Cats and kittens and the bad bugs they can cause you if you don’t get vaccinated or dewormed
We all love our cats and want the best for our pets, sometimes even debating decisions to vaccinate or not. Outdoor cats are most susceptible to various diseases, disorders and parasites, some of which can even affect humans. If your cat is kept indoors and does not mix with other cats, it becomes a personal decision to vaccinate. If you are allowed to go outdoors, even occasionally, it is highly recommended that your cat be vaccinated against some of the most common and significant viral diseases that cats are most susceptible to, such as: Feline distemper, infections of the upper respiratory tract and rabies.
When you vaccinate kittens, they must be at least 8 to 12 weeks old and free of parasites. It is best to deworm the cat and/or kittens approximately two weeks prior to immunization. You can analyze the feces to make sure there are no parasites, but this can cost extra to the cost of deworming. Or you can accept that the worms are probably there and just do a preventative. Be sure to avoid contact with other pets that may not be immunized, as the vaccination is only effective after about a week. A second dose may be needed to be effective and provide protection. Some vaccinations also require annual boosters or boosters every few years.
Examples of some of the feline parasites that affect humans are fleas, ticks, mites, lice, and worms, which are the main external parasites you want to check regularly and treat if present. Some of these pests carry diseases and lay eggs on the animal, so repeated treatment is necessary. Scratching is often a clue. Check ears often for ear mites!
The main concerns for humans and children in particular are internal parasites, which include various worms (round, hook, whip, thread, tape) and single-celled organisms that you can’t detect until they’ve preyed on your pet or more worse, they have transferred to people like the dreaded “worms”. If you have other pets, such as dogs, remember that your dog can be a carrier and pass on “bugs” to your house cats.
The most dangerous for pregnant women is Protozoa Toxoplasma Gondaii found in cat feces. This microorganism can affect the unborn child and even cause a miscarriage. It is best for pregnant women not to clean the cat litter tray and/or take precautions and ensure their cats are regularly dewormed. There are many “automated” cat litter disposal systems that pregnant cat owners should consider investing in if litter tray cleaning is their sole responsibility.
Like us, every part of the cat’s body can be affected by certain diseases and health problems, the mouth and teeth from stomatitis, respiratory diseases, eye diseases such as conjunctivitis, ear diseases, kidney diseases, the circulatory system from anemia, heartworm disease and leukemia.
Pay attention to your pet’s health and be especially concerned if your cat is vomiting, collapsing, having diarrhea, difficulty breathing, bleeding, or has dilated pupils. Loss of appetite is usually not serious unless it lasts more than 24 hours. Observe your cat for subtle signs of illness, lethargy, sneezing, coughing, closed eyelids, cloudy eyes, bad breath, lameness, pain, constipation, frequent urination or straining to urinate, and discharge from the eyes, ears, or nose. Also watch for changes in their usual habits such as more sleep, soreness, irritability, etc. Usually the Cat will tell us that something is wrong before the problem becomes critical. A trip to the vet may be necessary to confirm any problems.
Your cats will begin to show signs of old age around the age of 10, which translates to about 60 years of life for a cat. The average lifespan of a cat is 15 years. Even if they can’t live nine lives (although some seem to), they can live long, healthy lives when given consistent and responsible care.
Taking care of your cats health is much the same as taking care of yourself. Pay attention, prevent what you can, and if you suspect something, get it checked out.
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