Question about cleaning the litter box while pregnant?

Question

So, my husband has been cleaning out the litter box since we found out that I am pregnant (to his great joy). He is going away for 5 days at the end of this week, and I figured if I am careful (and wear disposable gloves, which we already bought) that it would be okay for me to clean out the litterbox for that short time. Our cats are exclusively indoor too, which would probably rule out toxoplasmosis anyway. I think this is our only option considering that 1 of our cats refuses to use disposable litter boxes. But now, of course, I am worried about it. Any ideas? And if you think it is funny to reply "just get rid of the cats," that has been said before on yahoo answers and is completely unoriginal, so serious answers only, please.

Answer 1

My vet told me that if you have owned cats for many years then you have probably been in contact with toxoplasmosis anyway - especially if you have owned outdoor cats at any point in your life and further contact will not hurt the baby. If this is the case then go ahead and clean out the litter box.
Otherwise you simply need to make sure that you don't breathe in the litter dust by wearing a mask, and the gloves are a good idea. Of course, make sure you wash your hands after completing the task.

Answer 2

If you have an exclusively indoor cat, chances of contracting the disease is slim. However, playing it safe is always best during pregnancy. In addition to wearing disposable gloves, I would also wear a dust mask because the parasite eggs can also become air born with the dust from the litter.

That being said, I had a cat while I was pregnant, and I still cleaned the litter box. Because I work in a parasitology lab, I had to be tested monthly (while pregnant) for toxo. Everytime I had zero infection.

VERY IMPORTANT: Use gloves and a dust mask while working in the garden, because chances are that a cat or other animal has defecated there!!!

Answer 3

Toxoplasmosis is very serious. My aunt's (in-law) sister was infected while pregnant. The baby had serious birth defects and was never able to a fully function person. She pretty much spent her ~20 year life in a bed being cared for. What happened was that they had two cats but her other kids found a stray cat and brought him home while their mom was pregnant. He was a new cat and they found out too late that he was infected with it. It's been said already, but if you have a cat who is infected prior to getting pregnant then you've built up an immunity that will be passed along to the child. No problems. If you get a new cat who is infected then there is a risk. I'd suggest not being around any new cats at all and staying away from any litter boxes at anyone else's house. But I wouldn't worry about tending to your own cats' litter boxes. My parents had cats before I was born. No problems at all (at least I think I'm fine!). I never asked, but I'm pretty positive my father has never changed the cat litter in his life. If I get pregnant I will have to keep managing the litter too, but I will be sure not to get any new cats. There's also a risk of it when dealing with raw meat. That's probably more of a threat than the cat version. As long as you had your cat(s) before you get pregnant everything should be completely fine. But if you're TTC stay away from the litter of any new cats.

Answer 4

I have always had lots of cats, all indoors. I used gloves while I was pregnant, and I had no problem. If you are worried about the dust from the litter, get one of those blue masks that construction workers wear. If your husband is only going to be gone for 5 days you should be okay. If you still have doubts, check with your OB doctor or see if you could pay a neighbor kid to come in and do it. I do a lot of dog/cat, etc. sitting. You could see if someone along those lines would come in twice a day to do it. Good luck.

Answer 5

It's totally OK to clean the litter box, especially with the precautions you plan to take (of course, wash your hands immediately after doing it, too).

You may be aware that when your doctor took that huge quantity of blood during your first prenatal visit, one of the tests she performed was for toxoplasmosis. If you had tested positive, or not immune for it, she would have told you. As long as your cats haven't been out since you had that test, you will be perfectly safe cleaning out the box.

I can also relate to your plight, with a husband unhappy to clean the box. I regularly cleaned the box, each and every day, and now I that I'm pregnant, my husband grumbles every time he does it, which sadly is only about 2-3 times a week. I haven't caved and cleaned it yet, but he's going away in May, and I'm going to have to do it then. I'll take the same precautions as you, if it makes you feel better.

Answer 6

From what I learned when I was pregnant, if you've had a cat for a long time before prenancy (a year or more maybe) and/or if your cat is an indoor cat, your risk of toxo is very low. However, I always had my husband change the litter when I was pregnant anyway (good excuse to get out of that lovely chore....heh heh heh). When I did change the litter, I used disposable gloves and a mask. Overkill probaby, but I wanted to rule out anything I could control.

Answer 7

Five days won't break the kitty box, but if you must clean it, go ahead. My OB/GYN said indoor cats don't have a risk or toxoplasmosis #1, and #2, if you wear gloves, and clean your hands really well you should be fine. Throw in a mask for good measure. BEst of luck!

Answer 8

I wouldn't risk it. Are the litter boxes cleaned daily or every other day?I would never suggest you get rid of your cats. As a pet owner I understand the level of love you have for your animals.

1.) Is there anybody you know that you could have come do it for you? If you know of a child who needs to earn a few extra bucks this would be a great project for him/her.

2.) Family members or friends, if you have any living nearby, might be another option.

3.) Maybe buy another litterbox or two to get through the week (which your husband will just LOVE when he comes back!)

good luck.

Answer 9

I had 2 cats during my pregnancies and had the same concerns. Since your cats are indoors, you are correct that toxoplasmosis is far more UNlikely. I wouldn't worry about changing the box during the time he is gone since it is only 5 days. If you want to be extra careful, I would suggest wearing a dust mask, like you can get at the local hardware store (very inexpensive) and just make sure you wash your hands very thoroughly afterwards. Congratulations!

Answer 10

You are on the right track. Just be very, very careful when you are cleaning the litter box. Always remember to wear the gloves, remove them right after the task is done, dispose of them properly, AND wash your hands thoroughly thereafter. Also, wash your hands after handling your pets especially before eating and as reasonably often as possible. You don't have to do anything drastic as getting rid of your beloved pets as long as you are careful.