Minimizing Disease Transmission by Cleaning and Disinfecting

Summary

Cleaning and disinfecting are ways to minimize the transmission of pathogens, agents that live in a host and cause infections and diseases. This article outlines the differences between these methods and discusses how to effectively use each for maximum results in the kitten space.

Minimizing Disease Transmission by Cleaning and Disinfecting the Kitten Space

Cleaning and disinfecting of several ways to minimize disease transmission. To keep kittens healthy and to prevent or eliminate cross contamination of pathogens between litters of kittens, keeping their environment and supplies clean is essential. In addition, proper cleaning and disinfecting are less expensive than the cost of disease treatment and less stressful to both kittens and caregivers.

“Cleaning” is sometimes used as a catch-all word for different actions:

• Cleaning mechanically removes visible grime and debris, such as dirt, food remnants and fecal matter, using soap, detergent or other cleaning agent. It is an essential first step to ensure the effectiveness of disinfecting.
• Disinfecting uses chemical methods to kill or inactivate most pathogens on most surfaces and objects. It is mandatory to disinfect the space and it’s contents after each litter permanently leaves.
• Sterilization kills all microorganisms (pathogens and nonpathogens alike). It typically requires specialized equipment that would not exist in a home.

Cleaning with water alone is not sufficient for removing pathogens, but it may be adequate for spot cleaning. Spraying with a disinfectant and immediately wiping down a surface without cleaning first and waiting the appropriate time required for the particular disinfectant to work is also a waste of time and resources. Using a disinfectant with no detergent properties (such as bleach) without cleaning first is also ineffective.

Supplies Needed to Clean and Disinfect Effectively

In general, check and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on all products for safety, use and storage and to be sure the product is safe for the surfaces or items you intend to clean. Cautions in using these products include:

• A product that is safe for use around humans and even some animals may not be safe for use around kittens and cats, so further investigation, such as checking the product’s website, may be advisable to ensure its safe for kittens.
• If you have any doubt, remove kittens when using a product. Allow time for any odors to dissipate before returning kittens to the space. Even some products judged safe for animals may have strong odors that are irritating to kittens.
• Never mix products or use them back to back as the chemicals can react with each other and become hazardous.

Basic cleaning and disinfecting supplies include:

• Cleaning solutions
  Soaps and detergents remove matter (dirt and feces, for example), and many options are available. Dawn dishwashing liquid (blue original formula) is a common choice. Do not use phenol-based products (for example, some with names ending in “sol”) as they are toxic to cats. Pick scent-free products when choosing a soap or detergent for general cleaning, dish detergent, laundry product or dryer sheets. Cats and kittens have highly sensitive olfactory senses, and strong smells can be irritating or stressful to them.
• Disinfecting solutions
  There are many possible disinfecting solutions. Bleach and Rescue® are common choices. Read the label on all disinfectants used to ensure the product eliminates or kills the pathogen(s) targeted. Biologic matter and remaining debris can render disinfectants ineffective. The degree to which they are effective in the presence of remaining residue varies with each disinfectant.
  Regular household bleach (~5%–9% sodium hypochlorite) is relatively inexpensive and readily available at local stores. It needs to be stored out of sunlight and once mixed with water is only effective for 24 hours. Due to different strengths of the bleach, ratios of bleach to water solution will vary when mixing solutions to kill the targeted pathogen(s). Furthermore, the length of wet contact time will vary depending on which pathogen(s) need to be killed. Bleach has strong fumes and can be caustic to metal. Rescue® concentrate (formerly called Accel) is not caustic like bleach, but is as effective as bleach if mixed and used correctly, although it does cost more than bleach. It is an excellent product for disinfecting. Other options are available with their own with pros and cons.
  Considerations in choosing a disinfectant include:
  • Cost
  • Effectiveness against target pathogens
  • Wet contact time required
  • Storage requirements and product expiration
  • The need for special equipment to mix or apply the disinfectant
  • Ventilation

  Tip: Write the date on the bottle of when the disinfectant was mixed so that it is not used after it has expired.

• Gloves, brushes, paper towels
  Given the harsh nature of the cleaning products needed to properly clean and disinfect, disposable or rubber gloves should be used. If you use gloves, brushes or other utensils you do not plan to dispose of when you are done cleaning the space, be sure to clean and disinfect those items as well. Do not use the same cleaning items from room to room if different litters are housed in different rooms.

Spot Cleaning the Kitten Space

Routine spot cleaning of kittens’ space is important to prevent the spread of disease while causing minimal disruption to kittens. Spot cleaning is the process of ensuring that the kittens’ space is tidy, addressing obvious areas of soil or debris. Spot cleaning is less stressful for kittens as it retains familiar scents and items such as their toys and bedding.

Spot cleaning tasks should include:

• Cages, floors, scales or other surfaces. Use a paper towel with water to wipe debris from surfaces, and spot clean with a wet, pet-safe cleaner if needed. Carefully sweep up stray litter or kibble with a brush and dustpan (try not to disperse pathogens by sweeping too aggressively) or a disposable dry mop product.
• Litter boxes and litter. Remove any feces from litter boxes and change the litter as needed for healthy kittens. Use enough non-clumping litter in the box to allow kittens to scratch and to cover their feces and urine. Clean litter boxes used by healthy kittens as needed and clean and disinfect the boxes weekly.
  
• Bottles and nipples. Bottles with nipples must be disassembled and washed by hand with a bottle brush to remove formula from all grooves and crevices. To sterilize, cover the disassembled bottle, nipple, and cap with water in a pan and bring to a full boil for 10 minutes. Air dry completely before reassembling. Be aware that repeated scrubbing and boiling may eventually remove the measurements printed on the outside of the bottles.
• Dishes. Wash by hand with hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly or in a dishwasher.
• Bedding. Layering the bedding is one way to make cleaning easier because you can remove soiled layers while leaving under layers and familiar scents for kittens. Remove and shake debris into a plastic trash bag. The bedding can be returned to the kittens’ space if it is otherwise still clean. If soiled or wet and in need of washing remove it completely.
• Washing bedding. Throw away heavily soiled bedding that cannot be effectively cleaned. Wash reusable bedding in hot water with unscented detergent in a washing machine and do not overfill so the materials can agitate properly. Wash a second time with a disinfectant appropriate for laundry (e.g., diluted bleach or Rescue®). Then dry the laundry completely. If using dryer sheets, be sure they are unscented. Keep dirty laundry (and baskets) separate from clean laundry (and baskets) to prevent cross-contamination and store clean laundry in a cabinet or plastic bag.
• Toys. Clean toys as needed by hand, in the dishwasher or washing machine. Toys being returned to the same kittens do not need to be disinfected.
• Vacuuming. You may need to vacuum if kittens must be housed in a space with carpeting. Remove kittens unfamiliar with the noise of a vacuum cleaner before vacuuming. Vacuum all rugs thoroughly and use crevice tools around the baseboards.

If you are caring for more than one litter of kittens and one is sick, clean the healthy group’s space first and then the sick group’s space. The standard protocol for multiple litters is to care for the healthy non-vaccinated first, the healthy vaccinated second, and the sick last.

Deep Cleaning and Disinfecting a Kitten Space

When all the kittens have left, it is time to deep clean and disinfect the kittens’ space and everything in it. Clean everything! The process is to clean first to remove visible dirt and debris and disinfect second to kill pathogens. Disinfecting is not effective if items are not cleaned first.

• Wash and disinfect all the bedding, towels, sheets and blankets used in the kitten space. Then organize them by type and size, place them in clear plastic bags or labeled storage bins so you know later they have been cleaned and disinfected. Store them in an area away from animals and possible contaminants.
• Collect all food-related items such as utensils, dishes, bottles, nipples, and medication containers and clean them thoroughly. Then, disinfect using an appropriate disinfectant or boiling.  If using a disinfecting product on dishes, be sure it is safe for food items and also be sure to rinse thoroughly if required.
• Clean litter boxes and scoops and then soak them with a disinfecting solution. Discard litter boxes that can’t be adequately cleaned and disinfected.
• Clean the cages, carriers, plastic bins, playpens and other containers used to house kittens. Apply sufficient amount of disinfectant solution to ensure it reaches into corners, crevices and crannies. Follow the product label instructions for the length of contact time and whether rinsing is indicated.
• Items such as cat trees and scratching posts that are carpeted or sisal-wrapped are practically impossible to adequately clean and disinfect. Instead, consider using items that can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected such as stackable, plastic cubes or similar products made for kittens to climb and disposable cardboard scratchers.
• Remove as much as possible from the room to make it easier to clean and disinfect the windows, light fixtures, ventilation grates, non-porous walls, door knobs, light switches and anything else that cannot be removed from the room. The final step is to clean and disinfect the floors.
• It may not be possible to thoroughly clean and disinfect carpet and upholstered furniture, which is why it is so important that sick kittens or seemingly healthy kittens be kept for a quarantine period in a space without these surfaces until it is clear they are not sick or shedding pathogens post-illness.

Tip: As you finish with kitten supplies that kittens have outgrown (e.g., smaller litter boxes), clean and disinfect them and store in a sealed container (sealed plastic bin or plastic bag) so they are ready for use for the next litter of kittens. Check dates for food, cleaning or other supplies and discard those that have expired.

Cleaning and Disinfecting When Caring for Kittens with Highly Contagious Diseases

When thoroughly done, the cleaning and disinfecting protocols described above should be sufficient even when caring for kittens with conditions such as ringworm, calicivirus or panleukopenia.

That said, because items such as upholstered furniture, carpeting or cat trees cannot be effectively cleaned and disinfected, other kittens should not have access to them. As some viruses can live in the environment for over a year and are highly resistant to many standard household cleaning products and methods, the importance of proper quarantine as well as housing kittens in an easy-to-clean/disinfect foster space (without carpeting and upholstered furniture) cannot be stressed enough.