It seems like there’s always some new sensationalized horrific
disease you can catch from your cat, but very few diseases can actually
move between humans and felines, and the ones that can are caused by
parasites. As far as viruses and bacteria go, though, you’re almost
certainly safe from catching germs from your cat. Here are a few
diseases and conditions you needn’t worry about when handling a cat.
1. A cold
The viruses that cause kitty colds are very specific to cats and cannot survive in the human
body.
Although certain flu bugs such as H1N1 can on rare occasions pass back
and forth between cats and people, any type of “common cold” virus is not transmissible from cats to humans.
2. AIDS
The feline immunodeficiency virus (sometimes referred to as “feline
AIDS”) is not contagious to humans. Although it is related to the human
immunodeficiency virus, it is species-specific and cannot in any way be spread from cats to humans. If you or someone you know is living with HIV, you might be glad to know that cats can’t catch HIV, either.
3. Mange
Although humans can get a
skin
infection called scabies — which, like mange, is caused by a mite — the
types of mange mites you find on your cat cannot thrive on human skin.
4. Leukemia
Feline leukemia is caused by a virus specific to cats
and is not at all related to the human blood and bone marrow cancer
known as leukemia. Although feline leukemia is known to cause cancer in
cats, it does not cause cancer in humans. End of statement.
5. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
Although hand-foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious between people, it cannot be transmitted from animals to people. If your child comes back from a friend’s house with the disease, don’t blame the cat!
6. Ear mites
These nasty little pests make their
home
in waxy deposits in your cat’s ear canal. You might think that because
we humans also have wax in our ear canals, the mites might spread to us
if we
sleep near an infected cat, but that’s not true. Ear mites are species-specific to dogs and cats and don’t thrive in human ears.
Also, human ear canals are short and straight, while cats’ ear canals
are L-shaped and may provide a warmer and moister environment for the
mites.
Are there any feline illnesses you’d like to learn more about? Do you
want to know if your cats can get germs from you?
sO, don't wOrry tO hOld Or play with cat. :)