This publish is sponsored by PrettyLitter
The litter box is one of the most important “accessories” when it comes to life with cats. After all, it’s utilized a number of times a day, as well as selecting the right box, the right litter, as well as keeping it scrupulously clean all contribute to keeping your feline happy as well as healthy. however might your litter box present health and wellness dangers to you as well as your cat?
Allergens
Your litter box might be triggering allergy issues for both you as well as your cat. sensitive people as well as cats may experience respiratory irritation from sodium bentonite. Sodium bentonite is the aspect in clumping litter that swells when it becomes wet. It’s ultra-absorbent as well as produces big clumps make it simple to lift them out of the litter box. However, it can likewise cause allergies in sensitive individuals. Your feline comes deal with to deal with with this allergen every time she utilizes her litter box. Also, when she sees the box, the dust from clumping litter can settle on her fur, which then gets tracked with your home as well as bothers others.
Dust
Dust is a typical allergen that can irritate both the human as well as feline upper respiratory tract. If you’re utilizing a clay litter or one more litter made of natural mediums, you’re likely dealing with at least some dust every time you modification the litter box. This may be particularly true with clay based litters.
A cleaner option
You can prevent allergens connected with traditional litters by changing to a silica-based feline litter like PrettyLitter. Silica-based feline litters don’t produce any type of dust (despite being super lightweight) as well as they don’t contain any type of harmful allergy-inducing chemicals like sodium bentonite.
Another benefit to PrettyLitter in specific is that the litter modifications color depending upon specific properties in your cat’s urine. If your PrettyLitter turns yellow or olive green, that’s a great sign. other colors can suggest a health and wellness issue as well as provide you a heads up that it’s time to take your feline to the vet.
Porous plastic can harbor bacteria
Most feline litter boxes are made from plastic, which is a porous material full of microscopic holes. Bacteria, which are likewise microscopic, like to hang out as well as establish houses in these bit holes. If you have a self-cleaning litter box, you have even more surfaces that might be contaminated with bacteria. The two primary problems are:
Escherichia Coli
Also understood as E. coli, is a typical bacteria that resides in the lower gastrointestinal tract of most mammals, including humans as well as cats. There are numerous different strains of E. Coli, as well as the majority are not harmful. However, E. coli can cause issues when a harmful strain of the bacteria is introduced into the system, which can lead to symptoms such as abdominal cramps, serious diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, as well as urinary tract infections.
When an infected feline utilizes the litter box, E.coli can be transferred into the feline litter. When the dust in your litter box is kicked up by your feline or when you clean or modification the litter box, it can be inhaled.
Toxoplasmosis Gondii
Toxoplasmosis gondii is a parasite that can be discovered in the feces of cats who eat infected mice, birds, raw meat, or contaminated soil or water. It is unusual in the United States, as well as the greatest danger of contracting the illness does not come from feline feces, however from eating raw or undercooked meat or unwashed fruit as well as vegetables, or from gardening in contaminated soil. However, there is a little possibility that toxoplasmosis gondii can be transferred into the litter as well as inhaled via the litter dust .
Toxoplasmosis gondii can cause birth defects in infants, which is why women are advised to take simple, typical sense precautions during pregnancy.
Beat the Bacteria
Scoop the litter box at least when a day, ideally, a number of times a day. replace the litter at least when a month as well as clean the litter box thoroughly with hot soapy water. replace plastic litter boxes every 6-12 months to prevent overgrowth of bacteria.
Ammonia
The ammonia odor from feline urine can lead to respiratory issues in humans as well as cats, such as asthma as well as allergies. Symptoms can variety from nausea as well as headaches to serious respiratory problems such as pneumonia in sensitive individuals. However, under typical conditions, when you are only dealing with a little area of spilled urine, the likelihood of it harming your respiratory system is very little to non-existent.
To prevent ammonia build-up, keep your cat’s litter box in a well-ventilated area. covered litter boxes trap all odors, including ammonia, as well as are not a great option for cats. clean as wenullnull