Is chemo on my skin safe for my cat to lick my hands and face?

Thank you for using Boop by Petco! I'm so sorry to hear about Luigi! Your vet is correct in saying that chemo is probably not safe to be around for you and your baby. Most chemo is excreted in the urine, which is problematic as Luigi likely uses a litter box. Most chemo agents can be toxic to the bone marrow, which is responsible for making all of the blood cells. This is concerning because white blood cells, which are responsible for preventing infections, are often killed. This can be dangerous to a baby, as their immune systems are not fully developed. You can go to a veterinary oncologist, who specializes in cancers, for a second opinion. They can present different treatment options, including less toxic options such as steroids. Good luck and I'm sorry about Luigi!

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.

There is not very much drug residue in the saliva, but we normally recommend against allowing an animal receiving the drug to lick you. I would not worry about a normal wet nose. They have not studied the effect of the drug on other cats in the house, but I would discourage Chester from licking the other cat and may consider keeping them separated if Chester grooms the other cat a lot, but a bite of food woudn't be enough to concern me. There is more drug residue in the urine and stool, so that would be a larger concern. Here is the reference in a drug handbook for this drug. "On the day your animal gets the drug and then for a few days afterward, all bodily waste (urine, feces, litter), blood, or vomit should only be handled while wearing disposable gloves. Seal the waste in a plastic bag and then place both the bag and gloves in with the regular trash." The reason for the double bagging is to have a back up if one bag gets a hole in it and to make sure that the first bag is seale

As long as the pesticide was completely dried, and you wait the recommended amount of time before entering the house again, your cats should be fine and there should be minimal to no risk of them getting pesticide on their fur :-)

If Watson groomed the other cats, it could potentially cause the vomiting. I would have the other two checked out by a vet to be safe, and keep Watson isolated while you are giving him this medication. They shouldn't be affected from using his preferred litter box or by grooming his head, but him licking them can cause problems. I hope this helps.

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Chandler. This won't be good for him to ingest, it's a mild corticosteroid, but it's not hugely toxic to him. I would wipe it off of him with a damp cloth to keep it him from licking it. I hope this helps!

In general I would keep cats away from all chemicals and not let them lick you or the chemical off you. It is a good idea to do as you are, washing your hands well and drying them after the use of rogaine, And it is also good of you to wait until it is dry and you can rinse it out. For the time you have the rogaine in your hair, just do not let the kitties get near your hair. Unfortunately, cats lack the specific enzyme necessary to break down Minoxidil making them more susceptible to toxicity than dogs. Minoxidil® exposure can result in lethargy, hypotension, pulmonary edema, damage to the heart muscle and death from cardiac failure. However, if you handle the use like you have been there should be no problem.

Miracle should be absolutely fine!! As long as the pod was intact when you handled them, there is minimal risk of poisoning your cat after handling them and then handling her. I love your plan to make a habit of washing your hands after handling laundry detergent - better safe than sorry in the future, if a pod is inadvertently broken. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

I think if you are regularly changing the litter you and your cats will be fine. As long as there is not prolonged exposure to urine and feces there is little risk. To further lower the risk to your other cats make sure you are cleaning out the litter box 1-2 times daily and consider adding an additional box to your home if is feasible. It sounds like you are doing your very best and Chester is lucky to have an owner as dedicated as you are!

I would be cautious using this around your cat. Since the shampoo isn't something that will remain on your hair since you rinse it out, the chance of exposure is low, but cats are particularly sensitive to peppermint oil. Even breathing the aroma of peppermint oil can cause shortness of breath and increased heart rate. Again, since you're rinsing it out and it's a very small amount in the shampoo, I feel the chance of there being a problem is small, but I would be careful, maybe changing the time your wash your hair to earlier in the day so the scent will have dissipated by bedtime. Rosemary can also be toxic to cats though I haven't been able to find any further information about how toxic it may be.