Is there any safe way to clean the cat box?

[Soul-O]

..other than having someone else do it? If my DH were present, he'd do it in a heartbeat (he's deployed). My children haven't been reliable in helping with the box, and often make it worse than it was before . Could I wear gloves and a mask while doing it? I can't stand the smell, and the cat needs a clean box. This issue hasn't come up before because my DH has always been around during my pregnancies. This one is solo .

Any advice on handling the box would be helpful.

TIA!

[KayTeeJay]

I did the gloves-and-a-mask thing for 5 weeks when I was pregnant and DH was out of town for work. I also used the garbage bag style litterbox liners so all I'd have to do was cinch it up just like a kitchen trash bag. I'm sorry your DH is gone right now--hang in there!

[katelove]

Transmission is via ora-faecal transfer so using gloves and washing your hands thoroughly should be fine. You won't need a mask unless it is to shield you from the smell.

We bought a box of latex gloves at the supermarket and I use those and we use the liners so it is just a matter of drawing up the corners and tying them.

[Astraia]

You can also get your titers tested I believe to see if you've built antibodies to the toxoplasmawhatever

In most cases, if you've lived with a cat and changed the box already your body is already immune to it.

(not 100% on this, but I'm PRETTY sure it's true...worth a google check, anyway!)

[Bubblette]

This is not medical advice! just what I learned in my parasitology class this semester

The risk for toxoplasmosis is for women who are pregnant and have never been infected. So you can indeed get you titer checked. If it comes back positive you have nothing to worry about.

If it comes back negative you can still clean your cat's litter box. The eggs are only infective if they have sat in the box for about 24 hours. So If you clean the box every day you should be safe. Even with that I would probably wear gloves and be extra careful about hand washing since it is oral-fecal. A mask might make you feel better, but it probably doesn't lower your exposure risk.

[womenswisdom]

Originally Posted by Bubblette

This is not medical advice! just what I learned in my parasitology class this semester

The risk for toxoplasmosis is for women who are pregnant and have never been infected. So you can indeed get you titer checked. If it comes back positive you have nothing to worry about.

If it comes back negative you can still clean your cat's litter box. The eggs are only infective if they have sat in the box for about 24 hours. So If you clean the box every day you should be safe. Even with that I would probably wear gloves and be extra careful about hand washing since it is oral-fecal. A mask might make you feel better, but it probably doesn't lower your exposure risk.

This is all true except that you'd have to change the littler completely each time, not just scoop the box. Technically, the oocytes could still be in scoopable litter that was not changed daily. Honestly, the risk of housecat to human transmission is very low. A study of registered vet techs showed no higher infection rate than the general public, and believe me, they are not wearing gloves and washing hands after every single time they scoop a box at work. Much more likely is contracting it from undercooked meat. You might also get it from gardening and coming into contact with cat feces unknowingly and then accidently ingesting the oocytes. If your cat is indoors only, it's a really low risk.

[aramat]

Originally Posted by womenswisdom

You might also get it from gardening and coming into contact with cat feces unknowingly and then accidently ingesting the oocytes. If your cat is indoors only, it's a really low risk.

[Soul-O]

Great advice! Thanks for the reassurance, everyone. I will go out and buy a pair of gloves tomorrow. I've been washing my hands thoroughly each time I have to touch the box, so at least I'm practicing good hygeine/germ control if nothing else. Nice to know I'm not being horribly risky.

[Peace+Hope]

and it is true you can be tested for immunity - i had a well-woman appt. just before we started TTC, and they offered the blood test then. i don't have the immunity, but agree w/ the PPs on all the info about safety.

s for you as you wait for your dear one to come home safely!

[gumby74]

With this pregnancy I have done it the entire time. It's much easier than always trying to do remind DH to do it. I just make sure not to inhale the dust and I wash my hands very well afterwards.

[texaspeach]

you can have your blood tested, but can also get your cat tested. If you are negative and thus susceptible to infection, get the cat tested. If the cat is negative and indoor only then you are not at risk.

I have three cats and I took care of the box during pregnancy - though at the end it was pretty hard to bend over and scoop

[AliciaP8]

My pre TTC appointment included a titre for toxo. I suspect you could get checked now that you are pregnant and find out if you're protected. I've heard that most people who've owned cats are immune but that's not a scientific fact, just anecdotal.

[Bubblette]

Originally Posted by texaspeach

you can have your blood tested, but can also get your cat tested. If you are negative and thus susceptible to infection, get the cat tested. If the cat is negative and indoor only then you are not at risk.

While this is very true please also know that a positive cat may not be shedding oocytes. Even if the cat is positive it is still possible to clean the litter box with care.

I've known people to put down cats becuase they test potive with a titer. Once it was because there was a woman of child bearing age (not even pregnant) in the house

[chai]

Originally Posted by womenswisdom

If your cat is indoors only, it's a really low risk.

I'd say as close to impossible as it can be. Cats can only really get it if they go outside (unless you feed them infected raw meat). A cat that stays indoors will not have a way to get infected (assuming there are no birds/mice for them to catch in your house).

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by womenswisdom

A study of registered vet techs showed no higher infection rate than the general public, and believe me, they are not wearing gloves and washing hands after every single time they scoop a box at work.

I didn't know of this study! That sort of sucks, because I was counting on my years and years working in vet hospitals and changing lots and lots of litter as my ticket to immunity!

Oh well. I'm still not worried. 6 years in kennels/vet clinics. And I've had my cat for 7 years, and he's indoor only (with some occasional fenced-in patio time). He hasn't caught a mouse (or anything else) in 5 years (except the catnip variety).

The PAs I work with get on me about changing the litter. But even the NP who I saw at the birth center agreed that it really wasn't a big deal. I've probably had it, and my cat probably doesn't have it.

[cormama]

Originally Posted by chai

I'd say as close to impossible as it can be. Cats can only really get it if they go outside (unless you feed them infected raw meat). A cat that stays indoors will not have a way to get infected (assuming there are no birds/mice for them to catch in your house).

Exactly

[womenswisdom]

Originally Posted by rhiOrion

I didn't know of this study! That sort of sucks, because I was counting on my years and years working in vet hospitals and changing lots and lots of litter as my ticket to immunity!

Yeah, I thought I'd be too, after 12-13 years in the biz, the last 8 in a cat-only hospital, but nooooo... I have been tested before and after each pregnancy because it's been my paranoid-thing, but still neg as far as I know.

[chai]

I tested positive before my last pregnancy. My theory is that the best way to get it is to grow up with outdoor cats. I think you have to be young enough to put your dirty hands in your mouth in order to catch it.

[kayabrink]

Originally Posted by rhiOrion

I didn't know of this study! That sort of sucks, because I was counting on my years and years working in vet hospitals and changing lots and lots of litter as my ticket to immunity!

Oh well. I'm still not worried. 6 years in kennels/vet clinics. And I've had my cat for 7 years, and he's indoor only (with some occasional fenced-in patio time). He hasn't caught a mouse (or anything else) in 5 years (except the catnip variety).

The PAs I work with get on me about changing the litter. But even the NP who I saw at the birth center agreed that it really wasn't a big deal. I've probably had it, and my cat probably doesn't have it.

I've lived with cats my WHOLE life (all outdoor cats, always more than one at a time!), changing the litter box since a young age (and probably playing in it at a younger age). I also eat raw beef, fish and eggs (do fish and eggs carry it?) regularly. I'm still not immune. My midwife also said it really wasn't a big deal.

[Carson]

My compromise of safety and paranoia was getting the litterbox liners - I don't scoop the litter, change it completely every 5 days. I don't come into contact with the litter and wash my hands thoroughly afterwards. I'm comfortable with how this has been going.