When in doubt, study the subject with patience. There is no doubt that keeping a cat has more health benefits than drawbacks. Cats pur is the sound of love that every pet parent wants to die for, living with a cat is not only a blessing but also fills our hearts with love. Ever thought of What disease you may get from your fur baby? This miraculous creature can cause problems if precautionary measures are not taken.
What disease you may get from your fur baby?
People with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, those undergoing certain procedures, such as chemotherapy, which can suppress the immune system, and those on continuous steroid therapy or who have bone marrow issues, are more vulnerable to disease. So, it’s better to keep pets away from such person.
So the most commonly asked questions are listed below.
Can cats cause respiratory disease or asthma?
So the answer could be yes or no. Cats' hair can aggravate the underlying condition but is not listed as the main cause of asthma.
If I am at higher risk, should I give away my fur baby?
Always follow veterinarian and physician advice; they can help in resolving different problems.
Can your cat make you sick?
Cats sometimes carry germs that can make you sick, so a routine visit to the veterinarian is essential for your pet and for yourself too!
Can cats cause hay fever?
The answer is no, but pet allergies can worsen the symptoms of hay fever.
How do I know I am allergic to cats?
A running nose, along with watery eyes and continuous sneezing after playing with or handling cats, is one of the major indicators of cat allergy.
Can you live with cats if you are allergic?
By following the right precautionary measures, you can easily live with your fur baby.
What are the zoonotic diseases?
Zoonotic diseases are infections that can be passed from humans to animals and vice versa.
For example, avian flu, rabies, etc.
These are common feline zoonotic diseases.
Some of them are mentioned below.
- Fleas, lice, or other external parasites
It is a common issue that causes itching and inflammation in humans.
- Scabies
This is a type of skin infection that may lead to severe itching and rashes and is caused by direct contact with the infected body of a cat. It can spread from one person to another
- Toxoplasmosis
This is actually a parasitic disease that is mostly transmitted through contaminated food, soil, or meat, and cats act as the main source of infection in spreading it, but mostly they remain symptomatic.
This protozoan mostly affects pregnant women and may lead to miscarriage or abortion.
- Ringworm infections (dermatophtyosis /fungal infections
It is a type of skin disease that causes scaly patches in both cats and humans and is considered highly zoonotic.
- Intestinal worms (hook worms and round worms)
This is the major problem human can face as the worms will pass through cats feces and can infect humans especially children and may effects internal organs, skin and may cause eye problems in later stages
- Campylobacteriosis
It is actually an infection of the intestine that is transmitted by the feces of infected animals.
- Cat scratch disease (Feline Bartonella)
This is actually a type of bacterial disease that is transmitted from cats to humans via scratches. Signs you will mostly observe are swelling, blisters in specific areas, fever, headache, muscle sores, joint pain, and fatigue.
- Diplylidium
This infection is mostly caused by fleas and is usually asymptomatic, but may lead to anal itching and abdominal pain.
- Rabies
This is a viral disease that causes problems with the nervous system in humans and is extremely contagious.
- Giardiasis/Cryptosporidium
This may result in if there is direct contact with cat feces, it may lead to chronic diarrhea in humans.
- Salmonella poisoning
This is a bacterial infection in which severe forms of symptoms can appear and mostly occur by eating contaminated food.
- Pasteurella multocida
Because Pasteurella multocida is the most common organism found in cat bites and oral mucosa, the main symptoms you will notice are swelling, pain, and redness.
- Campylobacteriosis
It’s mostly spread through contaminated food, water, and feces from infected cats and may lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever.
- Lyme disease
So there are several diseases in which your pet is not directly involved. This can occur through ticks, and mostly ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease in humans, which may cause no obvious symptoms. In humans, it can cause headaches, muscle and joint pain, and fever.
So you need to consult a doctor.
Continuously petting and kissing your pet may lead to influenza-like symptoms, which should be avoided.
How to stay healthy around a pet cat
- Cats should be kept indoors to minimize interaction with outdoor animals.
- Always wash your hands before eating and handling your fur babies.
- Cats should be dewormed and vaccinated to avoid the spread of disease.
- Maintain an appropriate distance from cats and avoid letting them lick your wounds, faces, plates, etc.
- Always avoid kissing your pet's mouth because infections can be transmitted through saliva. a
- Avoid giving them raw or contaminated chicken and feed them commercially balanced, processed feed.
- Litter boxes should be cleaned and disinfected regularly before being filled with fresh litter. It is recommended to use litter box liners to keep the litter box fresh and avoid contamination.
- Scooping should be done twice a day, and always handle litter and poop with gloves.
- If a cat bites or scratches you, immediately wash the affected area with soap and seek medical attention to avoid further complications.
- Pregnant women and immunocompromised patients should not be allowed to touch the feces of cats or the secretions to which they are directly exposed.
- Avoid tick-infested areas, especially in the spring and winter, and always use tick repellent.
- Always avoid rough play with cats when they are in defensive mode; this will help prevent scratches and bites.
- Trim your cat's nails regularly.
- Socialize your pets so they are aware of social norms or behaviors and don’t bite humans.
- Because both cat and human saliva contain germs, avoid kissing on the lips or face.
- If the bite is from a stray or you are unsure whether your cat has been vaccinated against rabies, always report it to the bite center or the local animal department.
- Parents should always educate their children about adopting proper precautionary measures when handling cats and other unfamiliar situations. h
- Always keep cats away from wildlife animals because they are mostly involved in the transmission of diseases.
- Practice good hygiene measures with regular veterinary care.
So always keep in mind that the system of nature of which animals and humans are part should be self-balancing and self-adjusting, so everything in nature is a lot about how you maintain balance with your pet and yourself. So most pet parents consider their animal to be part of the family, which is an absolutely amazing feeling no one can express, but maintaining a proper distance is essential for them as well.