Most cat owners are familiar with clay and clumping litter. Remember: it's recommended that you ALWAYS wear a mask when scooping litter. As it's likely that dust will float around in the air. That's not something you want to inhale.
No. You should follow these helpful tips to reduce your risk of environmental exposure to Toxoplasma: Avoid changing cat litter if possible. If no one else can perform the task, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.
Crystal litter is non-toxic and safe for cats and humans. Silica dust can be dangerous to inhale in certain forms, but the silica gel used in crystal litter has been processed to eliminate this problem.
Make sure to use gloves throughout the cleaning process. Dr. Reaves recommends avoiding soap that will leave residue or has a strong odor, as your cat may not like this. You should also plan to clean the litter scoop and lid (if applicable) as well.
"Some brands of kitty litter contain aluminium silicate, the same ingredient used in glass-making as well as housing insulation. Plus, it's a known neurotoxin for humans." Phan stresses using unscented kitty litter to avoid the added chemicals, but even the purest of kitty litters can tear your skin.
Among the many health tips for expectant moms: Pregnant women shouldn't clean up the litter box. But why not? A common parasite called Toxoplasma gondii is to blame.
Clumping litters need changing less frequently because you can use a litter scoop to remove the coated clumps of cat pee and poop. Non-clumping litters cannot be scooped, so to clean them you must change out all of the litter each time.
Litter boxes should be washed routinely to prevent odor and bacteria from building up on the surfaces. If you have the time, it's good to give a typical litter box a quick scrub-down every time you replace the litter, so once or twice a week for clumping clay litter boxes.
If you clean the litter box daily, you might only need to change clumping litter every two to three weeks. If you notice an odor or if much of the litter is wet or clumped, it's time for a change. Scrub the box every time you change the litter.
Ammonia. The ammonia smell from cat urine can lead to respiratory problems in humans and cats, such as asthma and allergies. Symptoms can range from nausea and headaches to serious respiratory issues such as pneumonia in sensitive individuals.
In addition, cats kept indoors (that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat) are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasma. But, if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or have a weakened immune system, it is important to protect yourself from infection.
"Cat owners don't realize that even at very low levels, ammonia can cause eye, nose, throat, lung and skin irritation," said Dr.
The most common symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Other symptoms may occur depending upon whether the infection is acute or chronic, and the location of the parasite in the body.
Infection is more common in pets that go outside, hunt, or are fed raw meat. The prevalence of oocyst shedding in cats is very low (0-1%), even though at least 15-40% of cats have been infected with Toxoplasma at some point.
Cats get Toxoplasma infection by eating infected rodents, birds or other small animals, or anything contaminated with feces from another cat that is shedding the microscopic parasite in its feces. After a cat has been infected, it can shed the parasite for up to two weeks.
Cats can develop painful kidney infections, bladder infections, bladder stones, and urinary tract infections if their litter boxes are not kept clean. Leaving a litter box too long before cleaning can also lead to stress in cats, which can exacerbate these issues.
“Disease transmission from cats to humans through a litter box is rare, especially with good hygiene practices and frequent litter box maintenance,” Teiber says. Cats who go outside are more likely to spread disease, so you might want to make your felines indoor-only pets.
Clean clumps and feces out of the litter box at least once a day. I try to do this chore once in the morning and once at night. After all, kitties like clean toilets. It's a good idea to top off the litter box every few days to make up for the clumps you removed.
We neurotic types clean litter boxes daily. If that's too much for you, litter boxes should be scooped out at least every other day. Of course, this depends on how many cats you have. The more cats you have, the more frequently the boxes should be scooped out.
Rinse the empty litter box in the bathtub or shower with soap and water. Use a mildly scented or scent-free soap if you can so your cat isn't adverse to the odor. If the weather is nice outside, you can also take the litter box out there to hose it off instead of using the bathroom.
Keeping your cat's litter box in the bedroom isn't ideal so if you can, move it to a more appropriate part of the house. Although the risks are small, you could become ill if you contract Toxoplasmosis, worms or you're exposed to too much ammonia.
Your cat could be just trying to maintain her scent in the box, even though you're cleaning it. Animals usually go to the bathroom to give us a message. If it's outside the litter box, they could be stressed or in need of a clean place to go.
On one hand, too much litter in your cat's litter box can cause overflow and spillage problems all over your bathroom floor. On the other hand, too little litter in the box can create smelly and messy poo problems when your cat isn't able to dig enough litter to hide their solid waste.
Not only does a clean litter box allow for a more appealing ambiance within the home, but it is much healthier for your feline companion as well. Vet visits will likely be reduced, your cat will be happier and you will enjoy your cat a lot more when it is clean and content.