Those of you with cats...

[sporklemotion]

I let DH do it, but realistically, the risk to you is low, especially if your cats don't go outdoors. I'm just lazy  .

[catsarecute]

I turned that job over to my DH LONG ago and it was the best decision ever.

I haven't heard of the need to wear a mask but just make sure to wash your hands right after scooping.

[VillainV]

H does it. I think you'd be fine with gloves, as it has to actually be ingested (not inhaled), then washed your hands afterward. Toxoplasmosis is no joke, and even though it's really rare, it could be devastating. If you have someone else to clean the litter box, then I would ask them to do it. Same goes for digging in the garden where other animals might poop.

[Wonderwall]

Dec 11, 2013 13:57:53 GMT -5 @rumpshaker said:

Are you still cleaning the litterbox or having H/SO do it?  Would it be okay to do if I wore a mask?

I'm still doing it.  H always forgets and it drives me bonkers. 

I just make sure to wash my hands really well after. I guess mask would help. Ours are indoor only though and always have been so the risk is a teensy bit lower.

[degal99]

DH does it because even though the risk is super low in my case, it's a why risk it action.

[kermit]

I do it. I asked the doctor about it and she did test me and I guess the results were okay because they didn't say anything to me about it. I'm just really careful and wash my hands afterwards. My cat has always been indoors and has been with me since she was 4 weeks old so I'm not that worried about it.

[Deleted]

I never cleaned it to begin with, so H still does it From what I heard, as long as you clean the box every day, the risk of toxoplasmosis is really small. Even smaller if your cat doesn't go outside and doesn't eat raw meat. From cat feces, it takes 24 hours I've heard for the spores to open up in the feces. So if you clean it every day, it won't be able to spread if your cat is contaminated. Otherwise, just wash your hands really well after each cleaning session.

[D2M]

My doctor checked for immunity to toxoplasmosis when I had some initial pregnancy bloodwork done and it showed I was immune. So I don't get a free pass on litter box duty, but my H is obsessed with our cat and it is the one chore he does really, really well, so I'm not letting on. To echo other posters, though, the risk of toxoplasmosis is super slim for indoor cats. It's more "dangerous" to garden than to scoop poop. I just finished "Expecting Better" by Emily Oster and she discusses the medical research behind the cat litter restrictions and concludes that it's just fine.

[winemaker06]

The doctor didn't test me but she said the risk was low to me. But she still suggested DH take over litter box duties just in case. Which is real fun because it's MY cat and he doesn't like her much :-)
I can take care of it with gloves but he insists on just taking care of it.

[Yankees21]

One of my books said it's actually fine if you do it, but that hasn't stopped me from turning over the duty to my H

[lo]

Dec 11, 2013 14:06:49 GMT -5 VillainV said:

H does it. I think you'd be fine with gloves, as it has to actually be ingested (not inhaled), then washed your hands afterward. Toxoplasmosis is no joke, and even though it's really rare, it could be devastating. If you have someone else to clean the litter box, then I would ask them to do it. Same goes for digging in the garden where other animals might poop.

Actually you can inhale it. I am still on scoop duty because I scoop it at least once every day and my H would let it go longer, which would really annoy me, lol.

I have gloves that I try and remember to wear and I want to get a mask. My cats are indoors but I have one escape artist, so I figure I need to take precautions. I was really bummed when I found out I wasn't immune!

[andthentherewere10]

DH travels OOT a lot so I end up doing it sometimes. My cat is indoor only and I am not in contact with strays. My cat definitely doesn't have toxoplasmosis so technically I could change it all the time. My OB said it was fine.

[shelbyann]

My H volunteered to take over when I got PG, so he does it most days. I do it when he's traveling or if he "forgets" and it goes more than a day between scoops. Like most of you, our cats are indoor only so the risk is really negligible.

[humpforfree]

My husband has been doing it but my cat is indoor and I'm not super worried so when H was traveling I just did it.. It just is mostly a convenient excuse to not do the box for awhile