How to Get Cat Droppings Out of Sand

Because cat droppings are occasionally infected with a parasite called toxoplasmosis, keeping the garden and sandbox free of cat feces will protect your health. While all humans eat dirt throughout their lives, children have the propensity and curiosity to consume more dirt than adults who develop a distaste for the indelicate flavor of soils. Some scientists argue that the consumption of soil increases immunity, but it also harbors diseases that can cause serious illness. According to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control in 2003, the most common disease contracted from the consumption of soil comes from the feces of dogs and cats. A sandbox cover will keep the cats from using your child's sandbox as a litter box.

Things You'll Need

Gloves
Shovel
Sand or soil screen
Slotted spoon
Trash bag

Instructions

Landscaping Sand Maintenance
- 1
  
  Sterile gloves will keep bacteria and germs from contaminating your hands and spreading to your household.
  
  Put on gloves. You can wear garden gloves, cleaning gloves or surgical gloves. Gloves will protect you from undesirable contact with cat feces.
- 2
  Set the sand or soil screen on one side of the garden area to be cleaned. A slotted spoon or cat litter sifting tool can be used instead of a screen and shovel, but it will take more time.
- 3
  
  Shoveling sand is hard work, but it's easier than the discomfort of illness.
  
  Shovel the sand onto the top of the sand screen. The sand particles are small and will fall through the screen, but the feces and other debris will remain on top of the screen. The toxoplasmosis parasite is microscopic, which means it is possible that some larvae or worms can remain in the filtered sand even after the feces has been removed.
- 4
  Shake the screen or ruffle the sand with your gloved hands to force the clean sand to drop through the screen back into the sandbox.
- 5
  
  Cats can be trained to use a litter box instead of digging in your child's sandbox.
  
  Toss all cat droppings captured by the screen into the trash.
- 6
  Remove the sand screen and redistribute the filtered sand evenly in the sandbox.
- 7
  Wash your hands with soap and hot water.
Sandbox Maintenance
- 8
  
  Put on gloves. You can wear garden gloves, cleaning gloves or surgical gloves. Gloves will protect you from undesirable contact with cat feces.
- 9
  
  Sandboxes are fun to play in when the sand is clean and safe.
  
  Remove all sand and cat feces from the child's sandbox. Because cat feces can be contaminated with the common parasite called taxoplasmosis, children should not play in a sandbox where a cat has deposited its droppings.
- 10
  Fill the sandbox with sterilized sand.
- 11
  Cover the sandbox to prevent cats from utilizing it as a litter box in the future.
- 12
  Wash your hands with soap and hot water.