To not clean up after our sick cat?

[gonewiththepotter]

Our 1.5 year old cat has got sickness and dhiarrea. Vomiting all over the house this afternoon and several nasty episodes the other way.

DH is dealing with it atm but has to go to work shortly (gonna nip kitty to the vets before he does)!

I adore our cat, he’s my baby but I’m 4/5 weeks pregnant (struggling with symptoms so signed off work) and received a STERN warning from vets not to touch anything that comes out of him (specifically cat feces which can be REALLY dangerous for baby).

I’m now panicking about being left with kitty all night and short of locking him in the kitchen extension (which will distress him greatly) not sure what to do. I’m hoping the vets keep him in at this rate but he HATES the vets so I feel awful!

DH is doing everything ...literally following cat around with detol and a scrubbing brush (we have wood floors so it’s not too bad) whilst I sit here on the sofa feeling useless!

OP if you have a steam cleaner that reaches at least 121 degrees then that will sanitise the floor too. Use rags instead of the proper pad and then throw away after to avoid having to put them in your washing machine.

I had never come into contact with toxoplasmosis despite growing up in a midden with animals that were only wormed once there were physical signs, so I wouldn't panic about that. I allowed the ex to take over litter tray duties in any case, just because it was a job he was prepared to do and I was tired enough with the cooking and general stuff anyway. I did avoid lambing.

However, a cat shitting explosively is puke inducing at any time, never mind when it hurts to get down to clean it up, so it would probably be better for the poor thing to be coralled into one easy clean area, as although I think you should still clean up after it every time - with disposable gloves - it's going to be better than finding/smelling bits of evidence all over the house for the weekend.

Hope the cat is OK.

By the way, yes, sickness meds are a thing during pregnancy. They are usually only prescribed in extremis, but they kept me out of hospital. If they've been prescribed, they have clearly been very carefully considered by the doctor.

Bio detergent instead of Dettol, if you poison him he will vomit even more, and probably die.

Could you put plastic bags on your hands until you can get some gloves?

Agree that the vet might keep him in, it would probably be better for both of you, he will get care and you won't have to clean up.

Is he an outdoor cat? Could he have eaten something bad?

If you can contain him to one small room and had a large table cloth or sturdy bin liners you could tape to the floor to make the clean up process easier once he is better.

@pelirocco123 they were prescribed by my GP and deemed ‘safe’ for pregnancy.
I’ve actually had a few comments now about ‘it that’s a good idea’ even from my mum - and I’m not sure whats meant? That I shouldn’t take anything and just ride it out for the sake of the baby?

I get that, but we don’t live in the 40’s anymore and I have a FT job I’m currently signed off of. Sure I can ride out these symptoms but I can’t work or proceed with my life whilst doing so!

@VetOnCall
I just want him to feel ok again 😭 he’s my little man and I feel awful as he’s obviously feeling miserable. I’m being very careful. He’s currentky curled up in a corner of our bedroom on his special mat! He’s lethargic and unhappy but I’m checking on him!

🙄 DH has been to Chemist only to be told DR’s havnt sent the prescription. It’s gone to another chemist accidentally which now isn’t open until tomorrow and in the confusion/rain/running late for the vet he didn’t check his phone and so has not bought gloves.

Just picked up the cat and headed to the vet

I think the thoughts about taking sickness drugs during pregnency goes back to Thalidomide as I think it was used to treat pregnency sickness.

As to the cat the vet may well keep him in to get his fluid levels back up

Ah poor little thing, I do hope he's ok. I would definitely get him to the vet asap though, prolonged sickness and resulting dehydration can be very serious

@Avonanddice

Ah. Didn’t put those together. Sucks though as seems people think I’m failing my child or being irresponsible by taking them. The alternative is stay signed off until it clears up ‘if’ it clears up! Which is fine but surely in a few years those same people will be asking me ‘why I took such a step back in my career’ or ‘why I’m not climbing that ladder anymore’.

Just not sure I can win really, should 100% put baby first and be completely organic. But should also work and maintain a successful independent career 🤔

First question my bosses asked was...what have they given you for it? Let’s see if that works. Can you imagine if I said ‘oh yeah he’s prescribed me sickness medication but I’m not going to take it. I’ll just stay signed off on full pay thanks 👍🏻 😂😂’

Just ask your husband to ask the vets to medical board the kitty over the weekend and see if they can do it?

Can you not shut the cat outside?

Yeah the chemist will sell disposible gloves, latex type, spray antiseptic spray from chemist?? Over the poo or vomit. Then clean up with kitchen roll, straight onto out side dustbin, spray area again and wipe, wash hands thoroughly. I'm a cat person, imo the vet may give the cat a shot of antibiotics and it should clear up asap, had this with mine, dont give cat wet food just water

Can you not shut the cat outside?

A sick cat? Who is already vomiting and liquid shutting? You want them shut out in the sweltering heat? To speed up his death by dehydration?

Don’t worry OP sickness meds are safe in pregnancy that the GP prescribes. There’s a very slim chance of any issue. I had sickness with all of mine and had to take them. I literally couldn’t function otherwise as I was just throwing up and wretching all day and night . It’s so debilitating. I was Hospitalised too with each pregnancy for a while. The resulting dehydration would be more dangerous and body going in to ketosis.

Definitely take the meds and ignore any comments. My GP refused to let me have them and I suffered horribly for what felt like an eternity (actually about 20 weeks in all).

As far as the cat goes, cleaning it asap is safer than leaving it as it's not infectious immediately, but be scrupulously clean, wear gloves, wash hands thoroughly afterwards and so on.

Are you 4 or 5 weeks pregnant or is that a mistake? 🤔

@EarringsandLipstick I’m somewhere around 4-6 weeks but due to irregular periods it’s hard to date.
I’ve just been hit really hard by symptoms 😩🤢

I would NEVER lock my poorly (predominantly house) cat outside in this heat/intense rain! Why doesn’t my DH just lock me outside because I’ve got morning sickness? 🤔

Op is being ultra super careful with cat poop on a quite paranoid level (she’s allowed, it’s her first) does anybody really think she would take anti emetics that weren’t safe during pregnancy.

Call your mum. I’m mum to adults and I’d be there like a shot it one of them asked!

@gonewiththepotter - the vet is likely to have boxes and boxes of gloves. I am sure you could agree a notional sum to be added to your bill.

Hope you and the cat feel better soon.

You can safely deal with cat waste while pregnant if you use proper precautions. Use gloves every time you deal with waste, and essentially don't stick your nose near the dirty waste as you're dealing with it.

However with a cat with D+V please find out what the vet thinks it is before dealing with any waste. Some things like this can be zoonotic, and with a lower immune system you would be more susceptible to catching it.. That's not to panic you, I'm just sure you could really do without a case of the shits yourself right now.

I work in a veterinary setting and our policy is that I'm allowed to deal with general cat waste as long as I'm gloved up, but I'm not to touch anything possibly infectious even with gloves.

the vet is likely to have boxes and boxes of gloves. I am sure you could agree a notional sum to be added to your bill.

Yes! Ring your DH now while he is still at the vets and tell him to get some.

I was on 3 different anti-emetics at one point, and yes I started vomiting pretty much straight after the postive test. Its horrid OP, feel for you.
Fingers crossed the vet can help kitty

I now have gloves ... cat is home and has had a anti sickness injection (he has a virus and bit of a temp poor baby) ... and mum is coming to stay at mine tonight incase cat needs to be rushed back to vets.

God what would I do without my mum? 😭 I know I’m 26 but making that call I felt like I was 16 again and the world was ending!

It’s just been such a shit week- this was the straw that broke the camels back!