Diseases You Can Catch From Your Cat

Cats make excellent pets. But before you make these cuddly guys a part of the family, it is very important that you take your cat to the vet. This is important to make sure he is healthy and he has all his shots. An unhealthy cat can cause diseases in people. This does not mean that the one vet visit will eliminate all diseases, but it is a very crucial step. Here are several diseases that you can get from your cat.

Rabies

Rabies is caused by the rabies virus. Your cat can give this to you if he is not vaccinated against it, which is why it is critical that you take all your pets to get their shots. Symptoms of rabies in your cat include heavy slobbering or staggered walking. It can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to show signs of being infected. Symptoms in people include headache, fever, agitation, confusion or sleepiness. Rabies can be deadly. If an animal bites you and it does not have a rabies shot, it is important that you see a doctor immediately.

Dipylidium Caninum

The common name for this is tapeworm. Your pet may have gotten this by cleaning itself and swallowing an infected flea. People get it the same way. People become infected with this when they mistakenly eat a flea infected with a tapeworm larvae. These are easy to detect in your pet because they can sometimes be seen crawling near their anus or in fresh stool. The best way to prevent this is to control fleas. Symptoms in people are almost the same: your stool will contain proglottids, or your anus will have them stuck to it. Proglottids look like grains of rice. If you think you are infected, call your doctor.

Cat Scratch Disease

This is a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Forty percent of cats carry this bacteria at some point in their lives. They usually don't show any signs of illness, so it's nearly impossible to tell which cat has it or does not have it. Most people get this by being bit or scratched by a cat. When people are infected by this, their lymph nodes may get swollen. They may experience headache, fatigue, fever and a loss of appetite. To lower your chances of getting this disease, avoid rough play with cats. Also, if you are bit or scratched, wash the area immediately. If you do develop an infection where you were bit, contact your doctor.