Cat Litter Box Health

Online, June 6, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Cats are typically the most popular pets in the usa. According to the latest version of this U. S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook (2002 Edition) there were almost 70 Thousand pet cats in the usa. Why are felines so popular? There are as many answers to this question as you will find cat owners, though the low health dangers cats pose on their owners is certainly nearby the top of that list. Even though the potential health dangers cats pose to individuals are small, it is critical that cat owners know about these risks and realize how to reduce them.

Virtually all all risks arising from cat ownership are from the cat litter container and/or cat waste. There are two types of risks. The first category contains health conditions posed by microbes and parasites to be able to both cat entrepreneurs and their felines. The second group contains injuries caused by an automatic litter box or self cleaning litter box.

Primarily the illnesses experienced by kitten owners or their cats come from the first category and the most significant of these risks is referred to as Toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by tiny parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii that exist in raw or even undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, dirty cat trash boxes and outdoor soil where cat feces is found. According to the guts for Disease Manage and Prevention (CDC) greater than 60 million people in the usa may be infected while using Toxoplasma parasite(1). The good thing is, very few men and women ever experience any symptoms just because a healthy person's defense mechanisms usually keeps this parasite from causing illness. However, expectant women and individuals who've compromised immune systems, such as individuals infected while using HIV virus, are at risk and must take precautions to prevent being infected because of the parasite. For people in this group a Toxoplasma infection may cause serious health problems to the individual or to a pregnant woman's unborn kid.

Again, most from the 60 million furthermore American's infected using Toxoplasmosis parasite won't experience any signs or symptoms. Most of people that do experience symptoms only will think they hold the Flu as the most prevalent symptoms include inflamed glands, fever, throbbing headache, muscle pain, or possibly a stiff neck. For all those in the risky group, Toxoplasmosis can can damage the brain, eyes and body organs. According to america Food and Pill Administration, children born using Toxoplasma gondii can suffer from hearing loss, mental retardation, and loss of sight with some children developing brain or even eye problems a long time after birth(2). The CDC estimates that 400-4000 fetuses are infected while using Toxoplasma gondii parasite every year and as many as 80 infants expire from Toxoplasmosis annually(2).

How does an person contract Toxoplasmosis? A Toxoplasmosis infection is due to ingesting the Toxoplasma gondi parasite. Most cat entrepreneurs are infected while using parasite by unintentionally ingesting infected kitten feces. This happens every time a person touches his or her mouth after controlling a cat litter box, working in any garden or yellow sand box or touching anything that has come in contact with cat feces(3).

People in the risky group may wonder if they should give in place their cat to prevent infection. According to the CDC, it is not needed for cat lovers to quit their cats, but it's important for them to defend themselves from infections. The USFDA makes the next recommendations for preventing infections(2):

1) Whenever possible, have someone in addition change the litter box. If you need to clean it, wear disposable mitts and wash both hands thoroughly with soap and domestic hot water afterwards.

2) Change the litter box daily. The parasite doesn't become infectious until one to five days following your feces are deposited inside litter box.

3) Wear mitts when gardening in the garden or handling sand coming from a sandbox because cats might have excreted feces in them. Be sure to launder your hands using soap and domestic hot water afterwards.

4) Cover outdoor sandboxes to stop cats from using them as litter cardboard boxes.

5) Feed the cat commercial dry or canned foods. Never feed the cat raw meat because it can be a source of this Toxoplasmosis gondii parasite.

6) Maintain indoor cats indoors. Be especially cautious if you bring outdoor felines indoors.

7) Avoid stray cats, specifically kittens.

8) Do not get a new cat as long as you're pregnant.

Safer Kid, Inc. makes the next additional recommendations(4):

1) Have the veterinarian test your cat for that Toxoplasmosis parasite. In the event you cat is contaminated, you may want to consider having other people keep your cat while having pregnancy.

2) Keep sandboxes covered to stop cats from when using the sandbox as a litter box.

3) Be mindful of neighborhood sandboxes because the parasite can end up being brought home upon shoes, clothing and also toys.