Gardening and toxoplasmosis?

[BalconyBirdie]

I've been moving pretty slowly this year and so am super late getting the garden in. For reference, we do mostly container gardening on our deck and then have a smallish area of raised beds.

We were getting the raised bed ready today and realized that it has basically become a litterbox for three feral cats that we semi-regularly see haunting our backyard. It was full of cat poo -- husband filled almost a whole grocery bag full.

I've never had cats and am pregnant so am worried about toxoplasmosis. Is it safe to put vegetables in the raised bed even though we know cats have been going there? I know I'll need to wear gloves if I'm in that soil at all and wash carefully, etc. But would it be safe to eat stuff grown in that soil?

I'm so grossed out by the whole thing that my first inclination is to forego the raised beds for this year and just do everything in containers on our deck (which seem untouched). But that seems like such a waste.

So frustrated -- no idea how to keep the cats out, hate to waste that space, and am trying not to feel like there is toxoplasmosis bacteria or whatever everywhere (which I know is not rational).

Any suggestions greatly appreciated..

[rubyeta]

I would be nervous too! chances are you have already had toxoplasmosis, but having never had cats before, you cant be sure. I don't think i would risk it. Maybe your Hubby could remove the dirt and replace it??? I wouldnt want to grow food in an area that was used as a litter box, regardless of being pg or not!

[Talula Fairie]

I would dig out that soil and fill it up with new soil. I don't think you'd get toxoplasmosis, especially from dried poop, it's fairly difficult to get and mostly effects young cats, but cat, dog, or human poop in the garden is generally regarded as against most health codes...

That said, I did find a really old turd or two in my large raised bed. I dug it out, dug out most of the soil around it, and added more soil. I'm really not that concerned about it. I'm not even 100% positive it was a turd, it could have been a root or a lump of some kind.

[vulturemom]

I would be worried about it too.


Having a dog keeps the cats out of our yard. All my neighbors that don't have cats complain constantly about cat in their yard and a have saw maybe three in mine in 13 years that I have lived here. I am not sure what else would work.