Cat poop

Gumbysqueak · May 13, 2011

We built a raised vegetable bed a few months ago and have an indoor/outdoor cat. We planted last weekend and found he had been pooping in it. We removed the feces and planted some peppers, chives, carrots and arugula. They all seem ok right now. What effect will cat poo and possibly pee on my garden? Is there a way to keep him out?

Heritage · May 13, 2011

You should research Toxoplasmosis and decide for yourself whether you want to eat root crops from any soil that has come in contact with cat feces. Also, consider wearing gloves anytime you work in the soil with your hands.

Steve

tjg911 · May 13, 2011

if the cat did it a few times you might be ok otherwise i'd be concerned. pregnant women especially are at risk. dog and cat feces contain worms and parasites you don't want around food. carnivore manures are not ok to use.

Heritage · May 13, 2011

I have a small wood frame covered with hardware cloth that I lift on and off my root crops and greens. It not only keeps out my 5 cats, but also keeps out other small varmits.

stormymater · May 14, 2011

in Greece they put little sticks upright in beds & flower pots to dissuade the cats. think pungi sticks

cloz · May 14, 2011

Sometimes I think people get carried away reading about things and create nonexistent problems through too much info. We have always had cats, anywhere from 1 to 7 at a time. I have never come across cat poop buried in my garden although I am sure it has been at times. Use common sense. Don't stick your dirty hands in your mouth, wash your hands when you are done gardening, wash your vegies before you cook or eat them, etc. Do you think the farmers who grow your store bought vegies don't have any animals roaming their fields? I think people need to worry more about what's in store produce than what you grow in your garden even if a cat happens to be roaming there. Just look at the e-coli scares that always seem to show up every year in store bought produce.

stormymater · May 14, 2011

100% concur cloz. Interestingly, most toxoplasmosis in Americans comes from eating contaminated meats. Almost 1/3 of us in the US have antibodies demonstrating previous exposure. Female immigrants to the US who are naive to exposure (& do not carry antibodies) & get exposed during pregnancy have the highest risk of complications to them & their offspring.

Almost seems another case in point arguing for eating that dirt while one is young & healthy.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/parasi...demiology.html
(gotta love Dr. Petri's name FTR - destiny?)

and the classic tome (for those who enjoy classic Old School "Medical Detectives"-style parasitology) -
www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/reprint/6/4/305.pdf

stormymater · May 14, 2011

back with the meat again already -
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol9no11/03-0098.htm

platys · May 15, 2011

Gumbysqueak and I grew up with cats, and have had various numbers all our adult lives. Growing up, we had indoor/outdoor cats. So, it's hard to imagine we haven't caught the toxo. I'd be more worried about my nephew, who is just 2.

Heritage · May 15, 2011

I didn't mean to send Gumbysqueaks's thread off into a parasite thread, but I think it is something to be aware of, and didn't know if GS was (aware of it) or not. I'm sure there are thousands of two year olds who have played "Lincoln Logs" in the family litter box and have never been affected. Personally, I eat radishes without washing them and I made a steady diet of dirt when i was a child. (albeit, clean dirt.)

To answer GS's original question:
I don't think the amount of urine or feces involved would affect the plants adversely.

Thanks, Stormy, for the links, it is an interesting condition.

Steve

Gumbysqueak · May 17, 2011

Thanks for all the good advice. Since we planted and removed the poo our cat has not been back (I check everyday). I am not pregnant and like my sister said it is highly unlikely I have not been infected with toxo and unfortunately babygumbysqueak was found with cat poo in his mouth when he was one (send me to mommy jail). So he might have exposure as well. The spikes seem like a great idea as well as fully washing any veggies. Our arugula just started to sprout yesterday!

May 13, 2011	#1
Gumbysqueak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 15	Cat poop We built a raised vegetable bed a few months ago and have an indoor/outdoor cat. We planted last weekend and found he had been pooping in it. We removed the feces and planted some peppers, chives, carrots and arugula. They all seem ok right now. What effect will cat poo and possibly pee on my garden? Is there a way to keep him out?

May 13, 2011	#3
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	if the cat did it a few times you might be ok otherwise i'd be concerned. pregnant women especially are at risk. dog and cat feces contain worms and parasites you don't want around food. carnivore manures are not ok to use. __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

May 14, 2011	#7
stormymater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a Posts: 1,162	100% concur cloz. Interestingly, most toxoplasmosis in Americans comes from eating contaminated meats. Almost 1/3 of us in the US have antibodies demonstrating previous exposure. Female immigrants to the US who are naive to exposure (& do not carry antibodies) & get exposed during pregnancy have the highest risk of complications to them & their offspring. Almost seems another case in point arguing for eating that dirt while one is young & healthy. http://www.stanford.edu/group/parasi...demiology.html (gotta love Dr. Petri's name FTR - destiny?) and the classic tome (for those who enjoy classic Old School "Medical Detectives"-style parasitology) - www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/reprint/6/4/305.pdf Last edited by stormymater; May 14, 2011 at 10:39 AM. Reason: one for for the LOLs

May 13, 2011	#2
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	You should research Toxoplasmosis and decide for yourself whether you want to eat root crops from any soil that has come in contact with cat feces. Also, consider wearing gloves anytime you work in the soil with your hands. Steve

May 14, 2011	#6
cloz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 435	Sometimes I think people get carried away reading about things and create nonexistent problems through too much info. We have always had cats, anywhere from 1 to 7 at a time. I have never come across cat poop buried in my garden although I am sure it has been at times. Use common sense. Don't stick your dirty hands in your mouth, wash your hands when you are done gardening, wash your vegies before you cook or eat them, etc. Do you think the farmers who grow your store bought vegies don't have any animals roaming their fields? I think people need to worry more about what's in store produce than what you grow in your garden even if a cat happens to be roaming there. Just look at the e-coli scares that always seem to show up every year in store bought produce.

May 15, 2011	#9
platys Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2010 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 176	Gumbysqueak and I grew up with cats, and have had various numbers all our adult lives. Growing up, we had indoor/outdoor cats. So, it's hard to imagine we haven't caught the toxo. I'd be more worried about my nephew, who is just 2.

May 17, 2011	#11
Gumbysqueak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 15	Thanks for all the good advice. Since we planted and removed the poo our cat has not been back (I check everyday). I am not pregnant and like my sister said it is highly unlikely I have not been infected with toxo and unfortunately babygumbysqueak was found with cat poo in his mouth when he was one (send me to mommy jail). So he might have exposure as well. The spikes seem like a great idea as well as fully washing any veggies. Our arugula just started to sprout yesterday!