I'm waiting to hear the full report on the evening news but I keep hearing that cat litter could be toxic to us, especially women. Can't wait to hear the full report later. Geez, what would we do if we can't use litter???
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I'm waiting to hear the full report on the evening news but I keep hearing that cat litter could be toxic to us, especially women. Can't wait to hear the full report later. Geez, what would we do if we can't use litter???
I know it's toxic to pregnant women. Toxoplasmosis is what is toxc to pregnant women. I'll be interested to hear how it affects women in general.
I don't know about you, but I'd go back to using the toilet. :D Okay - bad joke - but I couldn't resist. :p
Like Donna said, I've heard about the dangers to pregnant women, but nothing beyond that. And I cleaned litter boxes both times I was pregnant, and my kids weren't born with 2 heads or parts missing, so I don't know what changed over the years.
There is always litter made from other products such as corn or pine - maybe that's the answer.
Supposedly it can make women suicidal because of the "T-Gondii" parasite in cat feces. Yet it's reported that 1/3 of the population carries this parasite without issues. Oh please researchers - what next??? :rolleyes:
I suppose thousands of cats will be thrown outside or dumped in the shelter due to this report!!!:( Mine, I'm keeping them. It's simple, don't put your hand in your mouth after cleaning the litter boxes unless you wash your hands.:rolleyes:
There are always those who will respond to this new finding by going off the deep end! However, the parasite is found mainly in cats that are allowed outside, since they pick up this parasite from killing mice, rats, and other small animals that carry it. Humans can also get the parasite from handling raw meats and vegetables, so now do we eliminate them too??? :rolleyes: Wash your hands, people, and quit pushing the panic button.
I read an article on that issue. It DID say that people who are more prone to suicidal behaviour might be more sensitive to T Gondii in the first place. Other way around, if you see what I mean.
We should all quit eating, drinking and breathing - just to be on the safe side - since just about everything anymore, carries health hazards. :p:D
Hmmm... maybe there is something to a neuro-toxin parasite in litter..... I mean, how else could we explain the existance of cat crazy women? ;) :p :rolleyes:
I was sane and normal one day. Then *pow* I had a household of cats. It was the litter! Thank goodness I have a diagnosis. Whew.
I did a massive facepalm when I read this because it'll lead to more dumped cats, IMO. When just some common sense (which isn't, unfortunately) like washing your hands after cleaning the kitty boxes will prevent problems.
Well, everybody is sensitive to something somewhere. Look at the allergies on this board. Earlier this year I was on a BP med that causes panic attacks. But they don't advertise that. I think they enjoy scaring people.
Only problem with inside cats, where were they 'before' I adopted them. Tessa was in a feral colony. Angel, who knows if she was ever outside? Tessa and Angel where around many cats at Petsmart and in foster homes on cage breaks. Missys mama cat went outside, she never did. RB Sassy, I found on the street. Just hoping people don't worry about that. I'm not.;) Why would you not wash your hands after 'digging for gold in the litterpan'? :D
Good heavens, imagine the diseases and germs from my dogs? And I let them on my bed!!!:eek:
Absolutely. And cats can shed toxo without ever showing clinical signs of having it.
Bottom line, this is no bigger of a deal as it was before the news blew it out of proportion. That's their job, you know, scare tactics.
So you'd have to be in pretty unsanitary conditions, your cat is not a good groomer, or you yourself never wash your hands or bathe. Not saying you still couldn't get infected, but this isn't a very common thing. So clean your box every day, and don't allow your cat to walk across food preparation areas. You know, things we should already be doing lolQuote:
Oocysts passed in a cat's feces are not immediately infectious to other animals. They must first go through a process called sporulation, which takes one to five days depending on environmental conditions. Once sporulated, oocysts are infectious to cats, people, and other intermediate hosts.
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/toxo.html