猫砂盆要天天铲：疾控中心宠物用品清洁表，食盆天天洗、猫砂盆按马桶的标准消毒
美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）的健康宠物栏目给宠物用品排了一张清洁表：湿粮食盆每次用完就洗，干粮盆和水盆每天洗，宠物床、毯子和窝每周洗，玩具每月洗；碰过粪便和尿液的用品，比如猫砂盆，要按家里马桶和浴室的频率来消毒。
消毒有具体做法。先用肥皂水洗净擦净，再配稀释漂白水，比例是每加仑水加四分之一杯（2盎司）漂白剂，把用品泡进去至少10分钟，冲净后彻底晾干再给宠物用。家里有宠物鸟的要在室外或单独房间消毒，鸟的呼吸系统对消毒剂气味很敏感；家里有猫的，绝不能用成分表里带「苯酚」（phenol）的消毒剂，苯酚对猫剧毒。
猫砂盆还有一条单独的规矩。猫的粪便里可能带弓形虫（Toxoplasma gondii），这种寄生虫排出来之后要过1到5天才具有传染性，所以每天铲掉粪便，就赶在它能传染人之前清走了。CDC 说，家里有孕妇或免疫力弱的人时，猫砂盆应由其他家人来清理；实在只能自己动手，就戴一次性手套、每天铲，铲完立刻用肥皂和水洗手。
CDC 还提醒，醋能杀死一部分细菌，但证据不足以证明它能可靠清洁消毒，宠物用品还是要用肥皂或洗涤剂去污、用消毒剂杀菌，并严格照标签说明使用，不要把漂白剂和其他清洁剂混用。（来源：美国疾病控制与预防中心）
Scoop the Litter Box Daily: CDC's Cleaning Schedule for Pet Supplies, From Daily Bowl Washing to Bleach Done Right
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a cleaning schedule for pet supplies in its Healthy Pets guidance: bowls used for wet food should be cleaned after every use, dry food and water bowls every day, pet beds, blankets and habitats every week, and toys every month. Items that touch poop or pee, such as a cat's litter box, should be disinfected as often as you would disinfect your own toilet or bathroom.
The disinfecting method is specific. Wash first with soapy water, then use a diluted bleach solution of one quarter cup (2 ounces) of bleach to one gallon of water, soaking the item for at least 10 minutes before rinsing and letting it dry completely. Households with pet birds should disinfect outdoors or in a separate room, because birds have very sensitive respiratory systems, and households with cats must never use disinfectants with phenol in the ingredient list, because phenols are very toxic to cats.
The litter box carries one more rule. Cat feces can contain Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is passed, so scooping daily removes it before it can spread. CDC says that when a household includes a pregnant woman or someone with a weakened immune system, another family member should clean the litter box; if no one else can do it, wear disposable gloves, scoop daily, and wash hands with soap and water immediately afterward.
CDC also notes that vinegar can kill some germs but lacks enough research evidence to count as a reliable cleaner or disinfectant for pet supplies. Soap or detergent removes dirt, disinfectants kill germs, labels must be followed exactly, and bleach must never be mixed with other cleaners. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
来源：美国疾病控制与预防中心
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：一只三花猫正在绿色猫砂盆里扒猫砂。Wikimedia Commons 图片。 / Photo: A calico cat digging in a green litter box. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
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