The Jeffrey And Tracey Info Emporium

It is widely known that Einstein, while meditating, talked to God. It is also known that energy can not be created or destroyed. So whatever we talk, the sound waves of the conversation will stay on this earth. It is only a matter of catching them to hear the conversation again. A few years back, scientists tried just that- catch what Einstein talked to God.

They succeeded in catching bits of his talk with God. He was heard asking God to forgive him for the atom bomb. He was heard talking to God about his Special Theory of Relativity. Einstein was heard, “So God, I told the world what relativity is. I now know how things work.” “Well done son,” God said, “But why are you sad?” “Because nobody understands the theory; they think I am a fool,” was Einstein’s reply. “Don’t worry, child. Tell me what it is. I will understand,” God said.

So Einstein began explaining to God what relativity is. That there is no preferred inertial frame, that all are equal, motion between two frames is relative- you can call any one at rest and the other in motion. He gave God all the formulas, all the derivations. After three hours of explaining, he asked, “So God, now do you understand?”

God said, “Child, you are very technical. That is why nobody is understanding the theory. Can you tell me in layman terms what is relativity? So that everybody understands it?” Einstein was completely blank. He said, “God, I don’t know how to explain it in simple terms. I can give the formula but can’t explain it.” God said, “You are right, my child. For after all, it may be you who formulated relativity, but I created it!”

Shubhanyu Jain is the co-founder of Inmistia and the Editor of Inmistia Oneness. His site provides valuable information and tips on health-related issues. This site touches various topics related to personal health, suggests tips for various health disorders. Visitors will revel in the sheer abundance of information available on the site on everything related to their health. Visit Inmistia Oneness for more information.

Movies have been made for decades — many of them involve a bomb being deactivated. When I see a scene in which a bomb is deactivated 1-3 seconds before it’s about to explode, I’m not impressed by the script writing. If I ever write a screenplay that includes a scene in which a bomb has to be deactivated, creativity will be my primary objective. In my story, the bomb will have one wire. That wire will be cut and the timer will stop. The timer’s digital display will read no less than sixteen hundred seconds remaining.

My idea lacks suspense, but it contains originality. I’m confident I’ll be able to write some intensity into the remaining 118 minutes of the film. I have ideas for other methods of building an original sequence of events into a script. For your reading enjoyment, I present you with an excerpt of thoughts from my head.

“Major Davenport, permission to speak freely?”

“Can it wait Lieutenant Jefferson? I’m trying to deactivate this bomb.”

“No sir, I don’t believe it can wait, Sir.”

“Very well, Lieutenant, go ahead.”

“Major, Sir, that’s not a bomb. That’s a turkey, Sir.”

“What did you say, Lieutenant?”

“Sir, that’s a turkey, Sir.”

“A turkey? Good Lord, Lieutenant, who would plant a bomb inside a turkey?”

“No, Major, I mean that’s only a turkey. The bomb is over there, next to the device that looks like an alarm clock.”

“Lieutenant, I swear if you’re wrong I’ll have you cleaning toilets until you’re so high from the fumes that you’ll need a parachute to get back down!”

“Sir, I’m quite sure, Major, Sir.”

“Lieutenant, look at this timer! There’s only 100 seconds before this bomb goes off!”

“Sir, that’s not a timer, Sir. That’s a meat thermometer. The internal core temperature is slowly dropping, but I can say with absolute certainty that the turkey won’t explode. With all due respect, Sir, I suggest we call in a bomb disposal unit.”

“I have a better idea, Lieutenant Jefferson. Fire up the Stargate.”

“Sir?”

“You have a hearing problem, Mister?”

“Sir, No, Sir!”

“Then why are you still standing here, Lieutenant?”

“Sir, I’ll go start the dialing sequence immediately!”
Within minutes, Lieutenant Jefferson has the Stargate online and a wormhole open. He calls down to Major Davenport, “Sir, I’ve established a stable connection with an uninhabited planet.”

“Good job, Lieutenant.”
As the Lieutenant watches him, he realizes something has just gone horribly wrong. The Stargate shuts off automatically, and he races down to the Major.

“Major, that was the turkey.”

“What are you saying, Lieutenant?”

“You sent the turkey millions of lightyears from here, but the bomb is still here, and I think it’s about to explode.”

“May God have mercy on our souls.”

The Lieutenant walks over to the bomb, switching the alarm clock to the off position. The timer shuts off. The General suddenly enters the room. “Lieutenant, I was just about to eat the lunch I ordered. The cook says he had it delivered it here from the mess hall. Have you seen a turkey anywhere?”

The Major steps in, “General, the meat thermometer showed that it was undercooked. The Lieutenant and I agreed that sending it to another planet would be the best course of action to keep you safe, and we sent the turkey to where it couldn’t harm anyone.”

“Good work, Major! Lieutenant… Jefferson is it?”

“Sir, Yes, General Stevens!”

“Lieutenant Jefferson, I think I see a promotion coming your way.”

“Sir, thank you, Sir!”

“Lieutenant, why are you sweating?”

“Sir, I was in the immediate vicinity of the turkey, which was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit at the time when we disposed of it, General!”

“I see. Well, why don’t you hit the showers, then you and the Major report to my office in one hour for a debriefing.”

The General walks away, as Major Davenport turns to the Lieutenant, and with a smile on face says, “All’s well that ends well, eh, Lieutenant?”

“Sir, yes, Sir!”

Andy Alt
Mental Dimensions Humor Ezine.
Warped minds can come here for observational humor, comedy editorials, farce, satire and spoof

Low carbs and high protein is the way to lose weight, or so you’ll hear from one diet guru, and he has the testimonials to back it up. Low fat, lots of carbs and fresh fruits and veggies, says another - and he’s got the back up from satisfied users, too. A third swears that you need to count the amount of sugar; another tells you the enemy is white flour - if you want to lose real weight and keep it off, who do you listen to?

Take a look at the brief summaries below for a quick overview of the pros and cons of each of the popular types of diet plans.

Low Carb-Hi Protein Diets

Diets like the Atkins, the South Beach and the Zone Diet all recommend restricted carbohydrates and allow liberal amounts of protein, including protein derived from animal sources. Generally, they limit the overall amount of carbohydrates, or teach you to differentiate between “good” and “bad” carbohydrates. Bad carbohydrates, which are forbidden, include white flour, white bread, and white sugar.

Pros: The diets all encourage learning healthy eating as part of losing weight. Deriving most of your daily calories from high fiber sources of carbs like leafy green vegetables and grains is generally considered the best diet for nutrition by the established medical community. The popularity of the diets makes it easy to find low-carb foods.

Cons: The allowance of eating all the protein and fats you like flies in the face of conventional medical wisdom. A diet high in saturated fats could lead to heart disease, diabetes, gout and other chronic health conditions. Following the diets’ cautions and advice to keep portions reasonable should mitigate that concern, though.

Weight Loss “Programs”

Jenny Craig, NutriSystem, Weight Watchers, SlimFast and a number of other weight loss programs rely heavily on pre-packaged ‘diet’ foods. They incorporate professional coaching, social structure and reinforcement.

Pros: The professional coaching and nutritional benefits are a big plus, as are the reinforcement and support aspect of the diets. Meals and supplements are prepackaged in the right proportions, and if you stick to the diets and exercise as directed you will lose weight.

Cons: The weekly fees and cost of meals can be expensive. In addition, if you rely completely on the packaged foods, you miss out on the re-education of your eating habits, which is important to maintaining any weight lost.

The Real Mayo Clinic Diet

This is not the diet that has circulated for the past thirty or more years and purported to have originated at the Mayo Clinic! The true Mayo Clinic’s nutrition and diet center recommends a healthy eating weight loss plan based on limiting fats, proteins and carbohydrates, counting calories and deriving most of the daily nutrition from vegetables, grains and fruit.

Pros: There’s no ‘diet’. Instead, you’re encouraged to take control of your eating. Portion control and sensible balance of nutrients are the cornerstones of a weight loss plan that takes weight off gradually, and helps you keep it off permanently.

Cons: It may be difficult to stay on the diet. Counting calories and portions can be difficult if you’re eating out or on the run.

There are many diets that promise to take weight off quickly and painlessly, without exercise or changing your eating habits. The three major variations of diets above all will result in 1-2 pounds of loss per week, which most doctors believe is the optimum way to lose weight for long lasting results.

Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN. Visit www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

In the month of February Continental Funding, LLC a licensed mortgage banker and broker based in NYC has seen a significant increase in referral business and has been reaping the rewards after many years consistently demonstrating excellent service and pricing to its new and repeat clients. Increasing its loan origination revenue by 48% in the past month alone.

Recent acquisitions of real estate development project financing, construction loans and end loans, as well as hard to obtain hard money and bridge loans have played a major role in the company’s success. Referral driven residential consumer business never the less has continued to serve as an integral component in the companies bottom line. The company capitalizes on it’s synergetic approach to real estate by offering various types of services ranging from residential and commercial mortgage financing to high-end real estate sales and brokerage, in both the commercial and residential markets. Construction financing or end loans for houses or condos or investment properties, Continental Funding will deliver on it’s promise with the most competitive loan rates and the most informative and friendly professionals in the industry. We pride ourselves in offering our clients the mortgage knowledge and consulting they require and deserve to know before making major financial decisions.

Memeber of the American Mortgage Bankers Association

Visit the company’s website at http://www.continentalfunding.com/
to learn more.

Taking proper care of acne is very important, so that the acne does not become a serious problem.

Clean your face often:

It is advised to clean your face often by using cleansers. Washing your face at least three times a day is recommended, but if you exercise, go for jogging, work in a factory environment etc then you need to wash your face after you complete that job.

Don’t touch the skin quite often:

Most of the people who have acne keep on touching, squeezing or rubbing the acne, which could leave marks on the skin. It is advised not to touch the skin often.

Shaving properly:

While shaving you should take care the acne portion is not cut. If you have acne in the beard area, it is advised to trim your beard rather than to shave with sharp blades and cut the acne, which could lead to blemishes. Shave only when it is necessary.

Avoid Sun:

If you use acne creams or lotions then it is advised not to go in the sun as you could get sunburn. Sunburn could leave a blemish on the skin and overexposure could even lead to skin allergy.

Using cosmetics:

You have to choose the cosmetics very carefully when you have acne. The cosmetic products should be noncomedogenic, which means it won’t close your pores. Even using noncomedogenic products could make the acne bad.

Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://beauty.resourz.com/2006/01/30/acne-care/

You are welcome to republish the above article only if you add our hyperlinked URL which is mentioned above.

Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.

Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable. Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown. In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 7 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.

To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering. See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property. Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust’ Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses. And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 8 percent. Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 3 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly. See which lenders are charging fees 9 percent and for how much. Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others. It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.

Although most mortgage experts say that rates 4 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 11 percentage. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower.

The translation says: Woon je in Hellendoorn of Boekel en heb je BKR verleden’ Lenen met een BKR notering is nergens zo eenvoudig. Verwen jezelf met een nieuwe caravan met geld lenen met bkr registratie, 412732 euro is geen probleem om te lenen. Van Tubbergen tot Wormerland, financieren met BKR is altijd mogelijk.

But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 3 percent offered by competitors will change.

Different lenders charge different fees. Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 5 percent. While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 3 percent.

When electricity prices were low, it was often difficult to justify the upfront investment of money required to install solar panels, solar water heaters and similar equipment. The reason was simple to understand - it would simply take too long to recoup the cost of the equipment in the form of lower energy bills.

Things have changed though. As energy prices continue to go up, the amount of time required to recoup the upfront cost goes down. In addition, a number of state and local tax incentives make it even easier for homeowners to go solar and save money right away.

Solar power has already proven itself and its ability to lower energy costs substantially, and more and more homeowners are taking a serious look at converting their residences to solar power. The costs of installing solar panels is still high, with a typical two kilowatt installation of solar panels from OVR Solar costing in the region of £10,000 / ($20, 000) in most cases, but special tax incentives and long term energy savings can help homeowners recoup those upfront costs faster than ever before.

For example, the Federal government provides homeowners with a tax savings of up to 30% of the cost of a solar unit. This tax savings can help eligible homeowners recoup some of the costs of installing solar panels and solar water heating systems up front, in addition to the energy savings they will enjoy down the road.

Many states also provide special tax incentives for homeowners who install eligible solar panel and solar water heating systems. The specifics of these tax rebates and tax incentives vary from state to state, but many states provide at least some level of tax relief for homeowners who install and use energy efficient systems.

The factors affecting how long it will take to break even will vary from case to case.. However, as the prices for heating oil, gas and other forms of traditional energy continue to soar, the appeal of solar energy will only grow.

A new study reveals that yuppie nighties are the superb craving set to induce females, young and old to experience themselves as being attractive. Being positioned at the top of the luxuriant intimate apparel marketplace, Myla is a preeminent English business situated in London, England focusing on outfitting females, young and old to feel glamorous and positive in yuppie lingerie. The palette of products comprises sexy lace top stockings, silk and lace suspenders, including, as well, soft triangle bras, prepossessing sleeping garb plus, beyond, seductive bed-chamber clitoral stimulation toys.

For the unsurpassable in tempting joy the Myla store proffers inspiring nighties fabricated in luxury textiles encompassing satin, silk chiffon, leavers lace plus, beyond, soft sheer mesh. Designed to pamper flirty members of the fair sex, young and old there’s brassieres together with bloomers, bras together with correlative thongs and garter belt or, better yet, prepossessing playful nightgowns fabricated in silk chiffon and leavers lace. Naturally, this marvelous mass of articles proffers lace basques, open knickers, body silk jerseys plus, beyond, long satin silk halterneck nightshirts. So if you are aiming for unequivocal sexy irresistible attractiveness, we champion a venturous cup triangle bra or that preformed padded plunge bra corresponded by open knickers and a garter belt perfected with pantyhoses. As a suggestion the boudoir, you can purchase high gloss structured satin and lattice tulle bodices, bloomers, cami-shorts, sheer g-strings and silk & lace straps.

Regarding seductive bed-chamber playthings we champion clitoral stimulators, laced stiletto shoes, pantyhoses, body lace garters and erotically scented lavender flirt candles. Tempt and bewitch with mini Guinea fowl, turkey and marabou feather ticklers, fluffy satin tie-ups, blindfolds with silken ties, aphrodisiac apricot kernel massage oil, esculent body paints made from chocolate sauce or a playful feather paddle. For the unsurpassable seductive clitoral stimulation toys, the Myla store proffers a broad selection of sexual toys developed by a crowd of prize artists and designers. Lingerie lovers may choose among a large product palette encompassing Rachel Wingfield’s organic design variable speed vibrating Sphere, Scott Henderson’s C-Shell or Japanese designer Mar-Ruth Oda’s intimate use toy Pebble.

Myla has over 12 boutiques and concessions and offer luxury lingerie to its discerning customers.

It doesn’t take long to realize that finding the right piece of property is the most important aspect of new home construction. In a development, restrictions and easements have already been sorted out, but if you are looking for a stand-alone piece of vacant land, you’re on your own. Here are some of the factors you need to consider before spending your hard-earned cash on a pretty view that might be unbuildable.

THE PERC. No, we’re not talking about coffee. But we are talking about percolate. If you are outside of a community, chances are that you will not be connected to city water and sewer; you will have to build a septic system for your own house. The septic system will be designed by a local civil engineer and probably approved by the county, but before the engineer knows what kind of septic you need he’ll have to take a Perc Test. They will dig a big hole in the ground, fill it with water, then clock how long it takes for the water to seep into the ground. If the water drains too fast, you have too much sand. If it drains too slow, you have too much clay (or probably rock).

There is an acceptable tolerance, outside of which the perc fails. If one perc fails, they dig another hole elsewhere to see if there’s any improvement. Sounds simple enough, but in New Jersey you’ll spend about $1000 per hole. If the land doesn’t perc, you may be able to find an alternative septic system, but you can be sure it will be very problematic.

Any wise buyer will make the purchase of the land contingent on the perc. Don’t assume that just because you have a big piece of land that it will perc somewhere; this is not necessarily the case. The cost of the test is usually paid by the buyer. However, a motivated seller will perc the land for you, or even offer an approved septic system. This is a big bonus, and adds peace of mind, but the land will be more expensive as a result. In the long run, it’s worth the extra dollars to bypass this big hurdle. The septic system will be designed to accommodate the number of bedrooms in a house, and you cannot add any bedrooms without redesigning the system.

Once the land is perced, that hole is the spot where the septic will be installed. If it’s in the front yard, you cannot change the location without doing another perc. Also remember that nothing can be built on top of your septic field, nor can you plant any trees there.

SETBACKS: This is the space between the property line and the building, defined by the township. Nothing can be constructed in the setback, including your driveway. Some townships require more than 100 feet of setback from the road; setbacks on the front and back perimeters are usually larger than those on the sides of your property. On your survey, a dotted line usually defines the setback, and the space inside is called the building envelope. If the footprint of your intended house and driveway is wider than the setbacks allow, you may have to apply for a variance, or change the orientation of the building.

EASEMENTS: Easements are the rights given to other named parties for public or private use of a stretch of your land. This may include a gas main that runs through your property, power lines, railroad tracks, water mains, or a strip leading to a land-locked neighbor (this strip would be the “flagpole” of a flag lot). This easement should be clearly delineated in the deed, although common usage has been known to claim precedence over perceived rights. If you’re the one who requires this easement for a flag lot, make sure it is in writing before you purchase this land, or you might not be able to access it.

WETLANDS: I used to think that wetlands looked like standing water with cattails and ducks. Not necessarily so… in fact, we almost bought three wooded acres of wetlands before a friend gave us a timely warning. In the state of New Jersey, wetlands can be a touchy issue, and the determination is made based on vegetation and soil content. If there’s a little stream running through the woods, you might be in trouble. Just to be sure, we hired an engineer who dug a row of soil samples, each marked with a little flag denoting the edge of the wetlands. When he had finished, there was enough land for Ken and Barbie to build a dream house - in the setback, at that.

This little disappointment cost us $600, which is a lot better than the $110,000 we would have spent for a disastrous ruin of our plans. There are times when you might be able to get a variance to build in wetlands, but this can be a costly and time consuming process, with no guarantee of success. You could take your chances and build anyway, but if the township gets tipped off, they could stop your project at any point, or even force to to tear down what you have already constructed.

DEED RESTRICTIONS: These restrictions can be imposed by the former owner of the property, or the township depending on application. For instance, you might be limited as to what kind of house you can build; or what materials you can use. You might not be allowed to build a log home. Some restrictions limit the square footage of the house, or the use of the property. You may have to limit the height of your house, or even what type of fencing you can use. There might be a limit to the kind of livestock you can manage, or how many acres per horse. This has nothing to do with zoning, which is a separate issue.

MINIMUM ACREAGE: Townships have started battling urban scrawl by imposing minimum acreage on a building lot. Sometimes, the piece of land you are trying to buy is smaller than the minimum acreage. If the lot was subdivided before the law was passed, it is usually considered “grandfathered” and you should be able to build on it. Check with the authorities to be sure; you may have to obtain a variance to build on a “substandard” sized lot. Also, if you are purchasing a big piece of land with the assumption that you can subdivide later and sell off parcels, make sure these subdivisions will be allowed. Sometimes, even large parcels can only be divided once or twice by law, depending on deed restrictions, prec restrictions, township restrictions, or possibly land preservation issues.

CLEAR TITLE: If there is a lien on a property due to non-payment of bills or taxes, the title will be considered clouded and you might not be able to obtain clear title to your piece of land. There may be disputes about boundary lines, or adverse possession if you have an unwelcome long-term squatter. In most cases, a thorough title search will uncover any irregularities, and the mortgage company will require that you purchase a one-time title insurance policy against any future issues. This needs to be done before settlement.

WATER SOURCE: If you need to dig a well, consult with the local well driller. There’s a pretty good chance that the driller will have a good idea about how deep he’ll need to go. You will pay by the foot to drill a well, and it could add thousands to your budget.

When it comes to purchasing land, the old saying “Let the buyer beware” certainly comes to mind. If you do not thoroughly investigate your property with the township, civil engineers, or land use lawyers, no one else is going to protect you. A cooperative township office will give you access to the public records relating to your piece of land; if it’s been perced in the past, those records become public. They may already have a file about your lot and block number, and a trip to the township office may enlighten you if there have been problems in the past. At the very least, you should have an idea what you can and cannot do with your land, before you make that big commitment.

Mercedes Hayes specializes in Log Homes and Residential Real estate in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She lives in a log home she designed herself, which is featured both in “Log Home Living” and “Town and Country” magazines. You can learn more about log homes and the Delaware Valley at http://www.MercedesHayes.com

Cats are the most popular pets in the United States. According to the latest version of the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook (2002 Edition) there were almost 70 Million pet cats in the United States. Why are cats so popular? There are as many answers to this question as there are cat owners, but the low health risks cats pose to their owners is certainly near the top of this list. Even though the potential health risks cats pose to people are small, it is important that cat owners are aware of these risks and understand how to reduce them.

The majority of all risks stemming from cat ownership are associated with the cat litter box and/or cat feces. There are two categories of risks. The first category contains health risks posed by bacteria and parasites to both cat owners and their cats. The second category contains injuries resulting from an automatic litter box or self cleaning litter box.

Primarily the health problems experienced by cat owners or their cats come from the first category and the most significant of these risks is called Toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a tiny parasite called Toxoplasma gondii which can be found in raw or undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, dirty cat litter boxes and outdoor soil where cat feces can be found. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 60 million people in the United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite(1). Fortunately, very few people ever experience any symptoms because a healthy person’s immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant women and individuals who have compromised immune systems, such as individuals infected with the HIV virus, are at risk and should take precautions to avoid being infected by the parasite. For people in this group a Toxoplasma infection could cause serious health problems to the individual or to a pregnant woman’s unborn child.

Again, most of the 60 million plus American’s infected with Toxoplasmosis parasite will never experience any symptoms. Most of those who do experience symptoms will simply think they have the Flu as the most common symptoms include swollen glands, fever, headache, muscle pain, or a stiff neck. For those in the high risk group, Toxoplasmosis can cause damage to the brain, eyes and internal organs. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, children born with Toxoplasma gondii can suffer from hearing loss, mental retardation, and blindness with some children developing brain or eye problems years after birth(2). The CDC estimates that 400-4000 fetuses are infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite each year and as many as 80 infants die from Toxoplasmosis annually(2).

So how does an individual contract Toxoplasmosis? A Toxoplasmosis infection is caused by ingesting the Toxoplasma gondi parasite. Most cat owners are infected with the parasite by accidentally ingesting infected cat feces. This happens when a person touches their mouth after handling a cat litter box, working in a garden or sand box or touching anything that has come in contact with cat feces(3).

People in the high risk group may wonder whether or not they should give up their cat to avoid infection. According to the CDC, it is not necessary for cat lovers to give up their cats, but it is important for them to protect themselves from infections. The USFDA makes the following recommendations for avoiding infections(2):
1) If possible, have someone else change the litter box. If you have to clean it, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water afterwards.
2) Change the litter box daily. The parasite doesn’t become infectious until one to five days after the feces are deposited in the litter box.
3) Wear gloves when gardening in a garden or handling sand from a sandbox because cats may have excreted feces in them. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water afterwards.
4) Cover outdoor sandboxes to prevent cats from using them as litter boxes.
5) Feed your cat commercial dry or canned food. Never feed your cat raw meat because it can be a source of the Toxoplasmosis gondii parasite.
6) Keep indoor cats indoors. Be especially cautious if you bring outdoor cats indoors.
7) Avoid stray cats, especially kittens.
Don’t get a new cat while you’re pregnant.

Safer Child, Inc. makes the following additional recommendations(4):
1) Have your veterinarian test your cat for the Toxoplasmosis parasite. If you cat is infected, you may want to consider having someone else keep your cat during your pregnancy.
2) Keep sandboxes covered to prevent cats from using the sandbox as a litter box.
3) Be aware of neighborhood sandboxes as the parasite can be brought home on shoes, clothing and toys.

Similar to Toxoplasmosis, Escherichia coli (commonly called E. coli) can infect humans thru contact with feline fecal material, although the primary means of infection is thru ingestion or raw or undercooked meats. E. Coli is a bacterium commonly found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. Almost all strains of the bacteria are harmless. However a few strains can produce powerful toxins and cause severe illness, especially in children under 5 years of age(5). Symptoms usually include diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In children under 5, 2%-7% of E. coli cases can cause kidney failure. Fortunately, E. coli is easy to prevent. Using the preventative measures, outlined above for Toxoplasmosis will greatly reduce the risks of you or your children contracting an E. coli infection.

In addition to these human risks, there are a few health risks cat litter boxes actually pose to cats that cat owners should be aware of. Just as a dirty litter box poses health risks to humans, cats are equally at risk if forced to use a dirty litter box. Since cats stay clean by licking themselves, allowing a cat’s litter box to get too dirty can cause infections when a cat cleans it’s paws after using the dirty litter box. The most common infection is a urinary tract infection, and although this type of infection is rarely fatal it can be very uncomfortable for your cat and will most likely require treatment by your veterinarian.

Finally, a lesser-known health risk to cats is actually caused by cat litter itself. What many cat owners do not realize is that some types of cat litter can be harmful or even fatal to their cat. Both clumping and non-clumping litters pose health problems to cats. Clumping cat litters are probably the most popular type of cat litter because of their convenience, hygienic qualities and the fact that clumping litters are required for use in self-cleaning litter boxes. Unfortunately, some clumping litters can be harmful to cats. Clay based clumping litters can contain the mineral sodium bentonite, which can be harmful or fatal to your cat. It is best to avoid using clay based cat litters, especially with kittens. Wheat or corn based clumping litters such as Swheat Scoop, World’s Best Cat Litter and Littermaid cat litter work very well and are non-toxic(6).

By their very nature, non-clumping litters do not absorb and isolate a cat’s urine or feces like clumping litters do. As a result, it is much harder to keep your cat’s litter box clean when using non-clumping litter. When using non-clumping litter it is important to frequently clean and disinfect the litter box itself to reduce the chance of bacterial buildups that can cause urinary or other infections in your cat.

The second category of health risks covers injuries caused by an automatic litter box or self cleaning litter box. Occurrences of this type of injury are rare, but they can happen. An automatic or self cleaning litter box does just what it’s name implies. Usually between 10-15 minutes after a cat uses the litter box, the litter box automatically cleans itself by “sweeping” or “raking” the cat waste into a sealed compartment or bag. For cat owners, injuries can occur if a small child or toddler plays with the automatic litter box during the cleaning cycle. All major brands of automatic litter boxes contain sensors to prevent the cleaning mechanism from activating when a cat or other foreign object is inside the box. However, children can still be injured if they put their hand inside the cleaning mechanism in such a manner as to avoid the sensors.

Although these types of injuries are very rare it is best to take precautions. Placing the litter box in a location where your cat can get to it but small children can’t is an easy method. This is good advice for any litter box as this is the best way to keep children from contracting one of the illnesses described earlier in this article. If you can’t keep the automatic litter box out of a child’s reach then it is best to put the litter box inside a litter box cover. There are many types of covers and all of them will help prevent a child from reaching the litter box and the cleaning mechanism. A final option is to unplug the litter box or put it into a “manual operation” mode. Both of these options will require the cat owner to start the cleaning cycle whenever necessary. Although this reduces some of the convenience of an automatic litter box it certainly removes the danger to children.

Automatic or self cleaning litter boxes are completely safe for almost all cats. However, most manufacturers recommend that the litter box be used in “manual operation” mode for cats under 5 lbs. Cats under 5 lbs many not be large enough to activate the sensors and the cleaning mechanism could cause injury. Since most adult cats weigh over 5 lbs, it is only necessary to use the “manual operation” mode until kittens grow to 5 lbs.

This article is not intended to dissuade anyone from owning a cat. 70 Million cat owners can’t be wrong; cats make great pets! So, if you already own a cat or are thinking of becoming a cat owner it simply makes good sense to be aware of the health risks associated with cat ownership. Understanding the risks can definately increase the enjoyment of cat ownership.

(1)Toxoplasmosis Fact Sheet; http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm
(2) While You’re Pregnant - USFDA
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pregnant/whiltoxo.html

(3) Toxoplasmosis - An important Message for Cat Owners; http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/toxoplasmosis_brochure_8.2004.pdf

(4) Safer Child, Inc.;
http://www.saferchild.org/pets&.htm

(5) Escherichia coli O157:H7 Fact Sheet;
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/escherichiacoli_g.htm

(6) Stanford Cat Network’s - Guide to Caring for Your Adopted Cat or Kitten;
http://www.stanford.edu/group/CATNET/articles/careguide.html#litter

The author is a long time cat lover who currently owns and operates LitterBoxesandMore.com; a business specializing in high quality automatic litter boxes or self cleaning litter boxes. LitterBoxesandMore.com also offers other specialty cat products such as pet strollers and indoor cat fences. Come visit us at www.litterboxesandmore.com