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couldbtwins
I love you so much!
Member since 10/08 1761 total posts
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what exactly is the story with a cat's litter box?
I know when you are PG, you are to stay away from a cat's littler box. Does anyone know exactly what that means? DH and I are not PG yet, but we are TTC with gusto. We have a cat and DH usually cleans out her litter box. But, her litter box is in the bathroom where I shower, dry my hair, do my makeup, etc. Should it be moved to another room and I avoid it all together when I am PG, or am I just off cleanout duty?
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Posted 12/28/08 11:05 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Re: what exactly is the story with a cat's litter box?
I dont think you would have to move the litter box out of your bathroom. As long as you dont clean it, you are ok. You basically would have to eat the litter or put your hands in your mouth after touching the dirty litter to contract toxoplasmosis. There were actaully a few times I was preggo with DS when I had to change the litter b/c DH wasn't home and DS was fine. I just made sure to wash my hands well after cleaning it.
Here is link with more info.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/illness/180.html
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| Posted 12/28/08 11:14 AM |
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ArmyOfBabies
Growing older but not up
Member since 7/07 4427 total posts
Name:
Jeri
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Re: what exactly is the story with a cat's litter box?
I was told that if you've been around cats your whole life then you'd be okay too since you've probably already been exposed to it. I cleaned my cat's litter box the whole time I was pregnant with DD. I would wash my hands well afterward.
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| Posted 12/28/08 11:20 AM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: what exactly is the story with a cat's litter box?
Posted by ArmyOfBabies
I was told that if you've been around cats your whole life then you'd be okay too since you've probably already been exposed to it. I cleaned my cat's litter box the whole time I was pregnant with DD. I would wash my hands well afterward.
My dr. pretty much said the same thing as well. You can get toxoplasmosis through other things as well.
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| Posted 12/28/08 12:22 PM |
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Ann
LIF Zygote
Member since 12/08 22 total posts
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Re: what exactly is the story with a cat's litter box?
I've got a littermaid with a litterworks system and I don't have to touch the litter at all. It's scooped into a big garbage bag that I just tie off and throw out. We've got 3 cats and I only have to change the bag every 7-10 days. No odor either. It's great!
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| Posted 12/28/08 12:55 PM |
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HLT407
So lucky
Member since 11/07 1910 total posts
Name:
Heather
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Re: what exactly is the story with a cat's litter box?
Just be careful. Make sure to wash your hands THOROUGHLY when dealing with cats. Unfortunately I have toxoplasmosis. I contracted it when I was younger from the cats at my grandmothers house and I never touched the litterbox! The dr has told me that the feces & bacteria can be found anywhere on the cat. Be safe! 
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| Posted 12/28/08 7:01 PM |
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MaMaTeenie
Party of 5
Member since 4/08 6489 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: what exactly is the story with a cat's litter box?
Posted by hoping2bemommato2
I dont think you would have to move the litter box out of your bathroom. As long as you dont clean it, you are ok. You basically would have to eat the litter or put your hands in your mouth after touching the dirty litter to contract toxoplasmosis. There were actaully a few times I was preggo with DS when I had to change the litter b/c DH wasn't home and DS was fine. I just made sure to wash my hands well after cleaning it.
Here is link with more info.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/illness/180.html
Exactly! and same here, you do what ya gotta do 
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| Posted 12/28/08 8:09 PM |
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MrsRbk
<3 <3 <3 <3
Member since 1/06 19197 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: what exactly is the story with a cat's litter box?
Posted by jellybean1420
Posted by ArmyOfBabies
I was told that if you've been around cats your whole life then you'd be okay too since you've probably already been exposed to it. I cleaned my cat's litter box the whole time I was pregnant with DD. I would wash my hands well afterward.
My dr. pretty much said the same thing as well. You can get toxoplasmosis through other things as well.
And my Dr. told me she didn't care if I had been around cats my entire life and that my cat was strictly an indoor cat, she did not want me anywhere near the litterbox. DH has been cleaning her box AND doing the laundry since I got pregnant (since the litter box is in the laundry room).
Better to be safe than sorry, toxoplasmosis is VERY dangerous to a fetus. And yes, you can get it from other things such as veggies and fruit which is why you should wash any veggies and fruit you eat before eating them.
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| Posted 12/28/08 10:17 PM |
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ready2b3
LIF Infant
Member since 12/08 140 total posts
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Re: what exactly is the story with a cat's litter box?
It's one of those things that's just better to be safe than sorry. My vet explained that the chances of getting it are slim- you're cat first has to have the bacteria, which only surges once every 7 years or something, and then you have to ingest it, a.k.a the litter or feces (ew!) which that alone seems difficult! So am I worried about it, no, but I'll still be sure to wash my hands diligently when the time comes. And she actually said it's much more common to get toxo from gardening without gloves on, yet I've never heard warnings about that!
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| Posted 12/29/08 12:54 AM |
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