Another toxoplasmosis question (inhalation)

[Family4Christ]

I did not know you could contract toxo from inhalation until I read the other thread...

We went to see some stray kittens that someone was giving away. I was careful not to touch, but one climbed my denim skirt and I had to pull her off. I didn't touch my face until I could wash my hands.

Anyway, this lady had 6 kittens and a cat in this TINY room with a litter box that had a good amount of poop in it. I was about 4' from the box. We were in there for about 10 minutes and it was very strong smelling. Should I be concerned about toxo inhalation? There was a cat in there scratching at the litter at some point when we were standing there.

[MissMorgan]

Wouldn't worry about it AT ALL - but if you are still concerned you can ask to be tested for it. Honestly, you're probably more likely to be struck by lightening and then hit by a bus driven by a monkey than to have contracted it by being 4' away from a stinky box for 10 minutes. heehehe!
You should probably STOP reading stuff that scares you and don't worry about it!!

[LSUtwinMama]

Please relax about toxo. Cats only shed the toxo organism for a few days in their entire life, the chances of kittens catching toxo and shedding it at such a young age are extremely low.

You have a MUCH greater risk of catching toxo from eating raw meat and unwashed veggies than from kittens.

[lillymonster]

I wouldn't worry, but you can get the blood test, my mw did it just because I mentioned I had a cat, but it's not a concern of mine.

[lunarlady]

To catch it via inhalation you really have to get a blast of dried, powdered, and aged infected cat poop right in your face, then deeply inhale. Picture an asthma inhaler. Just smelling/being near it won't do it. And as I said before, the cases of catching via inhalation are so rare that they are practically zero. Less than 10 cases nationwide, ever.

So don't worry yourself! You (and those cute kittens) are fine.

[Family4Christ]

Thank you! I feel much better!

[kittywitty]

It's sooooooo rare. Search for it here on MDC, there was a recent thread. I think you'll be fine.

[JFTB1177]

Oh dear god!!!! When I changed my cat's litter a month ago when I put new litter in (on top of some of the old litter that had been cleaned of poop), dust came up around me and I definitely breathed it in!!! I took a shower immediately afterwards but I didn't know about the risk of inhalation!!!

[terra-pip]

I think you're fine...you can ask to be tested to put your mind at ease. My Husband was more worried about this than me when we had a litter box in the house at the beginning of my pregnancy and he would help me clean it but always insisted we go outside and I cover my mouth with a bandanna...got to love the man! But I cleaned it plenty times when he wasn't around without his worried daddy precautions. I hated cleaning it but only because of early preggo nausea (I have a super sensitive sense of smell anyway)than worry about toxo!

But we have strays and I haven't done any yard or garden work except in the front because all that dirt is brand new.