Diseases
from Cats
Although
cats can carry diseases and pass them to people, you are not
likely to get sick from touching or owning a cat. By following
simple health tips, you can be even safe-against cat-related
diseases.
Some
cat-related diseases that make people sick are common, 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. Cats can also
carry rabies, a deadly viral disease.
Some
people are more likely than others to get diseases from cats.
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. Special
advice is available for people who are at greater risk than
others of getting diseases from animals.
To
protect yourself from cat-related 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.
Learn
more about selected cat-related diseases below.
Campylobacter Infection
(campylobacteriosis): A bacterial disease associated with
cats, dogs, and farm animals.
Cat
Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae): A bacterial
disease associated with cat scratches and bites.
Coxiella
burnetti Infection (Q fever): A bacterial disease
occasionally associated with cats.
Cryptosporidium Infection
(cryptosporidiosis): 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
(Yersinia pestis) Infection:
A rare bacterial disease associated with rodents and cats
and fleas.
Q
Fever (Coxiella burnetii): 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
(salmonellosis): A bacterial disease associated with
various animals, including cats.
Tapeworm
(flea tapeworm): See Dipylidium Infection.
Toxocara Infection
(toxocariasis, roundworm): A parasitic disease associated
with cats, dogs and their environment.
Toxoplasma Infection
(toxoplasmosis): A parasitic disease associated with
cats and their environment. |