Pneumonia or lung infection from cat litter?

[lindsay0891]

Is it possible to get a lung infection or pneumonia from breathing in cat litter? The night before last I cleaned out the litter and for the next few hours I was having some chest pain and tightness, and my throat was getting sore. I felt better by the time I went to bed and woke up without any chest pain or issues. Then I went to class and after walking around a bit I developed the issues again, which sort of came and went throughout the evening and were much better when I went to bed. I just woke up and my chest hurts, I'm getting pains under my arms and it's hard for me to breathe deeply, and my throat is a little sore. Please help, I am very freaked out!

[SassyLassie]

Hi,   I know this was posted a few years ago, but I always feel that when chest pains and other related issues are present, no matter what the cause, they should be checked out by your GP, it is probably nothing, but it is always best to err on the side of safety.

[PumpkinFlower]

I highly recommend pine litter. I’m am sensitive to certain products, chemicals, and perfumes. I always had some level of difficulty breathing even when I didn’t clean the litter box, just because the cat goes in and out and the dust is in the air. When we switched to FelinePine, or a kind of pine pellet cat litter, the difference was huge for me. That is the only kind I can use in our home. If I spend more than an hour or two in someone’s home that has the clumping sand litter I get some chest pain, difficulty breathing, and difficulty to inhale deeply again and it takes some hours to get better. I highly recommend pine litter! When my body responds to something I really investigate the cause and I’m sure of this about myself. Hope you are well and figure out what works for you.

[cheribd]

Cat litter &/or cat waste does not have pneumonia in it. It is "AMMONIA" which has absolutely nothing to do with pneumonia. And no, you cannot "catch" pneumonia from cat boxes.

[BettyBoop101]

Yes you can.I have it right now from the powdered litter in the air. My Dr.is sure of it, because of the test results.

[BettyBoop101]

The bacteria in the powdered litter caused it. Please don't put a comment until you do your research, because people come here looking for correct answers. Research this topic, and you will see it is possible to get pneumonia from cat litter.

[jemma116]

You need to make an appointment to see your doctor and get your lungs and throat checked out.

In the mean time, make sure that you drink plenty of fluids (not alcohol).

[uhm_bailey]

so this is late but i have a cat and the litter box i clean out everyday but i heard it has pneumonia in it and im always around it cause it was in my room but i moved it to the hall way because my chest has begun to hurt when i laugh and every once in a while my throat will feel like there i something in it and i can barely breath any advice about what this could be?

[Helenwiells]

Yes, not only is it possible, but it happened to me. I did inhale a bit of powdery stuff while cleaning my cat box...not long after I was rushed to the hospital with what turned out to be strep gordonii pneumonia with empyema (I think that's how you spell it). I needed surgery on my right middle lobe, was on the ventilator for five days and spent three weeks in physical rehab. I'm fine now after two weeks of antibiotic therapy, etc. Please have these symptoms checked out as it might be serious.

[jemma116]

If you have been cleaning out the cat litter regularly, you should be fine.  There is no evidence to prove that you can get a chest infection from cleaning out cat litter (see below), but you may be sensitive to the dust particles.

What I do believe you have is likely to be a bacterial chest infection and you need to see the doctor for him to examine your throat and listen to your chest so that you can be prescribed with the appropriate medication. to get rid of the bacteria causing your infection.  Chest and throat infections always get worse at night time.  Drink plenty of warm juices and keep warm.

Cat waste may contain parasites and bacteria that is harmful to humans, especially pregnant women. The parasites become more infectious the longer the waste is left so scooping out the litter at least once a day, preferably twice, is important for the health of you and your pets. Invest in a strong metal cat litter scooper. It will last a long time and makes litter box cleaning easy. Scoop the waste into a plastic bag and then tightly close the plastic bag before putting it in the garbage can. Wipe down any soiled area of the litter box with a slightly damp cloth and either some general household cleaner or even just regular soap. Immediately wash your hands with soap and warm water. Keep litter boxes away from food preparation areas and out of the reach of small children.

Cat scratch fever, also known as cat scratch disease and other names is only caught by a scratch from a cat.  Kittens are more likely to carry the bacteria in their blood, and may therefore be more likely to transmit the disease than adult cats.  It is a usually benign infectious disease caused by the intracellular bacterium Bartonella henselae.

If you have been near anyone with a cough or sneezing, you have probably caught your respiratory infection from them.

Best wishes

[BarbieAnn85]

i would go to a doctor and find out if i were you i know 2 ppl tha had that cat scratch fever and they both had to have surgery from it

[BarbieAnn85]

kinda sounds like cat scratch fever, but that usually happens when a cat scratches you and th ebacteria under their nails from diggin in a litter box. so maybe iif u had an open cut. you can also get this thing from their poop called toxoplasmosis which may be the same thing just the med term im not sure. i knw that i am 19 weeks pregnant and im not supposed to touch my cats litter, because it could hurt my baby, I use scoopable litter so i dont actually come in contact with it