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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My 2 year old just ate cat poop!!

53 replies

Catpooptragedy · 26/02/2024 18:11

I’m at my mums house and she has an elderly, indoor cat.
we took our eyes off DC for a second and he had a turd in his hand from the litter box and had bitten the top off!!! I dashed over to him and tried to scoop it out but I think he’d already swallowed it!
jesus Christ, I’m horrified!
he doesn’t seem phased at all and has eaten his dinner fine. I, on the other hand, keep retching!
what do I do, if anything?

OP posts:
Upsidedowncat · 26/02/2024 20:07

Somethingsnappy · 26/02/2024 20:04

Surely any cat would be outside at some point?

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Lots of kittens are raised strictly as housecats that will never go out. It isn't that unusual. Mine were until a few years ago!

McQueensMuse · 26/02/2024 20:08

thebestinterest · 26/02/2024 20:07

um, you need to call your pediatrician.

My child’s pediatrician has me call her for things like a simple cat scratch.

Edited
Show quote history

Are you in the USA by any chance?

thebestinterest · 26/02/2024 20:08

Willyoujustbequiet · 26/02/2024 20:04

Toxoplasmosis can cause blindness.

Please ring 111

This. And deafness!

newusern99 · 26/02/2024 20:09

thebestinterest · 26/02/2024 20:07

um, you need to call your pediatrician.

My child’s pediatrician has me call her for things like a simple cat scratch.

Edited
Show quote history

I presume you are not in the UK then using the NHS? In the UK children don't have a pediatrician. Also A&E/ the GP practice wouldn't be able to cope if the parent of every child who got scratched by a cat phoned them for advice.

Curlie8 · 26/02/2024 20:09

I would call 111 for advice but It’s likely that they will tell you to just keep an eye on him. With the cat being indoor only it’s much less likely that they can pass on diseases to humans

LondonWasps · 26/02/2024 20:13

Upsidedowncat · 26/02/2024 20:05

@britneyisfree as in, anything that is likely to cause the child to become unwell. I'm trying to reassure, OP. Didn't say they shouldn't get checked anyway though!! Just saying it's more unlikely to have diseases in it (much more likely with an outdoor cat). Hope that clears that up for you😮‍💨

Not that much less likely.
Toxo isn’t the only disease found in cat shit.

Alargeoneplease89 · 26/02/2024 20:15

I'm sure he will be fine... I remember when mine was 18 months old and was on a long drive, turned round and he was eating something that looked like onion - suddenly dawned on me, wtf is he eating?! Turns out it was the contents of his nappy 😲

Anyway he was perfectly fine but was so disgusting! First time I told him that story recently (he's 15) he was mortified.

Just keep an eye on him. Just Googled it and all articles I have just skimmed say that stomach acid will kill germs and very unlikely to cause harm. Might be different had they rubbed it in their eye etc.

Upsidedowncat · 26/02/2024 20:17

@LondonWasps did I say it was the only disease? That's just the obvious one that everyone immediately thinks of (evident by all these posters saying it!)
They are much less likely from indoor cats. I don't know how anyone can argue that.

Gobolina · 26/02/2024 20:27

thebestinterest · 26/02/2024 20:07

um, you need to call your pediatrician.

My child’s pediatrician has me call her for things like a simple cat scratch.

Edited
Show quote history

Cat scratches and bites particularly are serious shit, because of the bacteria in their mouths.

Much more serious antibiotic wise than dog bites.

I'd probably have gone straight to a pharmacy for something to make the kid sick then on to gp/ooh/whatever appointnent 111 could arrange.

EmilyTjP · 26/02/2024 20:32

Somethingsnappy · 26/02/2024 20:04

Surely any cat would be outside at some point?

Show quote history

errr no, that’s why they’re called indoor cats.

redskyatnight2023 · 26/02/2024 20:35

My DD ate cat poo at around a year old, our cat had shed a little nugget (long haired) under the table and DD found it and put it in her mouth before I noticed. 111 weren't very concerned and just said to keep an eye on her. But it was a very tiny amount she ingested. I would give them a ring anyway.

Snugglemonkey · 26/02/2024 20:39

Somethingsnappy · 26/02/2024 20:04

Surely any cat would be outside at some point?

Show quote history

Nope. Neither of my cats ever went outside.

WearyAuldWumman · 26/02/2024 20:41

My late husband survived eating rabbit poop when he was a toddler. His evil old grandfather told him they were raisins.

Snugglemonkey · 26/02/2024 20:42

WearyAuldWumman · 26/02/2024 20:41

My late husband survived eating rabbit poop when he was a toddler. His evil old grandfather told him they were raisins.

😱😱😱

Snugglemonkey · 26/02/2024 20:45

If you are worried,111 is a good idea but kids eat lots of gross things without issue. Dc1 ate a worm as a toddler.

TeaKitten · 26/02/2024 20:48

Is the cat regularly wormed with an effective wormer OP? I think I’d probably contact the GP for advice/reassurance

Silverbirchtwo · 26/02/2024 20:52

They touch all sorts of horrible stuff and put their hands in their mouth, check with 111, but really you have no idea what nasty things they touch, it doesn't need to look like they ate a chunk of poo.

Jenry · 26/02/2024 22:29

britneyisfree · 26/02/2024 20:01

@Jenry then it should be somewhere a two year old can't reach it.
If she'd said her two year old had just eaten a load of pain killers would your response be the same?
We know toddlers lack impulse control so we're meant to keep them out of the way - because life means we can't watch them every five seconds.

I'm guessing someone close to you has eaten shit in the recent past???

Where could it go where a 2 year old can’t reach it but a cat can?
and no sorry to disappoint. No one I know I’m afraid. I just really hate posts blaming parents for an error (they KNOW it’s an error, no one is a hundred percent perfect, that’s not the point of the post!

saltinesandcoffeecups · 26/02/2024 22:49

Well at least you have a good funny story for when he brings his first date home.

‘’Yes it could be a problem, but likely not. Keep an eye out and call if you’re worried.

thaegumathteth · 26/02/2024 22:54

I think I'd call 111 for advice but I also think he'll probably be fine.

Neither of mine have eaten shit thankfully but I did turn round in the garden one day to Dd with her fingers inside a decomposing mouse. So that was nice.

dottiedodah · 26/02/2024 23:04

Call 111 straight away .probably not the first ir last time this has happened. Try not to worry. They will have good advice for you.children eat all sorts ,my friends dd ate a slug ,now very healthy 25 Yr old!

Pinkiepie9 · 27/02/2024 09:05

How is your LO this morning Op?

Original poster
Catpooptragedy · 27/02/2024 20:37

Pinkiepie9 · 27/02/2024 09:05

How is your LO this morning Op?

He’s absolutely fine, thanks for asking. Doesn’t seem phased by the ordeal. I, on the other hand…!

OP posts:
Original poster
Catpooptragedy · 27/02/2024 20:39

Gobolina · 26/02/2024 20:27

Cat scratches and bites particularly are serious shit, because of the bacteria in their mouths.

Much more serious antibiotic wise than dog bites.

I'd probably have gone straight to a pharmacy for something to make the kid sick then on to gp/ooh/whatever appointnent 111 could arrange.

Show quote history

a tad extreme, perhaps?

OP posts:
Brumbies · 27/02/2024 20:48

My grandson at 15 months picked up a dog turd and licked it. He lived to tell the tale.