Can cats really carry dieseases that kill kids?

[Anonymous]

Toxoplasmosis transmission seems to be misunderstood (even by PPs on here).

1) MOST cases of a human contracting toxoplasmosis were the result of eating undercooked meat and NOT by cats.

2) Toxoplasmosis only sheds in a cat's feces for a limited time after the cat contracts it. So if you have an indoor-only cat that has been indoors and not exposed to rodents for at least 6 months, then even if the cat had at one time contracted toxoplasmosis, it NO LONGER is shed in the cat's feces after a short window of time.

Toxoplasmosis is more a risk with cats who are outdoor cats.

[Anonymous]

It is *possible* that your child could get something from a cat. Very, very rare.

Your child will almost certainly get diseases from your ex, however. Your ex is far more dangerous to your child's health than a can will be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is *possible* that your child could get something from a cat. Very, very rare.

Your child will almost certainly get diseases from your ex, however. Your ex is far more dangerous to your child's health than a can will be.

[Anonymous]

My cat bit me in the finger once. A few days later my finger swelled to 10 times it's normal size. I went to the doctor. Doctor was worried I'd get osteomyelitis (a bone infection in the finger) and that I'd lose my finger. Fortunately, I didn't.

[Anonymous]

DC is in more danger from other people than cats, that is to say, very rare possibility of cat disease affecting your kid. Colds, strep, flu-DC will get every year from others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Toxoplasmosis transmission seems to be misunderstood (even by PPs on here).

1) MOST cases of a human contracting toxoplasmosis were the result of eating undercooked meat and NOT by cats.

2) Toxoplasmosis only sheds in a cat's feces for a limited time after the cat contracts it. So if you have an indoor-only cat that has been indoors and not exposed to rodents for at least 6 months, then even if the cat had at one time contracted toxoplasmosis, it NO LONGER is shed in the cat's feces after a short window of time.

Toxoplasmosis is more a risk with cats who are outdoor cats.

Our cats are indoor-only but one escaped once, and they catch mice every couple of months. So when I was pregnant, DH changed the litter to be on the safe side. I knew a woman whose twins contracted toxoplasmosis in utero, and it was devastating. One died shortly after birth and the other had severe handicaps. We weren't taking any chances no matter how low the risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My cat bit me in the finger once. A few days later my finger swelled to 10 times it's normal size. I went to the doctor. Doctor was worried I'd get osteomyelitis (a bone infection in the finger) and that I'd lose my finger. Fortunately, I didn't.

Cat scratch fever is more than just a song. We found this out too - cats' mouths have some pretty bad germs. If your cats don't bite, i.e. don't break the skin, this isn't a problem.