changing the cat litter

i know it's bad when your pregnant.

but due to DH being away for a few days, i have to do it. i'm using a mask and gloves (read to do that online) and it'll only be for 3 days, but what have you all done when you HAD to change it?

Re: changing the cat litter

Toxoplasmosis is nothing to joke around with. When my BFF was PG I flew from NY to FL to change cat litter for her when her DH was out of town.

Message edited 10/27/2007 9:52:10 AM.

Re: changing the cat litter

I don't. My BIL comes over to do it...I agree with the above poster. Is there someone who can come over and do it for you while DH is away?

Re: changing the cat litter

your cat litter can go 3 days without being changed- just make sure DH does it right before he leaves- i dont think it is worth the risk, especially since it is so early in your pregnancy...

Re: changing the cat litter

is it an indoor cat or outdoor? There is significantly less risk if indoor. Not sure if you have time before DH goes away but you can ask your OB to give you a blood test which shows if you have been exposed yet or if you are immune to it? At about 3 months she gave me the test and it turns out that I wasn't immune to it but I wasn't exposed to it. Therefore she said that I probably would never be exposed to it if I wasn't already. that being said DH always changed the litter box. However, there were maybe 3 times I did it. But my cats have always been indoor cats. Just use precautions like you said and wash you hand thoroughly. OR, better yet if you can get someone to do it for you that would be best just in case.

Re: changing the cat litter

Buy air freshener and deal with the smell for three days - you don't want to be near the litter boxes at all.

Re: changing the cat litter

Yeah,,, My wife just took in a 3rd cat...I didn't even want the second...But since I brought one into the relationship I had to give in.
I told her with this 3rd I am no longer cleaning up after them.....

Now,, She's pregnant!!!!! Guess what, I'm cleaning up after them.....

Re: changing the cat litter

I changed my cats litter boxes through all 3 of my pregnancies.... I made sure that I didn't touch the litter and I washed my hands really well afterwards... My cats are inside cats so their chances of having toxoplasmosis are VERY slim.. they can get it by eating infected mice or whatever they can catch outside or by eating undercooked meat (people can also contract from undercooked meat ) Cats also don't carry the parasite around forever, only for a few weeks ... if you clean the litter box every day it's safer also because the parasite needs 1-2 days after being passed to be infectious.

Re: changing the cat litter

i have 2 cats and changed the litter through out my pregnancy. just use common sense with cleaning of yourself.

it is highly unlikly if you have cats that you will contract toxo . some areas of concern though is if you garden and an infected cat has been through your garden and then you come into contact with their pheses also the disease is only infectious for only a few hours to a day so its pretty rare you will be in contact at that exact time. also under cooked meat is another area of contamination so always make sure meat is WELL cooked.

i gave birth to a healthy happy baby boy and 2 happy cats if you are careful about washing hands and not touching phecal matter you should be fine .congrats on your pregnancy