Do you think that by having your cat sheltered at home it is immune to diseases? Cats are at risk of contracting infections, just as we are of getting infected. many of these diseases that cats carry They are dangerous and even deadly.
Diseases transmitted by cats and their symptoms
Cats, like people, are living beings that need oxygen, food, training and good health to lead a healthy life. But, they are also transmitters of viruses, parasites and bacteria that are on the rise, they can affect those around them such as animals and people.
This can only be avoided if:
- We have him in a regular medical control
- We know how to recognize their behavior and mood
It is important to distinguish attitudes such as discomfort or pain, as they are key indicators to determine symptoms of diseases. Next, we explain some of the diseases that cats carry and how to prevent them.
Diseases of cats transmissible to humans
If our friendly felines do not enjoy good care, nor do they visit the vet, they are capable of developing diseases and infections. These can be serious and irreversible both for them and for us, among the diseases that cats transmit are:
toxocariasis
Also known as visceral larva migrans syndrome, it is an infection that is transmitted by a parasite or worm called toxocara cati. Which is a common development in domestic animals, but they are not taken to the veterinarian for periodic vaccinations and correct deworming.
This parasite is usually housed in the feces of infected cats, therefore its transmission to humans is done by having direct contact with them. For example: when cleaning the litter box without any protection.
Symptom
- Fever
- Cough
- swollen liver
- Swelling of the lymph nodes
- Sight loss
Recommendation
To clean the litter box, it is necessary to use disposable gloves, and at the end of cleaning, wash and disinfect your hands well. These parasites are capable of staying in any part of our body (intestines, liver, lungs, heart). As well as aggressively attacking our body, causing irreversible diseases such as blindness, if it lodges in the eyes.
campylobacteriosis
This bacterium is more frequent in dogs, birds and pigs. Although cats under 6 months can also carry the disease by staying in the intestinal tract, that is, in the guts of cats. While in humans it can be contracted by direct contact with feline excrement, by not making good use of sanitary measures.
It represents a high health risk that affects more and more, especially people living in poor sanitary conditions. Well, as mentioned above, it is contracted by having contact with the animal's feces and once infected it can be transmitted from person to person, as well as contaminating food. Young people and infants are at a higher degree of exposure, thus causing stomach disorders and intoxication.
Symptom
- Abdominal pain
- High fever
- Nausea
- Bloody diarrhea
- Sepsis (infected blood)
- Muscle pain
- Headache
Recommendation
We can prevent the bacteria with simple hygiene measures such as protecting our hands with gloves when cleaning cat feces, as well as washing them once we have finished. Also, disinfect objects and food.
giardiasis
Bliss cat-borne disease, comes from a parasite called Giardia Intestinalis. The same, is housed in the feces of our pet, and the feline may have acquired it through water or food of its daily consumption.
People can get it if they have direct contact with feline droppings, so it is recommended that when cleaning and maintaining the litter box, it is carried out with adequate hygiene to avoid contamination. Although in general, this bacterium can be present in the body of some people without showing any signs.
Symptom
- stomach disorder
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- severe abdominal pain
Recommendation
If you have any indication, it is preferable to go to a doctor, despite not being so serious, it still requires evaluation. In some cases, there may be no symptoms as the bacteria has not been altered and usually clears up on its own within a few weeks. However, when symptoms occur, they can be managed with oral antibiotics.
Allergies
It is common to hear people who have a feline as a pet say that its fur causes allergies, because although it is true it is one of the diseases transmitted by cats.
Similarly, it is true that it should not be associated with its hair, since this is also due to the fact that cats produce a protein in their skin called glycoprotein. This is known as cat dandruff, to which the body of many people is sensitive.
Symptom
- itchy skin
- Rashes
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Asthma
- Respiratory problems
- swollen eyes
Recommendation
Some things that can be done to minimize the allergy is to wash your hands, this after touching the feline. Also, keep your pet away from the room as this is where you spend most of your time. Also, frequently clean the sheets and furniture, brush the kitten regularly to prevent hair loss and ventilate the home.
In the case of people who suffer from asthma or constantly suffer from respiratory infections, it is not advisable to choose a cat as a pet, since despite not being the direct cause of this disease, they can trigger stronger crisis episodes.
Lyme's desease
ticks in dogs They are just as common in cats, this being the cause of the disease. Through the bite, a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted. Its spread in humans is done through direct contact with cats or any other animal that is infested with these mites.
These ticks usually lodge in specific parts of the human body where they are difficult to see, such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. Taking a residence time of 2 to 3 days to transmit the bacteria. Its diagnosis is made through a blood test, which is not recommended to be done immediately, since the bacteria after the bite take several weeks to appear.
Symptom
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Fatigue
- swollen glands
- Muscle pains
The symptoms begin to attack the first month after being bitten by an infected tick.
Recommendation
If the infection is not treated in time, it can spread to other organs of the body. In turn, cause diseases with chronic ailments such as heart disease, joint ailment and alteration of the nervous system.
Infections
Among the most common that felines can transmit to people is the one they produce by scratch and bite. If at any time in our lives we suffer one of these attacks, we must take the necessary precautions to give it the appropriate medical attention, since through scratching the cat can transmit a bacterium called bartonella henselae.
If we do not attend to it, it can become a source of bacteria and spread rapidly in our body, causing a skin infection.
Symptom
- Swelling
- Redness
- Much pain
Recommendation
This type of infection demands more danger in people who have a very weak immune system or receive some treatment with immunosuppressants to control other diseases such as HIV, cancer or have been post-transplanted. It can very rarely occur in people who are in good health.
To prevent a type of infection like this from happening, we must be aware of the control of vaccinations and care of our cat, in this way we will prevent them from getting sick recurrently and transmitting some type of disease to us.
Toxoplasmosis
The toxoplasma gondii parasite lives in the body of cats, which do not have adequate veterinary control. This infection can even live as a definitive host in the feline's body. In people it acts slowly, if we are medicated on time it will not last more than 6 weeks.
On the other hand, it is a well-known disease among pregnant women, since the parasite spreads through the placenta and can cause severe damage to the fetus. This disease is not completely attributed to felines, since the excessive consumption of red meat is a very frequent cause.
Symptom
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Swelling of the lymph nodes
Recommendation
To avoid being infected, it is necessary for both pregnant women and other people who suffer from it: not to have direct contact with cat feces, reduce the daily consumption of red meat and if they are going to be consumed, freeze them a day before. To kill the bacteria, thoroughly wash the fruits and vegetables that are going to be consumed.
Hookworm
A bacterium caused by nematodes, these are parasites that directly affect the intestinal tract of humans. This disease usually affects many people, we can contract it if we have contact with the animal's feces.
Besides being one of the diseases that cats carry, can also be contracted if we walk barefoot for a long time on soil that may be contaminated by these small worms, when they enter our skin.
Symptom
- Loss of appetite
- Pallor
- intermittent diarrhea
- Anemia
- Fever
- itchy rash
- Cough
- Gases
- liver bleeds
Recommendation
These parasites remain attached to the intestine and feed on our blood, normally the entry of the parasite occurs through the feet, the back and even the buttocks, generating rashes. It should be avoided to circulate barefoot, as well as naked in the areas of frequency of the feline.
Sporotrichosis
It is a pathology belonging to the species of fungi, which are transmitted to people through an open wound, after having suffered a cat scratch, which is a carrier of the fungus sporothrix shenckii.
This type of disease is usually more common in cats that participate in street fights, spreading among themselves through bites and scratches that leave open wounds which, if not treated in time with the veterinarian, can become contaminated. If this is the case with our feline, we must be careful when treating the wound using resistant gloves to avoid infection.
Symptom
- Several pink bumps
- they are outstanding
- Occurs on fingers, hands, or arms
Recommendation
In order for our cat to maintain a healthy and healthy life cycle, we must be aware of its care, this includes a healthy and adequate diet, grooming, and veterinary control. In this way, we will be preventing the development of diseases that affect their health and that of the people around them.
Diseases transmitted from cats to dogs
Despite belonging to different species and not having a friendly social life, these adorable cats and dogs are the most preferred pets for our home. Therefore, we must be careful to provide them with good care through veterinary control, vaccination schedule and proper nutrition. This will prevent the spread of diseases between them.
Among the most common diseases that cats transmit to dogs are external parasites such as lice, ticks and different types of fleas They can jump from one body to another. On the other hand, internal ones such as worms and bacteria, among which qualify nematodes, hookworms and whipworms that are found in the feces of these animals.
The spread between them occurs if they share the same place or space, since some dogs tend to ingest the droppings of another animal. Also, rabies and scabies are contagious to other animals that are close to them.
Diseases transmitted by stray cats
In general, cats that do not have a place to live, being the street the only place they frequent, are more exposed to being carriers of bacteria, viruses and diseases due to their vulnerability. Since, these felines participate in street fights with other animals of the same species or canines, receiving bites and in other cases scratches that leave open wounds.
This is because precisely because they are strays they do not have the veterinary care and control they need to enjoy a healthy life. So their food only depends on the waste they can find on the street.
Among some of the diseases that cats carry street we can find:
Rage
It is an infectious disease that cats that have not been vaccinated acquire, they present symptoms such as losing reflexes, seizures and muscle spasms. In addition, they take an irritating attitude, this complication is deadly for cats, in fact, they do not last more than 4 days alive. In the case of people, if they bite or lick a wound, it quickly infects them, just as if it is not treated in time, it could cause death.
Tub
It is a disease caused by dermatophyte parasites that directly attack the skin, which are transmitted through contact with infected animals or if we touch a surface that the animal usually frequents, since the fungus survives in certain spaces. The symptoms that our pet may present are: redness of the skin, inflammation in the affected area, peeling, Hair loss in dogs and cats.
