Handling a cat is very safe but there are several kinds of diseases that a cat can carry. Some of these diseases could be transmitted to humans. By following simple health tips, you can be even safe-against cat-related diseases.
There are some common cat related sicknesses that can make a person sick, such as cat scratch disease (or cat scratch fever), and others such as plague (play-g), are rare. Toxoplasmosis (TOX-o-plaz-MO-sis) is a disease that can come from cats, but people are more likely to get it from eating raw meat or from gardening. Be careful of rabies, cats can carry this deadly viral disease.
There are other diseases that an individual is more likely to catch. A person's age and health status may affect his or her immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. People who are more likely to get diseases from cats include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS, and people being treated for cancer. Below there is some special advice for individuals who are at greater risk than others of getting diseases from animals.
To protect yourself from cat-related sickness & diseases,
* Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after touching cat feces (stool) * Avoid cat scratches and bites * If you are scratched or bitten by a cat, wash the area with soap and running water right away * Vaccinate your cat against rabies. * Many organizations support the health benefits of pets. These groups provide information on the healthy benefits of animal companionship for people.
Read the cat-related diseases below.
Campylobacter Infection : A bacterial disease associated with cats, dogs, and farm animals.
Cat Scratch Disease: A bacterial disease associated with cat scratches and bites.
Chronic Renal Failure, or kidney disease in cats, is a very common condition in cats. progressive and permanent damage to the kidneys that reduces their capacity to filter and remove waste from the blood.
Coxiella burnetti Infection : A bacterial disease occasionally associated with cats.
Cryptosporidium Infection: A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs, and farm animals.
Dipylidium Infection (tapeworm): A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs and fleas.
Hookworm Infection: A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs and their environment.
Leptospira Infection (leptospirosis): A bacterial disease associated wild and domestic animals including cats.
Plague Infection: A rare bacterial disease associated with rodents and cats and fleas.
Q Fever : A bacterial disease occasionally associated with cats.
Rabies: A viral disease associated with various animals, including cats.
Ringworm: A fungal disease associated various animals, including with cats.
Roundworm: See Toxocara Infection.
Salmonella Infection : A bacterial disease associated with various animals, including cats.
Tapeworm : See Dipylidium Infection.
Toxocara Infection ( roundworm): A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs and their environment.
Toxoplasma Infection : A parasitic disease associated with cats and their environment.
Protect your cat's health with pet insurance.
Vet visits are expensive for sick animals so its a good idea to invest in veterinary
pet insurance. Here you can read up on the advantages of having a pet
insurance policy for your cat. Your alumni association may even offer
insurance for your pet so check if they offer veterinary
pet insurance. It it always beneficial to have a policy, but affordable
pet insurance is the ideal choice for your cat.
