I am 8 weeks pregnant would it be ok to clean out my cat's litter box if I wear a mask and gloves?

Question

I have heard the dust from the litter and feces is dangerous for pregnant women but my husband is out of town and it needs to be changed so if I wear a dusk mask and gloves do you think it would still hurt me?

Answer 1

Hi!!! I just had a baby (32 days ago). I have ten cats. Yes...it is too many, but I rescued them all (they are all fixed). I scooped my litterboxes when my husband was away and he travels for work. You can not get toxoplasmosis if your cats are indoor only cats. Cats get it from eating dead animals (birds, rodents, etc that are infect). The virus stays in the cats digestive tract. A cat's feces can contain the virus, but it takes 24 hours to activate and you have to get the feces in your mouth (ie ingest the virus for it to harm your baby). So I would wear gloves and a mask (although I didn't) and more importantly, scoop the box more than once in 24 hours so the virus can not activate. Wash your hand really well after scooping!

I was tested twice for toxoplasmosis and I have never been infected. I have been a cat rescuer for 3 years. I have fostered over 100 cats and kittens in my home (before getting pregnant and not all at once :) ). I have never been exposed. When a non-pregnant person gets toxoplasmosis, they get flu like symptoms and that is it. A pregnant woman who gets it passes it to the baby and it does cause birth defects and possible death of the fetus/infant. The majority of people who get toxoplasmosis get it from undercooked pork. I have been a vegetarian for 12 years so I never got it that way either. Here is the Center for Disease Control's website about it:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm

My OB was never concerned about it and my baby is perfectly healthy. I cringe when I see misinformation about cats and pregnancy. It causes lots of cats to be abandoned. You can do internet searches to get more information, but only read reputable sites because people like to spread the myth about cats causing problems in pregnancy (and even with infants). Kidshealth.org (link listed in sources) has a great prevention section.

If your cats go outside, do not scoop the boxes. Have a friend or relative do it. And when your husband is home, make him do it!!! You deserve the 9 month break. I milked it, but I am back to being the primary scooper now :).

Good luck with your baby!!

Answer 2

Soap and water is all you need--toxo is spread by touching the feces, but ONLY if the cat is a carrier. The cat would have had to be exposed and then would be a carrier for TWO weeks only, after that the cat is immune and not able to spread it. If you're worried, use gloves or let someone else clean the box, but if your cat is indoors all the time he won't have it in the first place.

People usually are immune too, we get it from working in the garden or handling raw meat, so you're likely not going to even have to worry about it.

You can check the CDC sheets on toxomoplasmosis, it's a pretty straightforward thing--very few people are unexposed, so it's not really something to worry about.

Answer 3

Your Dr can/will do a test on you to see if you've already been exposed to what's dangerous - it's not the dust! There is a virus in the cat feces that is very dangerous if you get it when you are pregnant, altho they say many cat owners have already been exposed and so that lowers the risk...the issue is not to touch it or touch anything the feces touched. I would be really careful - maybe wait until tomorrow and have a friend come over to do it.

Answer 4

I have always had indoor cats and I cleaned the litter box through all my pregnancies. Just wash your hands thoroughly after. I hate to hear of women who decide to get rid of their cats when they get pregnant. It is cruel and uncalled for if you just use common sense. Think of all the farm women in the past and all the chores they had to do that involved animals. You will be fine wearing a mask, gloves and washing your hands. Don't worry . Take care of your cat and enjoy that precious little baby.

Answer 5

You may wish to consult the link I have posted. From the link, in part: [The likelihood an indoor cat will shed infective toxoplasma is very low. A cat will only shed the organism if it has been recently exposed. This usually happens in kittenhood if it will happen at all. When exposed, a cat will shed the organism for one to three weeks, and if even if it doesn't get sick, it will develop antibodies to protect it against future infection. Once a cat has developed these antibodies, the chances it will shed toxoplasma again are very slim.]

In other words, if you take the normal precautions anyone would take in handling litter, your risk is extremely small. If your cat is an outdoor cat, the risk probably rises a bit.

Answer 6

Don't risk it...see if a friend or nearby relative would help with this until your husband returns. You may want to check into getting a Litter Mate cat box which automatically scoops the litter into a plastic tray after the cat uses the box

Answer 7

It would be okay but do it as few times as necessary, if your cats are indoor only there is likely no risk at all but on the off chance there is the fewer times the better. Also, wash your hands and don't take off the mask until you are sure there is no dust left in the air.

Answer 8

I personally think it would be ok. I had 4 children, and always cleaned my own litter box with out gloves or mask. This is before the warnings came out. All 4 of my children were born with no problems.

Answer 9

I think you'll be fine if you do this. Also just take it slow and you will stir up less dust. Especially when dumping the fresh litter in the box.

if you husband is going to be out of town for a while, I suggest a Littermaid. then you don't have to mess with the litter, you just have to replace the tray.

Answer 10

no no no and no! my sister in law lost her baby because of this! never ever change the litter box while you are pregnant. call a friend or parent to come do it.