My cats have Giardia. How often to clean litter box and bathe them?

I highly recommend treating both kittens at the same time. Once you start treatment, clean and change the litter box. Then 2 weeks after the medication is done have your veterinarian send the stool sample to the lab. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am sorry to hear about your issue! I would also recommend bathing your cats, as the spores can cling to the fur and cause reinfection, especially with cats grooming themselves. Also washing any of their bedding. You can read more about Giardia and treatment at https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&species=All&id=4952529

Cats with giardia can be asymptomatic before showing signs, so it may be Enzo had it from when you got him and is just now showing signs. Sounds like you are doing a great job so far! Keep him isolated from any other cats in the house until he gets a clear giardia test. Make sure he drinks enough water, and you can get a cat water fountain to encourage drinking. It encourages my cats to drink! Remove poop from his litter box as soon as he goes, and clean his food and water dishes as well. Wear gloves when cleaning his litter box and scooping it so you don't get it yourself. Finally, if he's allowed outside, keep him indoors at all time while being treated. I hope this helps!

Hi, I'm Dr. Johnson. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear that Loki has giardia. Sometimes it can be frustrating to treat. I am assuming you know Loki has giardia because your Veterinarian checked a stool sample. If that is the case then your Veterinarian will prescribe the appropriate drugs to help clear the giardia infection. There are no over the counter drugs that are recommended. Definitely consult your Veterinarian if you haven't already. There are some cases where giardia can persist despite the appropriate treatment and longer courses of drugs or different medications are prescribed. Some times we need to wait for the puppies immune system to mature. At home you should be preventing Loki from re-infecting himself: immediately clean up all stool, use disinfectant cleaners, do not allow him to eat his stool, if he walks through his stool wash his feet well, do not allow his stool to contaminate his drinking water and take him outside to a designated area of the yard on a leash to do his business. Giardia is also what we call a zoonotic disease, meaning humans can contract it as well. Humans, cats and other dogs get it from ingesting fecal material or drinking fecally contaminated water. When you clean up his stool either wear gloves and/or wash your hands immediately. Do not allow children or immunosuppressed family members to handle the stool. Your cat would have to ingest Loki's stool or drink water that had been contaminated with Loki's stool. You could always have your cats stool checked to be sure. I wish you luck! I hope Loki clears the infection soon! They usually do!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The risk of contracting Giardia from your dog is pretty slim, but elderly, very young, or immunocompromised individuals are at a higher risk. If Kiddo is fully vaccinated, fully treated with an anti-parasitic agent, and house trained, it should not be a concern for Kiddo to reinfect herself. You do not need to steam/bleach/etc your home continuously after treatment. I am happy to answer any other questions you may have and wish you luck with your puppy!

It's definitely a good idea to clean and sanitize everything after your cat has had worms just to prevent spreading it back to your cat (or yourself from contact with any affected material as roundworms are transmissible to people and other pets). I would make sure at the very least to completely change the litter, wipe down the litter box with a sanitizing wipe, and wash any bedding your cat regularly sleeps on including your own, their beds, the couch, etc. This can help get rid of any roundworm eggs that may still be in the environment as it can be spread through fecal matter.

No you do not have to worry that much. I sent you a URL with a good description of the precautions which are sufficient. Since cats do not eat or lick at feces it is unlikely that they will get endangered by going to the same litter box. Just clean it out every day. You do not have to sanitize your hands, feet nor the litter genie. You do not have to wear gloves, if you have a problem with it, just try not to touch the urine litter clumps and the poop, and if you do, wash your hands well with soap and you will be fine.