# Cat Litter **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845 "2000-08-18T14:12:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pantelleria](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pantelleria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantelleria)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/1 "2000-08-18T14:12:06Z")
Is it true that women (pregnant?)should not change cat litter? ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/2 "2000-08-18T14:22:51Z")
Yes it’s true. The problem is, ahem… “toxoplasmosis” some type of infectious bacteria released in the cats feces. Pregnant women and people with immuno-deficiency concerns need to avoid direct contact with cat waste, so should everyone else for that matter. I’m sure someone will supply a link any time now which will give all of the necessary details. BTW Welcome to the board!! ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/3 "2000-08-18T16:02:40Z")
I have heard this also. Getting that bacteria in you can be nasty. Apparently, it’s worse when you’re pregnant. Not changing the litter is one of the bonuses when pregnant. (I knew there was a bonus in there for our future moms!) ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/4 "2000-08-18T16:06:45Z")
IIRC, most folks who’ve had cats for any length of time have gotten the disease and are immune, but the problem is you don’t know if you have or not. and it’s one of the diseases that travel 'tween you and kidlet to be, and can have horrible outcomes for the developing kidlet. So, the general safe action is to have the pregnant lady not change the kitty box. the symptoms for an adult who get the disease are cold/flu like, so you really probably will never know when you have it, relatively benign in adults, very bad for developing kidlet. ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/5 "2000-08-18T16:52:31Z")
it’s true, as noted in the other responses. ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/6 "2000-08-18T21:29:27Z")
Your user name is too close to mine. What good is it having an obscure user name if SOMEONE ELSE CAN DECIPHER IT without having to ask? Anyway, just shocked to see the name, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/7 "2000-08-19T02:15:14Z")
It’s true. [http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/otis/Toxoplasmosis.html](http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/otis/Toxoplasmosis.html) ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/8 "2000-08-19T02:52:24Z")
Apparantly, toxo is endemic in some cutures and regions. I’ve been _told_ that the French almost all get it, with little if any ill effects. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/9 "2000-08-19T03:48:54Z")
Which explains the disclaimer on cat litter: _We want to remind those with suppressed immune systems and pregnant women that a parasite sometimes found in cat feces can cause toxoplasmosis. Please wash hands thoroughly after handling used cat box filler._ ---
**Author:** ![labdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5fc32e/32.png) [@labdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labdude)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter/29845/10 "2000-08-19T15:26:47Z")
The important part is “supressed immune system.” My uncle, who had AIDS, died of toxcoplasmosis. Basically the toxco. eat away at your brain.