my cat alot is it right?

• Answer:

  No definitely cats don't cause infertility. I know way too many people w/ cats & kids who did not stay away from their cat. I think people who are saying this maybe heard something about toxoplasmosis and got mixed up. I If you have a cat that goes out and might eat a wild animal & get infected w/ toxoplasmosis, then for a few wks the cat can shed it in its feces and once the cat feces has sat around more than a day, a person who handled it and somehow managed to ingest it ( yuck) could catch toxo. And if you catch it when pregnant it can cause birth defects.. So that's why it's advised to get someone else to clean the box when you are pregnant or if you have to do it wear disposable gloves and even a mask to be extra careful . Also they should scoop it out every day since it is only contagious from feces that sat around longer. If you have an indoor cat & you don't have mice & the cat doesn't eat raw meat, the risk is pretty much zero of catching it from the cat. But you should also be aware of other ways you could catch it -- which are MUCH more common than catching it from a cat. The most common way is eating meat that is not cooked enough or handling raw meat and not washing your hands or kitchen utensils well afterward..... also not washing vegetables before eating, . and working in the garden without gloves and not washing your hands after. ( in case a cat pooped in the garden) But nothing about infertility. Good luck!