Can my cat make me sick? What diseases can they transmit and how to prevent?

There are a lot of answers to your questions. Yes, there are many zoonotic diseases that can go between cats and humans. Too many to list here. Yes, even indoor cats can become ill. We can bring home diseases on us, and well as immune mediated diseases and cancers. I don’t really understand your last question. If you would like to have a more detailed conversation about zoonotic diseases a consult might be beneficial to you. In general practicing good hygiene after handling and cleaning up after animals is important. Also- if animals show any signs of being sick have them evaluated by a veterinarian. Thanks for using Pet Coach.

Theoretically, yes things can be transmitted like ringworm if a cat hair with a spore attached gets stuck to the collar. I suspect this would be rare but not impossible. Be careful of collars. Cats need to wear the break away collars in case they get hung up to prevent strangling. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Great question! If the kitten has fleas or intestinal parasites , you could bring those things home. I would recommend washing your hands and changing your clothes before coming in contact with your cat. Otherwise you should be fine. Kisses to Lucy!

Yes, this is certainly possible - certain types of worms, such as roundworms and hookworms, can be passed from cats to humans through contact with infected feces (poop). I would recommend taking a fecal sample to your veterinarian to confirm what type of worms are present, so that you can treat Buddy with an appropriate medication to get rid of them. In the meantime, make sure to wash your hands after cleaning his litter box, and ask your physician if you have any health concerns about yourself.

Hello, as in any occasion, you should make sure that you're washing your baby's hands immediately after touching Saffie. Majority of the infectious diseases we worry about are transferred via fecal to oral route, hence why washing hands is so important. To further ensure that your kitten is safe to be around your baby, keep up on her physical exams and you can have your veterinarian test a stool sample for any parasites or giardia. Eating birds particularly may expose your cat to foreign bodies and parasites but does not directly expose your baby to these same infections. Hope this helps and best of luck.

There are certain worms that can be transmitted from cats to people, but it's not easy. However, there is a particular concern with kids getting Toxocariasis. If the worms were diagnosed by a veterinarian, then she should be able to find out the species of worms that were discovered Below is a link to some good information about the risk of transmission of this particular worm. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxocariasis/gen_info/faqs.html I hope that helps and all is well with everyone.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry you are sick! While humans and animals can share similar viral infections, it is unlikely Callie will get your illness. To be safe wash your hands when handling her and try not to sneeze or cough on her. I hope this helps and that you feel better soon!