Significance

• The litter box is a place for a cat to safely and securely eliminate waste. In the wild, cats will bury their fecal matter and urine in the ground. The soil-like texture of litter allows them to mimic these behaviors indoors.
  
  

Types

• The waste products of a cat contain many different microorganisms. These microorganisms can fall under three categories: Bacteria, protozoa and viruses.
  
  

Bacteria

• Escherichia coli, commonly abbreviated E. coli, is a bacteria that also lurks in litter pans. This bacteria has been known to cause severe stomach pain in both humans and cats.
  
  

Protazoa

• Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protazoa that can be transferred to humans through the handling of infected fecal matter. Toxoplasmosis poses a particular risk to pregnant women and their unborn fetuses.
  
  

Viruses

• Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) can be transmitted from one cat to another through the shared use of a litter box. This virus is not zoonotic, meaning it cannot transfer to humans.
  
  

Precautions

• Make sure to have your cat regularly examined by a veterinarian to ensure its health. If you are pregnant, sick or immune compromised, seek the help of someone else to clean your cat's litter box.