Help! My mom is scaring me with an old wives tale!

I want to preface this by saying I love my mother very much...but my mom is old school and a little superstitious...

We just adopted a kitten. My mom is saying that an old wives tale is that when woman has cats (we always had dogs) they tend to miscarry and have trouble bearing children. Then she mentioned a few of my older friends who I know for a fact have been TTC, and have been unable to, and have cats.

Please put my mind at ease. Did any of you parents out there have a cat while TTC? I apologize in advance if this sounds ridiculous.

Liz-thanks for responding.

My mom did said something about the kitty litter? What's wrong with kitty litter...is it the chemicals in it? Just curious?

What is toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is found throughout the world. More than 60 million people in the United States probably carry the Toxoplasma parasite, but very few have symptoms because the immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems should be cautious because a Toxoplasma infection can cause serious problems.

How can I get toxoplasmosis?
Through accidental ingestion of contaminated cat feces. This can occur if you accidentally touch your hands to your mouth after gardening, cleaning a cat’s litter box, or touching anything that has come into contact with cat feces.
Through ingestion of raw or partly cooked meat, especially pork, lamb, or venison, or by touching your hands to your mouth after handling undercooked meat.
Through contamination of knives, utensils, cutting boards and other foods that have had contact with raw meat.
Through drinking water contaminated with Toxoplasma.
Although extremely rare, by receiving an infected organ transplant or blood transfusion.
What are the symptoms of toxoplasmosis?
You may feel like you have the 'flu,' swollen lymph glands, or muscle aches and pains that last for a month or more. Rarely, a person with a 'normal' immune system may develop eye damage from toxoplasmosis. However, most people who become infected with toxoplasmosis do not know it. Persons with weak immune systems, such as infants, those with HIV/AIDS, those taking certain types of chemotherapy, or persons who have recently received an organ transplant, may develop severe toxoplasmosis. This can cause damage to the brain or the eyes. Most infants who are infected while in the womb have no symptoms at birth but may develop symptoms later in life. Only a small percentage of infected newborns have serious eye or brain damage at birth.

Thanks Dawnie! I was clueless on this subject.

I have always had cats and I conceived on the first try

I've always had cats as well and conceived right away as well. The only thing you have to make sure of is that you are not cleaning out the kitty litter box. Your spouse should be doing this. Cats are clean animals everything will be fine.

Well the tale I have always heard is that the cat will steel that baby's breathe in the middle of the night. There was once a scary movie (three part thingy) and one part was where the cat got in the room and got in the crib and sucked the breathe out of the baby.

Sorry, if I am scaring you more. I think it is old wives tales, but I am not having a cat around..........

---

Posted by DeniseMang

Well the tale I have always heard is that the cat will steel that baby's breathe in the middle of the night. There was once a scary movie (three part thingy) and one part was where the cat got in the room and got in the crib and sucked the breathe out of the baby.

Sorry, if I am scaring you more. I think it is old wives tales, but I am not having a cat around..........

---

Um yeah, it *is* an old wives tale. There is no truth to it whatsoever.

Wasnt the movie CATS EYE with Drew barrymore??

Yeah, that's it! :)

Of course it is a tale, but it still freaks me out!

---

Posted by ILT1221
Please put my mind at ease. Did any of you parents out there have a cat while TTC? I apologize in advance if this sounds ridiculous.

---

My FSIL just had her second child this past July - she has a cat. My sister is in her 4th month...and she has a cat as well.

An old wives tale is just that, a tale. Take it all with a grain of salt.

I have a cat and never had any problems.
Your mom is just being..well..a mom..ignore her.