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Cats are the most common pets in the United States. According to the most recent version of the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook (2002 Edition) there had been virtually 70 Million pet cats in the United States. Why are cats so common? There are as several answers to this query as there are cat owners, but the low health risks cats pose to their owners is undoubtedly close to the top rated of this list. Even although the prospective well being hazards cats pose to folks are tiny, it is critical that cat owners are conscious of these dangers and recognize how to minimize them.

The majority of all dangers stemming from cat ownership are linked with the cat litter box and/or cat feces. There are two categories of dangers. The initial category is made up of well being dangers posed by bacteria and parasites to each cat owners and their cats. The second category consists of injuries resulting from an automatic litter box or self cleaning litter box.

Mainly the well being issues skilled by cat owners or their cats come from the very first category and the most important of these risks is called Toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection triggered by a tiny parasite called Toxoplasma gondii which can be identified in raw or undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, dirty cat litter boxes and outdoor soil exactly where cat feces can be identified. According to the Center for Disease Handle and Prevention (CDC) far more than 60 million individuals in the United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite(1). Luckily, quite few men and women ever encounter any signs and symptoms due to the fact a healthful person's immune technique generally keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant females and men and women who have compromised immune systems, such as men and women infected with the HIV virus, are at risk and should take precautions to steer clear of being infected by the parasite. For individuals in this group a Toxoplasma infection could cause critical wellness issues to the person or to a pregnant womans unborn youngster.

Once more, most of the 60 million plus Americans infected with Toxoplasmosis parasite will never expertise any symptoms. Most of these who do expertise symptoms will just believe they have the Flu as the most common signs and symptoms consist of swollen glands, fever, headache, muscle discomfort, or a stiff neck. For those in the high danger group, Toxoplasmosis can lead to harm to the brain, eyes and internal organs. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, young children born with Toxoplasma gondii can endure from hearing loss, psychological retardation, and blindness with some youngsters developing brain or eye troubles years immediately after birth(2). The CDC estimates that 400-4000 fetuses are infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite every single year and as several as 80 infants die from Toxoplasmosis annually(2).

So how does an individual contract Toxoplasmosis? A Toxoplasmosis infection is triggered by ingesting the Toxoplasma gondi parasite. Most cat owners are infected with the parasite by accidentally ingesting infected cat feces. This occurs when a person touches their mouth following handling a cat litter box, operating in a garden or sand box or touching something that has come in get in touch with with cat feces(3).

Individuals in the higher threat group may wonder whether or not they ought to give up their cat to steer clear of infection. According to the CDC, it is not required for cat lovers to give up their cats, but it is crucial for them to guard themselves from infections. The USFDA tends to make the following suggestions for avoiding infections(two):

1) If possible, have somebody else adjust the litter box. If you have to clean it, put on disposable gloves and wash your hands completely with soap and warm water afterwards.

two) Adjust the litter box everyday. The parasite doesn't grow to be infectious till 1 to five days right after the feces are deposited in the litter box.

3) Wear gloves when gardening in a garden or handling sand from a sandbox simply because cats might have excreted feces in them. Be positive to wash your hands with soap and warm water afterwards.

4) Cover outdoor sandboxes to stop cats from utilizing them as litter boxes.

5) Feed your cat commercial dry or canned food. Never feed your cat raw meat since it can be a source of the Toxoplasmosis gondii parasite.

6) Preserve indoor cats indoors. Be specifically cautious if you bring outdoor cats indoors.

7) Steer clear of stray cats, specifically kittens.

8) Do not get a new cat although you are pregnant.

Safer Youngster, Inc. makes the following extra recommendations(four):

1) Have your veterinarian test your cat for the Toxoplasmosis parasite. If you cat is infected, you may possibly want to think about obtaining someone else keep your cat for the duration of your pregnancy.

two) Hold sandboxes covered to avert cats from using the sandbox as a litter box.

3) Be aware of neighborhood sandboxes as the parasite can be brought residence on shoes, clothing and toys.

Comparable to Toxoplasmosis, Escherichia coli (generally referred to as E. coli) can infect humans thru speak to with feline fecal material, although the main means of infection is thru ingestion or raw or undercooked meats. E. Coli is a bacterium commonly discovered in the intestinal tract of people and animals. Practically all strains of the bacteria are harmless. Nevertheless a couple of strains can create powerful toxins and lead to severe illness, particularly in youngsters beneath five years of age(5). Symptoms usually incorporate diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In youngsters beneath five, two%-7% of E. coli circumstances can trigger kidney failure. Fortunately, E. coli is simple to prevent. Making use of the preventative measures, outlined above for Toxoplasmosis will tremendously decrease the risks of you or your youngsters contracting an E. coli infection.

In addition to these human hazards, there are a couple of well being dangers cat litter boxes really pose to cats that cat owners must be aware of. Just as a dirty litter box poses health dangers to people, cats are equally at danger if forced to use a dirty litter box. Since cats stay clean by licking themselves, enabling a cats litter box to get also dirty can lead to infections when a cat cleans its paws following utilizing the dirty litter box. The most frequent infection is a urinary tract infection, and even though this variety of infection is seldom fatal it can be extremely uncomfortable for your cat and will most most likely require treatment by your veterinarian.

Ultimately, a lesser-known well being danger to cats is in fact triggered by cat litter itself. What a lot of cat owners do not comprehend is that some varieties of cat litter can be dangerous or even fatal to their cat. Each clumping and non-clumping litters pose wellness difficulties to cats. Clumping cat litters are possibly the most well-known type of cat litter because of their comfort, hygienic qualities and the fact that clumping litters are necessary for use in self-cleaning litter boxes. Sadly, some clumping litters can be damaging to cats. Clay based clumping litters can include the mineral sodium bentonite, which can be harmful or fatal to your cat. It is very best to steer clear of employing clay based cat litters, specially with kittens. Wheat or corn based clumping litters such as Swheat Scoop, Worlds Greatest Cat Litter and Littermaid cat litter function quite nicely and are non-toxic(6).

By their extremely nature, non-clumping litters do not absorb and isolate a cats urine or feces like clumping litters do. As a result, it is significantly tougher to preserve your cats litter box clean when using non-clumping litter. When utilizing non-clumping litter it is important to frequently clean and disinfect the litter box itself to decrease the likelihood of bacterial buildups that can trigger urinary or other infections in your cat.

The second category of wellness dangers covers injuries brought on by an automatic litter box or self cleaning litter box. Occurrences of this variety of injury are uncommon, but they can take place. An automatic or self cleaning litter box does just what its name implies. Usually among 10-15 minutes right after a cat makes use of the litter box, the litter box automatically cleans itself by sweeping or raking the cat waste into a sealed compartment or bag. For cat owners, injuries can happen if a tiny youngster or toddler plays with the automatic litter box during the cleaning cycle. All major brands of automatic litter boxes include sensors to avert the cleaning mechanism from activating when a cat or other foreign object is inside the box. However, youngsters can still be injured if they place their hand inside the cleaning mechanism in such a manner as to stay away from the sensors.

Even though these types of injuries are really uncommon it is best to take precautions. Putting the litter box in a location where your cat can get to it but modest young children cant is an easy technique. This is excellent suggestions for any litter box as this is the finest way to hold young children from contracting one of the illnesses described earlier in this post. If you cant keep the automatic litter box out of a childs reach then it is greatest to put the litter box inside a litter box cover. There are many kinds of covers and all of them will assist avert a child from reaching the litter box and the cleaning mechanism. A final choice is to unplug the litter box or put it into a manual operation mode. Both of these options will require the cat owner to begin the cleaning cycle whenever essential. Despite the fact that this reduces some of the convenience of an automatic litter box it certainly removes the danger to children.

Automatic or self cleaning litter boxes are completely risk-free for nearly all cats. However, most companies advise that the litter box be used in manual operation mode for cats below five lbs. Cats beneath five lbs numerous not be big adequate to activate the sensors and the cleaning mechanism could result in injury. Considering that most adult cats weigh over five lbs, it is only essential to use the manual operation mode until kittens grow to 5 lbs.

This write-up is not intended to dissuade any individual from owning a cat. 70 Million cat owners cant be incorrect cats make fantastic pets! So, if you already personal a cat or are pondering of becoming a cat owner it merely tends to make very good sense to be conscious of the health risks associated with cat ownership. Understanding the risks can definately increase the enjoyment of cat ownership.

(1)Toxoplasmosis Reality Sheet http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm

(two) While You are Pregnant USFDA

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pregnant/whiltoxo.html

(3) Toxoplasmosis An crucial Message for Cat Owners http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/toxoplasmosis_brochure_8.2004.pdf

(four) Safer Kid, Inc.

http://www.saferchild.org/pets&.htm

(5) Escherichia coli O157:H7 Truth Sheet

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/escherichiacoli_g.htm

(6) Stanford Cat Networks Guide to Caring for Your Adopted Cat or Kitten

http://www.stanford.edu/group/CATNET/articles/careguide.html#litter food storage calculator