Any other cat owners?

Luvmy2sons · January 2012

I have 3. And i'm really mad at them. One of them pooped outside of the litter box. They NEVER do that. It was in my DS's playroom nonetheless. So now I have to wait for DH to get home to clean it up, then he has to shampoo the whole rug. What has me is that the playroom had toys everywhere. Even though this was off in a corner, near no toys... but to me everything is now probably contaminated. GRRRRR.

So, one of my friends has been telling me that my family has been getting sick (DS1 just started kindergarten and everything that comes into school, he brings home) because of the cats. That can't be true can it?? I'm a clean freak. Like nutso. And my cats don't walk on counters, etc. However this crap on the floor thing has me reeling. Anyways, they're really starting to plant this in my head. Tell me it's irrational. They're indoor cats. Never ever go outside (they were all declawed when they were kittens). My DS1 actually didn't get his first cold/sickness until he was almost TWO. But now that he was in preschool and now kindergarten, he's catching everything. My friend keeps telling me to get rid of them. And even though my brother has said multiple times that he wants to steal my cats because he wants company and knows their temprement, lol... getting rid of them is just something that i'm trained not to do. I used to foster dogs... and spend time at the shelter. So getting rid of the cats is something my brain isn't in tune with. This isn't about that though, more about.. can they be making us sick??

Marinewife81 · January 2012

Um, odds are he's getting sick because other kids around him are sick. We have cats and my DD has only been sick once. She doesn't go to daycare and doesn't really hang around other kids. She got sick because I brought it home from work.

We do have the pooping outside the litterbox issue, though. They're currently locked in the basement until we can fix the problem. There's nowhere for a litterbox upstairs and I think the one cat is just being too lazy to go downstairs and use it.

Luvmy2sons · January 2012

softskate31:

I think your kid is sick b/c of being in school. Unless he is allergic to the cats, I don't think they can make him sick like that if you keep a clean house.

Talk to your pedi and your vet about it if you want reassurance.

I have 2 cats. They don't make us sick.

You can clean up the poop...put on gloves and a mask if you want...wash your hands well afterwards. How do you think single pregnant ladies have cats?

I know, especially since my cats are strictly indoor cats and never go outside or eat raw meat. My paranoia just has me looney.

jamaicam · January 2012

Cats dont make you sick, unless you ahve an allergy! I am one of those who believes that having animals around the house actually makes you healthier and more immune to stuff.

Has something happened to upset your cat? I am a bit worried about how mine will react to baby as she is used to getting all our attention - she is really good with kids and babies who visit but i'm scared she'll get jealous and play up when we have ours.

ADub09 · January 2012

Kids get sick being around other kids .... the snot, lack of handwashing and hands down the pants is what is makes kids sick.

You can and I think should pick up the poop ~ I wouldn't leave it out there all day. Just put on gloves, pick it up with a bag like you would dog pooh and get rid of it, leaving it lying out all day is gross and going to be worse.

Luvmy2sons · January 2012

ADub09:

Kids get sick being around other kids .... the snot, lack of handwashing and hands down the pants is what is makes kids sick.

You can and I think should pick up the poop ~ I wouldn't leave it out there all day. Just put on gloves, pick it up with a bag like you would dog pooh and get rid of it, leaving it lying out all day is gross and going to be worse.

I did. Actually I called my brother and he came and got it. Good brother

dojo1 · January 2012

Your friend sounds a bit irrational.. how many hundreds of thousands of people have had children and owned cats at the same time and lived to tell the tale?

If the cats pick up smoking and want to blow the smoke directly in the baby's face then you should consider getting rid of them, until then they're probably pretty harmless with proper supervision and care.

LMA06 · January 2012

I don't think there is any chance the cats are making your DS sick unless he has developed an allergy to them. He is probably getting sick because he is now around tons of other kids carrying their own germs they share with him.

I would keep the cats.

Luvmy2sons · January 2012

DO-JO:

Your friend sounds a bit irrational.. how many hundreds of thousands of people have had children and owned cats at the same time and lived to tell the tale?

If the cats pick up smoking and want to blow the smoke directly in the baby's face then you should consider getting rid of them, until then they're probably pretty harmless with proper supervision and care.

I agree 100%. It is actually making me a bit mad everytime she hears my kids are sick and says "get rid of the cats." Seriously, my cats are hiders. They hide 90% of the day under the bed. They only come out at night when my DS's are asleep. I've had them for 8 or 9 years, so they've been around when both DS's were born... I just don't think they like all the noise. It's fine with me. I'm actually highly allergic to them... well if I pet them then itch my face/eye. Otherwise i'm fine.

TheBuddha · January 2012

Luvmy2sons:
DO-JO:

Your friend sounds a bit irrational.. how many hundreds of thousands of people have had children and owned cats at the same time and lived to tell the tale?

If the cats pick up smoking and want to blow the smoke directly in the baby's face then you should consider getting rid of them, until then they're probably pretty harmless with proper supervision and care.

I agree 100%. It is actually making me a bit mad everytime she hears my kids are sick and says "get rid of the cats." Seriously, my cats are hiders. They hide 90% of the day under the bed. They only come out at night when my DS's are asleep. I've had them for 8 or 9 years, so they've been around when both DS's were born... I just don't think they like all the noise. It's fine with me. I'm actually highly allergic to them... well if I pet them then itch my face/eye. Otherwise i'm fine.

It sounds like she is not only irrational but a control freak. How is your cat ownership any of her business? I clean the cat boxes three times a week at my house. I don't even wear gloves (gasp!!) But I use a scooper and wash really good when I am finished.

Don't get rid of your cats because your friend is looney bins. Just keep doing what you are doing. And when your cat misses the box, just pick it up and move on. It's not like it's poop from a feral cat.

sweetdreams2000 · January 2012

Luvmy2sons:
DO-JO:

Your friend sounds a bit irrational.. how many hundreds of thousands of people have had children and owned cats at the same time and lived to tell the tale?

If the cats pick up smoking and want to blow the smoke directly in the baby's face then you should consider getting rid of them, until then they're probably pretty harmless with proper supervision and care.

I agree 100%. It is actually making me a bit mad everytime she hears my kids are sick and says "get rid of the cats." Seriously, my cats are hiders. They hide 90% of the day under the bed. They only come out at night when my DS's are asleep. I've had them for 8 or 9 years, so they've been around when both DS's were born... I just don't think they like all the noise. It's fine with me. I'm actually highly allergic to them... well if I pet them then itch my face/eye. Otherwise i'm fine.

Just tell your friend you've consulted your vet and pediatrician and there are no issues (even if you haven't). If your kids are sick outside of your home and when away from your pets, its likely not allergies. She sounds like a cat hater and needs to mind her own business. With the changes in schools and the seasons, it is no surprise that your kids are getting sick. They're being exposed to new germs/viruses/kids that they may not have been exposed to before. Like PPs said, I'm almost positive that's the cause.

Tambcat · January 2012

ugh, people are so biased against cats. It's infuriating! I agree that your kid is probably bringing home colds from school. Unless you guys are having bouts of bloody diarrhea or something.

Tambcat · January 2012

Also, everything is NOT contaminated from a turd sitting on the floor, anymore than it is from a turd sitting in a litter box. lol. Just clean the spot where it was. I'm dying that you had your brother come over and pick it up.

bellablue2 · January 2012

I have three indoor only cats and we have never had any problems being sick out of the ordinary. I know it sucks that the kitty pooped on the floor, but its bound to happen every once in a while. Mine are pretty good about it, but occasionally they have an accident. I think your friends are full of it. I have had so many people tell me to get rid of my cats and my family has been just fine with them around. Besides, I think my boys would kill me if I ever did that. Hang in there!

devious1031 · January 2012

1-why would you leave cat *** sitting till your DH gets home to clean it rather than just cleaning it up? If it's because of toxo I wouldn't worry. Odds are if you've always had cats, and they've ever been exposed (not likely since they're indoor) you're already exposed and once you are then that's it. There's no "double exposure" kinda thing.

2-cats are relatively clean animals,even if they did walk on counters and such odds are it's OTHER KIDS making your kid sick, NOT your cats, UNLESS the child has some allergy to them (which is possible, allergies can develop later on in life), but odds are still in favor of him getting sick due to other children.

ETA: I've had/been around cats (both strictly indoor and indoor/outdoor) all my life, including during my pregnancies.

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