i like to provide a shelter for all little kittens, so once i find any i bring them home and serve them food till they become big cats. the thing is i bathe each every couple of days and i don't keep them inside my house (just outside in the yard). most people tell me that one day i won't be able to have children becuz of some germ that cats give to girls. what's true? what's not?? is it enough to wash my hands in soup and water after touching the cat?
Answers:
Toxoplasmosis is a parasite frequently transferred to humans and cats in feces from eating or even handling raw meat. So even if you form a hamburger pattey for the grill there is a possibility you can get it. About 40% of our human population has been exposed to toxoplasmosis and have antibodies for it in their system. Humans don't even usually realise that they have been infected. The symptoms are minor and most people think it is something else they have "picked" up.
Cats secrete the parasite in their feces and pregnant women are warned not to empty litterboxes if pregnant. It can be devestating to a fetus in the first trimester of a pregnancy and that is really the only danger to humans. It cannot make you infertile so you don't have to worry about that.
Sounds like the kittens are "overly bathed" however. Are you doing that for flea control? I think it's an excellent idea to wash your hands in soap and water several times a day just as a matter of personal hygiene so you can forestall a flu infection or something from the outside world.
I certainly don't take the issue of "germs" terribly seriously in my life and am still here after 75 years of living with these forms of life. I don't use antbacterial soaps nor do I "sterilize" my litterboxes. Just keep them cleaned out and wash with soap and water if there is some poopy on the sides.
Toxoplasmosis is something you can get from changing the cat's litter when you're pregnant. It is preferred that you don't do it, but it is also something that happens very rarely, so if YOU HAVE to change the litter (if you even have a box with outdoor cats) then wash your hands afterwards.
I've had two kids and currently have six cats. The risk is in handling their waste. While pregnant, my husband changed the litter (our cats are indoor only). If I had to change the litter on occasion, I used rubber gloves and washed well afterward. If your cats are outdoors, there shouldn't be any problem since there is no litter box.
Ignorance of the facts is what you get from listening to idiots hon. not "toxiplazma."
There is something in their feces that can effect the unborn baby of a pregnant woman if the cat scratches you and breaks the skin. Thats about it.
Tell them to check their facts again before speaking.
Cat Scratch Disease
Synonyms
Cat-Scratch-Oculoglandular Syndrome
Parinaud's Syndrome
Cat-Scratch Adenitis
Cat-Scratch Fever
Debre's Syndrome
Foshay-Mollaret Cat-Scratch Fever
Lymphadenitis, Regional Nonbacterial
Lymphoreticulosis, Benign Inoculation
Petzetakis' Syndrome
Disorder Subdivisions
None
General Discussion
Cat-scratch disease (also commonly known as cat-scratch fever) is a self- limiting infectious disease characterized by swelling and pain in the lymph nodes (regional lymphadenitis). Symptoms can vary from mild to severe, and may include achiness and discomfort (malaise), and/or loss of appetite (anorexia). The disease is caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae and, in most cases, occurs as a result of a scratch, bite, or lick from a cat or kitten. Symptoms may not appear for several days after exposure and may last for several weeks. Although cat-scratch disease usually subsides without treatment, antibiotic and/or antimicrobial therapy may speed recovery. Approximately 22,000 cases are reported in the United States each year, although more mild cases may go unnoticed and resolve without treatment.
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