Is there any safe way to clean the cat box? - Page 2

[fazer6]

Before my cats could just go outside we'd use bin liners instead of box liners. A small bin liner will completely enclose a box, then I put a layer of newspaper and shredded newspaper on top (recycling the free papers!). Whenever it's used you can easily change it by turning the bin liner inside out. Everything's kept inside the bin liner, if it's a tie handle you can tie it up and then put it in the normal bin. It's also a lot lighter than cat litter and as the bin liner fully encloses the box the germs are taken out every day.

Now thankfully my cats use the fields outside. So much easier!

[Asiago]

When it comes down to it, we preggos are supposed to be just as careful handling and preparing raw meat in order to avoid taxoplasmosis. Yet not many woman don rubber gloves and masks when we prepare dinner

It's sort of strange the way the media and medical profession pushes one but not the other.

[liz-hippymom]

the countries with highest toxo rates are ones where eating raw meats (beef ect) are very common- like britain.
every country has cats
i changed litter this pregnancy just like i have my whole if (since probably 6). i just wash my hands good afterwards. i think gardening should be more worrysome, since most people do not wash with soap everytime they pull a weed...
just my two cents

[Happily Blessed]

I would suggest investing in one of these :
http://littermaid.com/littermaid-products-LME5500.aspx
And then masking up with gloves to change the box. That way you are not actually sifting through the litter stirring up the dust that might cause problems.

We have had ours for years and it is well worth the money.

[Angel_7971]

My nurse practitioner told me that even the dust is bad from the litter. Not sure if I put much faith in her though...

[Astraia]

Dust from litter- we have to buy low-dust litter (or had to, anyway) because I can feel it in my chest no matter where I am in the house. THe box is in the basement with regular cheapo cat litter and I can't breathe upstairs.


However, now our cat won't use the litter box... he just uses the bathtub. So every day I throw poo in the toilet and wash pee down the drain. It's disgusting, but at least it's easy clean up!

[Vespertina]

DH is deployed so I do it. I use gloves and wash my hands after scooping/cleaning. I'm not really concerned since my cats are indoor cats only. No way for them to contract toxo.

[Rowansmama]

DH is in the military, and when he's away I wear his gas mask and a big old pair of rubber gloves. Then I wash my hands really well. Maybe it's overkill, but I feel better about it

[VeezieTG]

you know something? i'm super-glad to know all of this stuff, and even more glad that op can put some fears to rest while her dh is away (hugs, mama!)...

HOWEVER, my bf doesn't read this stuff and i'm not going to tell him... i don't feel like doing it! is that horrible, or what?

[buttercups.nest]

I did our cats litter while preggo....wore the gloves, then washed my hands as soon as I was done.

I heard that toxoplasmosis comes from eating infected mice etc so as long as you don't have outdoor cats (murphy's law you do!) then you're safe.

Good luck!

[Angel_7971]

Originally Posted by buttercups.nest

so as long as you don't have outdoor cats (murphy's law you do!) then you're safe.

Good luck!

Or an old house, really. This is the time of year little micey start coming back inside. Our kitten was chasing one the other day. I encouraged it. He He He. However, she is also and outdoor cat and I've seen her eating mice out there so I know she already is doing it.

[babyinfo]

I am positive for recent antibodies

Hi Everyone,
I am 10 weeks. I tested positive for recent antibodies on the toxoplasmosis testing. I am at a very low level. My ob/gyn said they will retest in 4 weeks. If it doesn't go up I am fine. I am just surprised. I have had cats my whole life. Anyone have any advice or experience with this? I am worried.

[babyinfo]

Originally Posted by Astraia

Dust from litter- we have to buy low-dust litter (or had to, anyway) because I can feel it in my chest no matter where I am in the house. THe box is in the basement with regular cheapo cat litter and I can't breathe upstairs.


However, now our cat won't use the litter box... he just uses the bathtub. So every day I throw poo in the toilet and wash pee down the drain. It's disgusting, but at least it's easy clean up!

Hi,
Just so you know-it is dangerous to flush cat's poop down toilet b/c it can infect the drinking water for other women.
I used to do it too! My vet. told me to stop when I casually mentioned to her.
Good luck....I just bag and toss now.

[MrsMike]

Originally Posted by VeezieTG

HOWEVER, my bf doesn't read this stuff and i'm not going to tell him... i don't feel like doing it! is that horrible, or what?

I'm a certified vet tech and have been in the biz for 10 years. Parasitology is one of my specialties and I know toxo in an out. I know my chances of getting it are so slim, even with all the gardening I do. Still, I tell my dh it's a risk just so I can get out of changing the litter. I hate doing it.

I've been working in veterinary medicine for 10 years and have had cats for 6 years now and still no damn exposure. I'm a lab rat and with all the tests that I do, I have only seen one cat turn up positive in the last decade.

[finnegansmom]

Yea, I sit on the couch and watch DH while he does it. LOL...

And for what it's worth, I used to be a vet tech and I volunteered with FFF a feral cat organization that traps, spays and releases ferals (I have scars to prove it, LOL) and I got tested with #1 AND I tested negative. I have literally been sprayed in the face by anal glands..... good times.

[Bubblette]

Originally Posted by babyinfo

Hi Everyone,
I am 10 weeks. I tested positive for recent antibodies on the toxoplasmosis testing. I am at a very low level. My ob/gyn said they will retest in 4 weeks. If it doesn't go up I am fine. I am just surprised. I have had cats my whole life. Anyone have any advice or experience with this? I am worried.

If the exposure occurred before you conceived you're in the clear! in fact once you've had it and made antibodies it means you never have to worry about it again The only time it does cause a problem is if you contract it for the first time during a pregnancy. You probably did not get it from your cats, you probably got it from eating undercooked meat (unless you've never had meat that is!).

[MaerynPearl]

My cats have always been indoor-only cats... yet I tested positive before I was pregnant with DD (my doctor is awesome and tested me after DS was born because I avoided kitty litter during time with DS but I didn't want to have to again if I didn't need to)

We are pretty sure I got it either from raw meat contamination, helping my grandmother garden in her front yard, or contact with the barn cats on the farm I used to live on (not our own cats and they were NOT clean kitties)

Still DF is paranoid so he has DS doing it and when I move down he will do it himself. I don't argue with that!

[BarefootGirl]

I am planning on getting tested for toxo very soon. I am hoping that I am immune after having cats most of my life, but I know that's not always the case. For now I am using gloves and washing really well. I have 5 indoor-only cats, so my risk should be pretty low, but I DO feed my cats raw meat (also wash really well after meal time). The meat they eat is chicken and beef safe for human consumption. Should I be more worried about my cats getting toxo from their dinner? Or is it mainly a raw prey kind of problem...like if they were catching/eating mice and birds outdoors? I could get DH to dump the boxes, but I'd hate to have to hassle him about it if I can do it myself in a safe way.

[MaerynPearl]

Even when the meat is safe for human consumption, if you were to eat it raw you could have the risk of toxo... so feeding your cats it probably gives them the risk as well. However, being tested is good and likely if you have been doing that since before you got pregnant you probably already contracted it and will be fine.

[Bubblette]

Originally Posted by BarefootGirl

I am planning on getting tested for toxo very soon. I am hoping that I am immune after having cats most of my life, but I know that's not always the case. For now I am using gloves and washing really well. I have 5 indoor-only cats, so my risk should be pretty low, but I DO feed my cats raw meat (also wash really well after meal time). The meat they eat is chicken and beef safe for human consumption. Should I be more worried about my cats getting toxo from their dinner? Or is it mainly a raw prey kind of problem...like if they were catching/eating mice and birds outdoors? I could get DH to dump the boxes, but I'd hate to have to hassle him about it if I can do it myself in a safe way.

FYI other than cooking your cat's meat (which I don't do either!) you can eliminate the risk from it by freezing it for a few days in a deep freeze before feeding it.