Coccidia and Sanitation Measures

binxy

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Hi everyone!   I recently adopted an 8 month old kitten from a local cat sanctuary.   He had tested positive for coccidia at the shelter, and they treated him with 16 days of Albon.   I brought him home last weekend, but he still has 3 weeks left before he can get retested to make sure the coccidia is gone.   It was my decision to bring him home, so please no negative comments about the shelter.

We have been keeping him in a very large dog crate in a spare room, completely separate from my other 6 year old cat.   I scoop the litter box twice a day, and vacuum the crate once a day.  I wash his bowls with hot soapy water.

I know from other articles that ammonia solution kills coccidia on hard surfaces, and I am going to disinfect the area around the cage every few days.  However, I don't know whether I need to be concerned about potentially transmitting coccidia to my other cat simply by playing with the kitten?   He is going nuts for attention, and climbing the sides of the crate.   My husband and I take him out and let him cuddle on our laps, but do we then need to basically strip our clothes and disinfect before touching the other cat?  

I work in a lab environment, where sanitation measures range from just having to wash your hands, to having to wear Tyvec suits each time you enter a room.    I am trying to figure out which end of the spectrum I need to be on for managing coccidia!  :)

Thanks in advance!

Cari
 

stephenq

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Thanks in advance!

Cari
Hi

I too wear Tyvek (in animal environments) so i get that.  Shelter cats often get parasites like coccidia, and it is transmitted via the stool.  Your question is a good one and depends in part on your own comfort level, and you might also have a honest conversation with your vet.

I have never heard of ammonia being used in this way, bleach is much more common in a 10% solution in water, but of course ammonia and bleach should never be mixed.  Playing with the kitten shouldn't transmit it to your cat if you wash your hands well, and perhaps change your shirt.  That's what I've got for you :)
 
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