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Cats are the most common pets in the United States. According to the most current version of the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook (2002 Edition) there were almost 70 Million pet cats in the United States. Why are cats so well-liked? There are as a lot of answers to this query as there are cat owners, but the low wellness dangers cats pose to their owners is certainly close to the best of this list. Even though the possible well being hazards cats pose to people are modest, it is essential that cat owners are aware of these hazards and realize how to decrease them.

The majority of all dangers stemming from cat ownership are related with the cat litter box and/or cat feces. There are two categories of risks. The first category is made up of health dangers posed by bacteria and parasites to both 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 troubles experienced by cat owners or their cats come from the very first category and the most substantial of these dangers is known as Toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection induced by a tiny parasite named Toxoplasma gondii which can be located in raw or undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, dirty cat litter boxes and outdoor soil where cat feces can be located. According to the Center for Disease Handle and Prevention (CDC) more than 60 million folks in the United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite(1). Thankfully, really handful of folks ever expertise any symptoms since a healthful person's immune technique usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. Nonetheless, pregnant women and folks who have compromised immune systems, such as folks infected with the HIV virus, are at threat and must take precautions to avoid getting infected by the parasite. For folks in this group a Toxoplasma infection could trigger critical wellness issues to the person or to a pregnant womans unborn child.

Once again, most of the 60 million plus Americans infected with Toxoplasmosis parasite will never knowledge any signs and symptoms. Most of these who do experience symptoms will simply assume they have the Flu as the most prevalent signs and symptoms contain swollen glands, fever, headache, muscle discomfort, or a stiff neck. For these in the higher danger group, Toxoplasmosis can cause harm to the brain, eyes and internal organs. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, kids born with Toxoplasma gondii can endure from hearing loss, psychological retardation, and blindness with some young children establishing brain or eye issues years after birth(2). The CDC estimates that 400-4000 fetuses are infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite each year and as numerous as 80 infants die from Toxoplasmosis annually(2).

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

People in the high danger group may possibly wonder no matter whether or not they should give up their cat to steer clear of infection. According to the CDC, it is not needed for cat lovers to give up their cats, but it is important for them to guard themselves from infections. The USFDA makes the following suggestions for avoiding infections(two):

1) If feasible, have an individual else change the litter box. If you have to clean it, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands completely with soap and warm water afterwards.

2) Modify the litter box everyday. The parasite doesn't turn into infectious till one particular to 5 days immediately after the feces are deposited in the litter box.

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

four) Cover outdoor sandboxes to prevent cats from utilizing them as litter boxes.

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

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

7) Avoid stray cats, particularly kittens.

8) Do not get a new cat whilst you happen to be pregnant.

Safer Kid, Inc. makes the following extra suggestions(four):

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

2) Maintain sandboxes covered to stop cats from using the sandbox as a litter box.

3) Be conscious of neighborhood sandboxes as the parasite can be brought property on shoes, clothes and toys.

Comparable to Toxoplasmosis, Escherichia coli (typically named E. coli) can infect people thru contact with feline fecal material, even though the principal signifies of infection is thru ingestion or raw or undercooked meats. E. Coli is a bacterium typically discovered in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. Practically all strains of the bacteria are harmless. However a couple of strains can make powerful harmful toxins and trigger serious illness, especially in youngsters below 5 years of age(five). Symptoms usually incorporate diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In youngsters under five, 2%-7% of E. coli circumstances can trigger kidney failure. Luckily, E. coli is easy to prevent. Employing the preventative measures, outlined above for Toxoplasmosis will drastically decrease the dangers of you or your children contracting an E. coli infection.

In addition to these human risks, there are a handful of health dangers cat litter boxes in fact pose to cats that cat owners must be conscious of. Just as a dirty litter box poses well being risks to humans, cats are equally at danger if forced to use a dirty litter box. Since cats keep clean by licking themselves, allowing a cats litter box to get also dirty can cause infections when a cat cleans its paws immediately after utilizing the dirty litter box. The most prevalent infection is a urinary tract infection, and even though this kind of infection is seldom fatal it can be quite uncomfortable for your cat and will most most likely demand therapy by your veterinarian.

Lastly, a lesser-known well being risk to cats is truly caused by cat litter itself. What a lot of cat owners do not realize is that some kinds of cat litter can be damaging or even fatal to their cat. Both clumping and non-clumping litters pose health difficulties to cats. Clumping cat litters are most likely the most well-liked variety of cat litter due to the fact of their convenience, hygienic qualities and the reality that clumping litters are needed for use in self-cleaning litter boxes. Sadly, some clumping litters can be dangerous to cats. Clay based clumping litters can contain the mineral sodium bentonite, which can be harmful or fatal to your cat. It is best to stay away from making use of clay based cat litters, especially with kittens. Wheat or corn based clumping litters such as Swheat Scoop, Worlds Finest Cat Litter and Littermaid cat litter function quite effectively and are non-toxic(6).

By their very nature, non-clumping litters do not absorb and isolate a cats urine or feces like clumping litters do. As a result, it is much harder to keep your cats litter box clean when using non-clumping litter. When making use of non-clumping litter it is crucial to frequently clean and disinfect the litter box itself to lessen the possibility of bacterial buildups that can cause urinary or other infections in your cat.

The second category of wellness hazards covers injuries induced by an automatic litter box or self cleaning litter box. Occurrences of this kind of injury are rare, but they can occur. An automatic or self cleaning litter box does just what its name implies. Typically among 10-15 minutes 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 occur if a small youngster or toddler plays with the automatic litter box during the cleaning cycle. All significant brands of automatic litter boxes include sensors to avoid the cleaning mechanism from activating when a cat or other foreign object is inside the box. Nevertheless, children can nevertheless be injured if they place their hand inside the cleaning mechanism in such a manner as to avoid the sensors.

Even though these kinds of injuries are quite uncommon it is greatest to take precautions. Putting the litter box in a area where your cat can get to it but tiny youngsters cant is an effortless technique. This is great suggestions for any litter box as this is the best way to keep kids from contracting one particular of the illnesses described earlier in this post. If you cant preserve the automatic litter box out of a childs reach then it is finest to put the litter box inside a litter box cover. There are a lot of types of covers and all of them will aid prevent a youngster from reaching the litter box and the cleaning mechanism. A final option is to unplug the litter box or place it into a manual operation mode. Each of these possibilities will need the cat owner to start off the cleaning cycle anytime required. Although this reduces some of the convenience of an automatic litter box it definitely removes the danger to young children.

Automatic or self cleaning litter boxes are fully secure for almost all cats. Nevertheless, most companies suggest that the litter box be utilised in manual operation mode for cats beneath five lbs. Cats below five lbs a lot of not be large sufficient to activate the sensors and the cleaning mechanism could cause injury. Since most adult cats weigh over 5 lbs, it is only required to use the manual operation mode until kittens develop to 5 lbs.

This write-up is not intended to dissuade any person from owning a cat. 70 Million cat owners cant be wrong cats make wonderful pets! So, if you currently personal a cat or are considering of becoming a cat owner it simply tends to make very good sense to be conscious of the wellness dangers associated with cat ownership. Understanding the hazards can definately enhance the enjoyment of cat ownership.

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

(two) Although You're Pregnant USFDA

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

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

(four) Safer Youngster, Inc.

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

(five) 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 duck and cover