Do you wear a mask when cleaning the litterbox?

[Cookiebaker]

I was just curious to know if you wear a mask to clean out the litterbox. Mark usually takes care of the litterbox, and he can't be bothered with a mask, but when I clean it, I feel that it's safer. Anybody else have opinions on this?

[aly]

Nope I never do. Not even at the shelter when I'm cleaning all the kitty boxes there. Though there are times when I have to put my shirt over my nose and mouth if someone has made an especially stinky mess for me!!

[NoahsMommy]

I probably should...that dust sets off my allergies....good idea!

[Fuzzy317]

I clean our 2 litter boxes. I wear contacts and I don't use a mask. They are not that dusty, and cleaning them each day keeps the odor down.

[jenluckenbach]

It never even dawned upon me that I could/should wear a mask. Neither the dust nor the smell really bother me.

[Cookiebaker]

I heard that there is a disease (particularly affects pregnant women) that can be passed through cat urine. I forget the name of it, but heard that it can be prevented by wearing a mask. Has anybody else heard of this??

[Fuzzy317]

Originally posted by Cookiebaker
I heard that there is a disease (particularly affects pregnant women) that can be passed through cat urine. I forget the name of it, but heard that it can be prevented by wearing a mask. Has anybody else heard of this??

I have heard that women should avoid litter box cleaning duties while pregnant, but I haven't heard anything about wearing a mask in case.

[Christiansmommy]

Really the only reason that a pregnant woman should avoid changing cat litter is if you have an outdoor cat, that may have eaten raw meat. ie, a mouse or something, and they carried the disease...it would then be exposed to the pregnant woman if she touched the fecal waste of the cat...

When i was pregnant, i still cleaned Gabe's box everyday, b/c he was strictly an indoor cat, and i knew he had no chance of getting the disease ( I ,of course, washed my hands really well, though)...i forget the name of the disease, i think it is toxo-something or other

Robyn

i dont use a mask...i think the Tidy Cats litter deoderizer dust (though, it smells great)...gets to me more than the litter dust..

[Tina]

Dear hubby takes care of the litterbox now that I'm pregnant again he did when I was pregant with Kaitlynn also.

But when I was not pregnant no I did not wear a mask. The litter wasn't that dusty that I used. And I've never thought of wearing a mask.

[lizbud]

I don't wear a mask, but sometimes have to hold my breath
when cleaning the "pee" box. My kitties seem to chose one box for mostly pee & anothers for "other deposits". Anyway I found this explanation of the disease you were speaking of on a cat site.


WARNING
Pregnant women shouldn't change cat litter boxes because cats can be infected with a disease called toxoplasmosis. Cats can carry this disease because they hunt and eat other animals. This disease is rare in house cats but you would be better off avoiding the litter box anyway. A pregnant woman can catch the infection by touching or breathing the particles (such as dust) from cat feces. You can also get toxoplasmosis by eating raw or under cooked red meat or by touching dirt while gardening that has been contaminated by cat feces.

If a woman gets toxoplasmosis during pregnancy it can affect the developing baby and cause birth defects, particularly in eye and brain development. Therefore it is advised that women who are pregnant ask to have someone else change the cat litter box. It is safe to hold and pet your cat however, so feel free to give your pet all the affection it deserves.

Want to train your cat to use the toilet? Try this link:
Toilet Training your cat.
Or this link TOILET TRAINING CATS

[Cataholic]

Wear a mask? I couldn't be bothered. Most of us use chemicals to clean which are more toxic than kitty boxes. I am a carrier of toxo, and I don't know how I contracted it, but, suppose it was from a kitty. So, I am afraid I would still get 'box duty' if I was to become pregnant...

[luckies4me]

I was told by my midwife/doctor while I was pregnant that most likely if you come into contact with cat feces that you already have built up immunity to Toxo, so that if you do get pregnant you can clean the catbox etc. I cleaned the boxes when I was pregnant and I didn't have a problem. I used to wear masks when we used clay litter but after we switched to clumping litter it's not as dusty, so it's not really needed. Interesting topic though!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I've never used a mask or even thought about using one. The clumping litter that I now use isn't dusty at all and I clean the 2 litterboxes every day so it doesn't get too stinky. I've never heard of a disease that you can get from cat urine.

A mask?? Oh nope...! I would hate that thing on my nose

[Former User]

Nope, we don't wear a mask. Sometimes after a nice fresh poop it would come handy though