About Contagious Cat Diseases

Overview

Rare is the adult who can't conjure up a childhood memory of approaching a friendly, purring kitten only to have a parent or adult caretaker say sternly, "Don't touch that cat---it could have a disease." Handling a cat is unlikely to result in contagion, notes the Winn Feline Foundation. But cats may be carriers of parasites and bacteria that can harm a hapless human---especially if he is careless.

Gastrointesinal Parasites

At some point in life, most cats acquire gastrointestinal parasites, such as roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and coccidia. Symptoms of gastrointestinal parasites are typically more evident in kittens whose immune systems are not developed. Adult cats can remain asymptomatic for long periods of time.

Most often, the parasite or its eggs enter the human environment through a cat's feces. Humans contract roundworms, tapeworms and coccidia through the oral-fecal route (accidental ingestion of infected feces). Hookworms, on the other hand, enter the skin cutaneously, when someone walks on infected feces in bare feet.

Toxoplasma

Cats become infected with Toxoplasma gondii by ingesting infected rodents, birds and soil. Toxoplasma infections also exert the most ill effects on kittens. Most adult cats---and most humans---show no symptoms of Toxoplasma infection, asserts the Winn Feline Foundation, which estimates that 60 million Americans carry Toxoplasma antibodies. But Toxoplasma, a hardy organism that's transmitted through the oral-fecal route, poses a serious concern to pregnant women and humans with weakened immune systems.

The Winn Feline Foundation states that one of every 1,000 babies in the U.S. is born with Toxoplasma. Toxoplamosis, a related condition affecting the central nervous system, may not be evident right after birth, with symptoms developing years later. (See Resources.)

Cat Scratch Disease

Cat Scratch Disease (CSD), or "Cat Scatch Fever," is an uncommon disease humans may get from a cat scratch or bite. The Centers for Disease Control estimates CSD in the U.S. occurs at a rate of 2.5 cases per 100,000 people. It's suspected that the Bartonella henselae bacteria transmitted to cats from fleas is one cause of CSD. In humans, a lesion may develop near the skin rupture, followed by swollen lymph nodes that generally resolve without treatment.

Cats generally show no symptoms of B. henselae and harbor it for months. The Winn Feline Foundation notes that dogs, which also carry B. henselae, are being studied to determine their role in CSD.

Rabies

"Ol' Yeller" is a tear-jerking tale of a trusted dog who poses life-threatening danger to his family after acquiring rabies. But what about Ol' Red Tabby? Rabies, a viral disease passed to humans through the bite of a rabid carrier, results in encephalopathy and ultimately death---usually in a few days. However, the CDC notes that rabies in domestic animals is uncommon, accounting for less than 10 percent of reported cases. If the cat appeared in good health at the time of the bite, it may be quarantined for 10 days to assess need for human treatment (the CDC states that no one has ever contracted rabies from a quarantined pet).

Medical Myths

Some diseases are frightening to cat guardians because of their insidious natures---they lay dormant for long periods of time, cause numerous health complications and are inevitably fatal. The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) result in two such illnesses, states the Winn Feline Health Foundation. Although these diseases can be transmitted between cats, rest assured: humans cannot get FIV and FeLV.

Keep Safe

Preventive measures ensure that you never worry about catching a disease from your cat. Keep litter boxes clean. The use of gloves during litter changing is advised, especially for pregnant women and those with suppressed immune systems. Instruct children not to ingest fecal matter or anything that passes from a cat's rectum. To prevent CSD, don't use your hands as "toys" when playing with cats. Instruct children to handle pets gently and discourage them from petting strays.

A healthy indoor cat makes the safest pet. Make sure that your cat receives regular check-ups and vaccinations. Exercise good flea control. Don't permit cats to hunt wild prey.