Diseases From a Cat Litter Box

Litter boxes are scary places. Lurking in the environment of a litter pan are hundreds upon thousands of microorganisms that, if not handled properly, can make both humans and felines sick.

  1. Significance

    • The litter box is a place for a cat to safely and securely eliminate waste. In the wild, cats will bury their fecal matter and urine in the ground. The soil-like texture of litter allows them to mimic these behaviors indoors.

    Types

    • The waste products of a cat contain many different microorganisms. These microorganisms can fall under three categories: Bacteria, protozoa and viruses.

    Bacteria

    • Escherichia coli, commonly abbreviated E. coli, is a bacteria that also lurks in litter pans. This bacteria has been known to cause severe stomach pain in both humans and cats.

    Protazoa

    • Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protazoa that can be transferred to humans through the handling of infected fecal matter. Toxoplasmosis poses a particular risk to pregnant women and their unborn fetuses.

    Viruses

    • Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) can be transmitted from one cat to another through the shared use of a litter box. This virus is not zoonotic, meaning it cannot transfer to humans.

    Precautions

    • Make sure to have your cat regularly examined by a veterinarian to ensure its health. If you are pregnant, sick or immune compromised, seek the help of someone else to clean your cat's litter box.