Can sitting in the room where the litter box is harm my baby?

Question

im not changing it, but the computer room has the cat litter box in it. i have some essential oil candles in here to make the smell go away. but i was wondering if being in here is just as dangerous at changing the litter? i dont change it or come more then 3 feet close to it.

Answer 1

I think that this article will answer your question.

Many pregnant women have cats in their household. Why should pregnant women avoid coming in contact with cat litter?

Toxoplasmosis is a common infection found in up to 40% of all cat owners. It´s a minor infection that normally does not cause any side effects at all. It comes from a parasite that lives in cat stool. However, the infection can be extremely harmful to a developing fetus. For this reason, pregnant women should turn over cat litter duties to someone else during their pregnancy.

It is only the cat stool that carries this threat, so keep the litter box somewhere away from the regular family areas, and have someone other than the mother care for the box during the pregnancy period. If the pregnant woman MUST clean the cat litter, she should do so with gloves on. When she is done with the task, she should wash her hands well with antibacterial soap.

Once the baby is born, the baby and the cats can grow up together in joy and harmony. But the infection caused by the parasite is dangerous enough to be avoided while the fetus is developing.

Answer 2

You can get toxoplasmosis if you get in contact with cat f***s or contaminated raw meat. However, if your cat's butt gets in contact with your sofa or whatever your sitting on, well its a risk.  

Answer 3

I'm sure the smell will.

Answer 4

Essential oil candles don't make the smell go away, it just overcomes it.

Answer 5

my doc tells me to stay far away from it. i dont ask questions, i just do it!

Answer 6

nope, you can only catch anything if you touch the poopys

Answer 7

?confused?

Answer 8

If you have been around cats for quite some time, especially outdoor cats, you have more then likely already been exposed to toxoplasmosis and have built an immunity to it.  So chances are you have nothing to worry about. People tend to think you can catch toxoplasmosis just like that, but it's harder to catch it, but be safe then sorry.  Just don't touch the litter and you're fine

Answer 9

You'll be ok.

Answer 10

No, only if you touch it. I wouldn't breathe in the dust from new litter while you are pouring it into the litter box though...that's bad for everyone. I ended up putting my cats litter box in the garage while I was pregnant because I couldn't stand the smell of it. I just propped open the door to the garage so that they could access it.

Answer 11

No. It actually takes a lot to get toxoplasmosis and since you have a cat you most likely have had it anyway and become immune to it.

Answer 12

BASIC ANSWER

practice good hygiene and it shouldn't matter

ISSUES WITH CATS/CAT LITTER

Toxoplasmosis

Ringworm

Cat scratch disease

salmonella

Im not convinced breathing the litter dust in should be an issue - the paper pellets are the best litter in terms of absorbancy-and minimal dust!-just do the changing and cleaning outside

and the smell may be poo but it cant carry toxoplasmosis -and hey poo is everywhere as we found out through mythbusters-your baby has to encounter bacteria to develop a good immune system-if its changed every day and u use the right litter shouldnt be an issue with smell either! (mind you the TRAY should be cleaned not just emptied, if you dont wnat it to smell)

these all sound terrible but arent in fact the devastating killers we might imagine-toxo  bad (as far as we know) only if you contract it during pregnancy-so sounds like your major worry is over

the others can be treated even if contracted, but it pays to prevent

the litter tray should be cleaned daily (this pretty much eliminates the risk of things like toxoplasmosis which i believe most of us have anyway (i thought the latest figure was actually quite high 50-60%)-as takes 24 to 48 hours for the parasite to develop-and tray shouldnt be changed by you, and precautions should be taken to keep the baby from crawling near it

worming and defleaing your cat will help to avoid ringworm

I think this article is the best and most informative answer you could get about living with cats and babies-it dispels the myths and gives you good advice

http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-worldbab...

just an interesting sidenote

an experiment with rats infected with toxoplasmosis showed a loose link to risk taking behaviour

normal rats when confronted with 4 nesting boxes, go to the one with rat urine scenting it and hides

with the choice rat, cat, dog/? urine the toxo rats go straight for the cat scented hovel and just hang around

interesting, maybe thats why i like to coat myself in meat and go swimming in the ocean, Ive always wondered....should get myself tested

Answer 13

Move it from there, find different place for it.

Answer 14

I'd say yes just to be on the safe side. I don't know how long the dangerous particles stay in the air after your kitty uses it but it's always best to error on the side of caution when it comes to your health.

You can always check with your advise nurse at your doctors office.

Answer 15

If your cat is an indoor cat and does not hunt or eat raw meat, your risk of getting *toxoplasmosis* from cleaning the litter box is quite low.

If possible, have someone else take care of your cat while you are pregnant. Have another family member change the cat litter box

*Toxoplasmosis is an infection that passes from animals to humans, sometimes without causing any symptoms.*

dont  risk anything with your (unborn) child  

Answer 16

No you just can't touch it

Answer 17

Toxoplasmosis is not that easy to get. I was a vet tech for 7 years before becoming pregnant with my daughter, so I had them test me for it. I had never even been exposed to it. You're more likely to get it from undercooked meat and putting your hands in the soil outside. Just breathing in the same room isn't going to hurt. Your cats would also have to have the disease first before they could give it to you. Indoor cats are a lot less likely to carry it as well. Still, don't change the litter, but don't worry either. Congratulations.

Answer 18

yes the dust is harmful and has bacteria in it.

Answer 19

Cat litter does not harm your baby. Cat f***s does and only in certain cases. If the cat is strictly an indoor cat then the chances of it carrying the disease is slim to none. Even if your cat did have it and it was in its f***s, sitting in a room where the f***s was would not harm you or the baby. You only get it by touching it and then ingesting it.

Answer 20

No, it's fine.

Answer 21

Put the litter box somewhere else maybe.Or make someone keep it clean.Won't hurt you I don't think but I'm not a doctor.