Cat poo on lawn, 11 month old, risk of toxoplasmosis?

[Mij]

Does anyone have the lowdown on just how much of a risk this is? We have a tiny garden but DD - very mobile - is desperate to get out into it. Unfortunately new cats next door poo on our lawn. I pick it up, of course, but have no idea how toxoplasmosis is contracted. Does it hang around once offending pile is removed? Can you somehow, kind of sterilize the lawn? Need help, DD going nuts. We've got a sonic cat deterrent that obviously isn't doing the job for one of them - maybe it's deaf...

[Gobbledigook]

Throw a football at it.

[TooTicky]

You can buy tiger poo from some zoos - put some around the boundaries and terrify the local cats.

[berolina]

PMSL GDG

Most cats, if they have access to outdoors and are healthy, have probably had it and won't be shedding it in their poo. I think only about 2% of cats do at any one time. The important thing is to remove it as soon as you see it, as the parasites don't hatch until 12 hours later or something (sorry, yukky, I know).

[lljkk]

I'm confused why you're worried about it.

I thought that only preggo women and children with weak immune systems should avoid toxomplasmosis, not a risk to anyone else. A good thing to get over with for girls, I thought.

Isn't that what this website is saying ? Have I missed some other news story?

[geekgrrl]

like lljk i can't really see the problem. apparently it doesn't even show any real symptoms if a healthy child catches it, so is there any need to worry about it?

find something else to worry about.

[alibobins]

My Neice got hold of cat pooh last week parents aren't sure if she ate some but anyway advised to go to a&e who said old pooh can be really dangerous if eaten as eggs can hatch causing severe problems. Sister in law has got to take niece to doctors with every snuffle for the next two months just incase

[BandofMothers]

Since your neighbours cat has decided to use your garden as a litter tray(my next door N's cat does this too), ask them to get it tested.

[lucyellensmum]

toxoplasmosis and another condition is carried in cats poo when they have worms, im sure that is the case, i could be wrong but anyway, if the cat has worms then that is a problem because thaey can be transferred. I would approach your neighbours and politely ask if they are wormed because they are using your garden to poo in. Explain that you know cats will be cats and that you are not cross and then just suggest that they use Drontal cat wormer, which they must get from their vets, every three months just to be sure. Other than that, invest in a water pistor, it might not work, but it will be fun!!!! tiger poo is ok but leaving it to decompose in the garden is worse than leaving the cats poo, i wold have thought. The only other alternative i can think of, you'll like this is get your own cat! They dont like to dirty their own garden, or you can restrict to a litter tray, but other cats will be less inclined to do their business on another cats lawn.

[Mij]

I'm not a big worrier, particularly about DD grubbing about as I like her immune system to be challenged . But I'm concerned about this cos an adult friend got it from his girlfriend's cats and he got severely swollen lymph nodes, which may not be fatal but is definitely unpleasant, and also easy to misdiagnose (he was originally told he may have cancer and was booked for an op - good job his brother was a GP and suggested a second opinion). I'll have a look at that article though. Hadn't thought of the worming thing. Have already had a 'polite' conversation with next door and they did put and outdoor litter tray out. Will ask about the worming, good tip. Love cats but don't want one until we're somewhere where I wouldn't feel a total hypocrite if it poos in other people's back yards, which are all the size of a generous hanky so we can't afford to upset each other too much. Apparently you can also get 'essence of lion dung' spray - may look into it. Got a water pistol but I'm a crap shot.