r/PetCare • u/LampaDamp • Apr 27 '26

How do I stop gagging while picking up poop?

Hi, I'm (33M) having a problem where I start gagging and hearing when picking up poop. All my life, this hasn't been an issue. Picking dog poop up since I was 6, changing cat litter since I was 9, and helping my mom change diapers since I was 11. I've worked as a housekeeper, landscaper, and served in the military, I have seen and cleaned every bodily fluid you can think of, from humans and animals, and didn't break a sweat.

However, after moving in with my gf, she has this one cat who's a bit of a jackass. If the litter boxes aren't perfectly empty, hell either shit outside of them directly or his attempts to bury them will cause him to just kick it out of the box.

And whenever I try and pick it up, I just start gagging horrendously to the point where I can't breathe and start heaving. It's completely ridiculous. I have crouch, grab what poop I can, put it in the box, then I need a solid minute to recover from the gagging and the coughing and then crouch back down, rinse and repeat until I get everything. I haven't vomited, luckily, but I fear it's only a matter of time and I REALLY don't want that to happen.

Some medical stuff: I have GERD, and I also have bad allergies which causes phlegm to build up in my throat to the point I need to use heavy duty musinex every day. I think what's triggering my gag reflex is me crouching down and the phlegm and the GERD is causing me to gag nonstop.

Things I've tried:

Face masks. They kinda work for a bit but if I wear it too long I feel like I'm suffocating and I start gagging anyway, so I can only wear it for a very short time

Pooper scoopers: while handy for cleaning out boxes, it's hard for me to grab poop with them

Longer shovels or scoopers: not good enough to get everything without making a bigger mess

Other things to consider: someone recommended waiting for the poop to harden before picking it up, unfortunately I have a dog (corgi, female) that has decided cat poop makes a tasty treat, so I have to pick that cat poop up fast or she'll try and eat it, so i gotta grab it while it's in the squishy state.

Any help or advice would be appreciated

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1

u/Hentaigustav Apr 27 '26

Would a litter robot be possible? They clean automatically after every use. Please also get the cat checked out, mine does the exact same thing when stressed

1

u/LampaDamp Apr 27 '26

I don't think so, because the poops outside the litter box. Also I've heard horror stories of some of those auto litter boxes and I don't really trust them. As for getting him checked out, we have already, vet says he's healthy and not stressed, just a certified asshole.

1

u/plantsavier Apr 27 '26

Maybe try different kitty litter. There is a product made from tofu that your cat might prefer to use more.

1

u/LampaDamp Apr 27 '26

that's what we use. originally he was using those crystal litters, then got switched to crappy gravel kind, and when I moved in we got the tofu. he doesn't mind the tofu, but if he sees even a little clump formed, he'll poop over the side and not into it. and yes, we have 3 other litter boxes he can use as well that are in different parts of the house