Kitty Litter

[Myst]

I've heard that you are not to clean your kitty litter box while pregnant. We have two cats who often throw litter out of the box - will I have to move the box to where I won't be near the litter, or get rid of the cats, or will I just be safe by not cleaning it?

[Apotheosis]

Toxmoplasma gondii. You're little anti-fetal parasitic enemy.

It is picked up in the stool of an infected cat, or in raw meat.

So cook your burgers well, and don't change the litter. Ever. At all.

As long as the litter is changed regularily, there should be no other problems. Otherwise your kitty can get kitty crap on her paws and spread the little menace around the house.

[Revelation]

If you've been around cats all your life, its likely that you already have the antibodies that fight against toxoplasmosis. I think the estimate is that 70% of all AMericans have the antibodies for it.

But, just to be safe...DOT change the litter.

[Myst]

Ok now I have some proof to show the fiance when I tell him I can't clean the box lol

[Danustouch]

Yes, you are not supposed to handle the kitty litter at all. One thing you might think of doing, is getting a mat with little bristles on it, to put near the box. That way, when the cat steps out of the box, they will step onto the mat, which might help to take some of the stuff off their paws. Remember to vaccuum the area of the box, as well...very thoroughly. Since sometimes, during their "Covering" of their feces, they will toss little particles out...

I have Four cats, and have to change mine twice a day. When hubby and I conciously trying to get pregnant, I make him do it. If it's an absolute necessity, and if he's not around, I wear one of those air masks..that painters and carpenters, etc, wear. To keep the stuff out of my lungs, and I wear plastic gloves, and long sleeves, and pants. I'm a little paranoid. LOL. Then, I take a bath directly afterwards, with anti bacterial soap. Ok..I know I'm paranoid..but...better safe than sorry!

[Myst]

Holy cow, twice a day, are you nuts? ;)

And I thought it was bad enough that I had to clean mine once a week (ok that's not bad, I realize that, but I certainly don't want to do it more often then that)

[Danustouch]

Trust me...FOUR cats..SMALL apartment. Twice a Day is a necessity! Plus, because of the cost involved, we buy the Kitty Litter in Bulk. Hubby buys the cheapo type of clumpy litter. It doesn't have any deodorizing effects in it..so..it gets very stinky, very quickly.

[Arduinna]

You can also have the cats tested to see if they are carriers. If they aren't, it shouldn't be a problem. Or get yourself tested for antibodies. I wouldn't assume you have antibodies and are immune, you don't can't know without testing.

Or, just tell you can't clean it and why, and leave it at that :D
Hey, it's one less chore,:D

[loopy]

Toxmoplasma gondii.

Not to horn in on the convo, but I was just wondering-- is this Toxmoplasma gondii harmful to people who are not pregnant as well? My mother, who is not, sometimes got sick after handling the kitty litter-- bad headaches, rash or hives, that sort of thing. She almost fainted one day in the bathroom.

Also, is there any kitty litter that doesn't have this stuff in it?

Also, congratulations, WillowRaven! :D

[Myst]

I think it's in the poop, not the litter itself.

As I understand it's something the cat gets and can be passed to fetuses... see a webpage on it at http://health.yahoo.com/health/diseases_and_conditions/disease_feed_data/toxoplasmosis - the symptoms you mentioned don't match this disease, so maybe she's allergic to the litter itself?

[loopy]

Ah, thank you very much Willow. Is very helpful. :) Yeah, musta been the litter itself, as she didn't have problems with some. :) Again, many thanks. :)

[Danustouch]

Loopy...I saw a commercial not too long ago..for a natural kitty littar made of..I think...pine chips. Since it is all natural, it shouldn't effect your mother (unless she's allergic to pine..or the cats themselves)...the way the other did. Plus..instead of bagging it and tossing it in the garden, you can use it as mulch in your gardens. And it scents your house of pine, too..instead of the normal litterbox smell if it isn't cleaned daily. I think it's available in most pet stores now..but I don't remember what it's called. If I see the commercial again, I will let you know. In the mean time, I'd suggest that she get herself a mask (the kind that painters and surgeons wear..those little white masks.)..I have to wear one myself..and it makes a big difference.

[EasternPriest]

There are several organic litter available, made from pine shavings, cedar shaving, or compressed alfalfa.

[Myst]

There's also litter made out of newspaper (tho not organic). We used to sell it at the clinic when kitties got declawed because it wouldn't irritate their sensitive paws.

[mol]

Originally posted by Revelation


But, just to be safe...DOT change the litter.

Yah...let DOT change the litter...you stay away from it.

:p

Gotcha.

[Danustouch]

LMAO!!!!!!!!!

Wouldn't it be funny if someone in here's name WAS Dot? Lol.

DOT change the litter Darnnit!!!!!!!!!

[Semele]

In all honesty your chances of getting this via cat litter are very slim. There is much more danger from undercooked meat. Of course it is a nice excuse to make Dot or anyone else change the litter!!

[Swanspirit]

and it is more common than we suspect,
and it is not pleasant . Toxoplasmosis is not a bacteria but a parasite that leaves toxic waste excretions that interefere with your eyesight ,,,, and there is no cure ,,,,, only treatment with steroids.....
Dont change the Kitty litter or eat uncooked meat :>
Love and HUGS
Swannie

[fantine]

You could just do what I did, get a Littermaid, the litter box that cleans itself. All the mess goes into a sealable container and my hands never have to touch the used litter. And the nice part is that the container only needs emptying, or replacing twice a week with my two cats, and my hubby does that part most of the time. On some occasions, when they both use the box in rapid succession, the rake needs to have stuck particles removed. This is not too much of a problem as I use rubber gloves.


--fantine

[Myst]

We looked at those boxes this weekend and they're about $150-200 so we'll have to rethink it when I become pregnant. As it was, we bought a new bigger box for our cats with a higher cover and floor and smaller door to help keep the dog out. We were hoping it would help keep the litter in the box, which it didn't, so we'll have to get one of those cat mats :)