Owning a Cat

Yeah I love cats but they can transmit pathogens - best known for delivering Bartonella by scratches. I’m sure that’s just one of many types that could be transmitted.

Edit- ‘cdc’ provides a brief list here

https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/cats.html

Post Edited (ElDuderino) : 1/14/2024 8:44:56 AM (GMT-8)

yeah - the two main ones of concern to me are toxoplasma gondii and of course bartonella

both are extremely common in cats as they infect the majority of domestic cats even in the developed world - and both are capable of being transmitted to humans by cats and can have life altering impacts

these infections are likely happening to people all the time - a very high proportion of people have antibodies to toxoplasma and cysts in their brain and muscle tissue ( its normal life cycle) - and we don't really know the incidence of bartonella - but since the testing is so outrageously poor we can be sure its many more than currently thought
but these infections in most people produce few or no symptoms - so they are probably not so much of an issue if your immune system is 100% tip top

but people with lyme etc - and probably many recovering from lyme - are unlikely to fit in that category - and so here i think the precautionary principle is best.

the risk are dramatically reduced if your cat never goes outside - but i wonder what kind of a life is that for the animal?

astroman said...
I grew up with a lot of animals currently don’t have any.

The fact that cats use litter boxes, and scratch paws in them, and then can actually scratch humans is how infections spread. I know you can declaw cats however, some few that as that unethical.

It’s amazing how many people swear their cats are super clean and are not aware of the above possibility.

I like dogs, not all dogs, but after Ive seen them do the “butt drag” on carpeting I no longer want them in my house either.

Having an “indoor only” cat can lower the risk of Bartonella unless of course if they had it since a kitten.

Hey Girlie!

Hope you are well.

Yeah it will be mostly an indoor cat. It's about 8 weeks old so hasn't had a long life yet. Will be careful obviously.

I do do treatment with my buddy bees so hopefully they would protect me in general.

I've had cats and dogs all my life, and I'm not gonna change now! Lol. I've had 3 periods in my life without cats or dogs, and I slipped into depression each time. So, for me, it's worth having them around.

Cats kept free of fleas won't get Bartonella, and if they do pick it up, there's Bartonella treatment for cats. I watch my kitties carefully for signs of illnesses of all types.

Dogs, well, they're dogs. Lol. I keep mine protected from fleas and ticks, but of course, they can still pick up these infections. I also keep a close eye on them for any kind of illness.

It's a very personal choice each person must make for themselves. Plenty of people feel like I do - can't live without them. And for us, we must be smart about ownership and getting them to the vet for any illness.