There are more and more cases of relatives who are against keeping pets. Their most common set of rhetoric is, “Cats are full of bacteria, don’t bring them home and infect us.” Zoonotic diseases are not a terrible thing, but many people have fear because they do not understand it; but when you really understand it, you will not feel so terrible and helpless. Today I??m going to talk to you about common zoonotic diseases that cats can carry and some simple preventive measures you can take.
What is a zoonotic disease?
A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be transmitted from live animals Diseases to humans, usually caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, prions, and fungi, can be transmitted not only to humans through animals but also indirectly through ticks or mosquitoes.
What are the underlying zoonotic diseases in cats?
Catmoss
Moss, also known as dermatophytosis, is a fungal infection of the skin that can infect animals and humans. The infected area appears as a red patch that spreads to other areas, possibly the scalp, feet, groin, beard, and other parts. Anyone can get cat moss. Prevention methods include: washing hair after contact with pets, disinfecting and cleaning living areas, and avoiding close contact with cats with cat moss.
Parasitic Infections
Fleas are the most common parasites, and their bites can cause itching and inflammation in both humans and cats,
· Feed branded cat food with normal ingredients.
·Avoid feeding unfrozen raw meat or domestic meat, and preferably cooked.
·Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw meat.
· Carry out deworming work on a regular basis. If the cat often goes outdoors, the deworming interval should be shortened.
Toxoplasma gondii
This is an infection caused by a parasite usually found in cat feces or raw meat, especially venison and lamb As with pork, if cats eat infected animals, they may not get sick because they fight off the infection, but they will still be present in the feces. Toxoplasma infection may cause fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, and more. We should pay attention to the cleaning of the cat litter box to avoid the infection of Toxoplasma gondii.
rabies
This is a very familiar type of viral infection; the problems that rabies can cause can be fatal. It is spread by bites, scratches, or mucous membrane exposure of infected animals. While most viruses only infect the host, the exception is rabies, to which cats are very susceptible, and when it attacks the central nervous system, it causes various signs and is almost fatal. When cats and cats are often outdoors or can come into contact with dogs, it is best to get a rabies vaccination! To reduce the risk of rabies.
Plague (rare)
Plague is usually spread by rats, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks, etc., and can also be infected by It is spread by scratches or bites from domestic cats. Bubonic plague infects the lymphatic system, causing inflamed lymph nodes that, when untreated, can enter the bloodstream (causing the plague of sepsis) or the lung (causing pneumonic plague). Symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and seizures may occur 2-6 days after infection.
Cat scratch fever (rare)
This is a Bacterial infection caused by bacteria throughout the body that can be carried in the saliva and fleas of infected cats. Why is it called “cat scratch fever”? As the name suggests, this bacteria is transmitted to humans through scratches, bites, cat-licking wounds, etc. These bacteria are usually spread by the bite of an infected flea.
People with cat scratch fever often experience swelling and blisters at the site of the bite or scratch, along with pain, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite. And it lasts for a long time. Healthy adults may completely disappear symptoms after a few months, but people with compromised immune systems can face infections in the eyes, brain, and heart, with very serious consequences.
So it is very important for us to avoid scratches or bites of cats, and we should wash our hands after playing and help cats deworm in time to control fleas, which can reduce cat scratch fever infection risk.
·AIDS patients
·receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy · the elderly or those with chronic diseases
·people born with congenital immunodeficiency
·who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant
·Pregnant women (the fetus’s immune system is not yet fully developed)
How can I reduce my risk?
These high risks do not mean that you need to give up raising cats, but you need to take basic preventive measures! For example, regular physical examinations for cats, frequent hand washing, avoiding direct contact with cat feces, etc.
Finally, let’s look at these simple prevention guidelines:
· Do not put cat litter boxes and fecal waste in areas such as the kitchen, living room, etc., where they can come into contact with food.
· Try to use a disposable litter box and replace it each time it needs cleaning.
·Clean the litter box with hot water at least twice a month and soak the litter box in hot water for at least five minutes.
·Wear disposable gloves every time you clean, discard them after use, and wash your hands thoroughly.
· Of course, it is best to let someone who is not at risk help the cat shovel shit!
Note: cats can also be infected with human diseases, such as flu and Food poisoning, but these cases are very rare.
