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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!houxz!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!orca!hammer!annej
From: annej@hammer.UUCP (Anne Jacko)
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Re: COMPOSTERS and cat litter
Message-ID: <753@hammer.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Jun-84 14:39:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: hammer.753
Posted: Fri Jun  8 14:39:22 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 10-Jun-84 00:26:55 EDT
References: <8128@lanl-a.UUCP> <15800006@hpfcla.UUCP>, <966@ihuxq.UUCP>, <704@CS-Arthur>
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 16

The "germ" mentioned in the original article about kitty litter
is actually a parasite called toxoplasmosis.  It can have very
bad effects on a fetus of any age.  Pregnant women are advised to
have another household member clean out the cat box if possible,
or else wear gloves and avoid breathing any dust from the litter
while doing it.  Toxoplasmosis is nearly harmless to extra-utero
humans, and a person may be infected and never notice any symptoms.
Cats can get it by eating infected rodents, birds, or other raw
meat.  Pregnant women are also advised to avoid raw or undercooked
meat.

Another thing pregnant women should do is wear gloves when gardening,
since cats consider the garden to be Nature's gift of an outdoor
litter box.

-- A. Jacko, Tektronix