LoveToKnow Cats:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Cats

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Hi Stefanie,

It is extremely unlikely that your children contracted any illness from a cat. Most of the diseases do not hop to other species. There are a few. Obviously a bit from a rabid animal or toxoplasmosis when pregnant women change litter boxes.

What you are describing sounds like the common Strep virus and children typically pick it up at school or other social settings. Adults can contract that as well. I would ask the doctor to clarify a bit. Sometimes they use scientific terms to describe illnesses that we only know the common terms for and it can be confusing.

As for the cat, you really need to take him to the vet as he could have Cat Flu. If it is treated early, it can save his life. If it is not that, he may just have a respiratory infection, which can also be serious if left untreated.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have had this cat for about a month he has been sneezing alot of mucous and on its eyes.Now my kids 4 and 5 have been sick for about 2 weeks the doctor is saying that they have something called the 5th disease its a parvo-virus B-19 and streptococious. Is it possible that they could have got it from the cat? Please help me.

-- Contributed by: Stefanie

Hi, We have just got a couple of cats, both boys, both spayed aged 3 and 5, from a relative, who has moved away.

The cats are not used to children, and I have two very boistrous children, who don't want to leave the cats alone for a second.

I have had the cats for about 8 days now, the first three days, I locked them inside with a kitty litter, so as they would stay here. I let them out and they have stayed, but as they are still a little scared and not used to us, they don't come in much, mainly they only come in at night, and for their food.

One of the cats, the older one, has just in the last couple of hours started sneezing. He is happy and eating otherwise, but does also seem to have extra mucous in the corners of his eyes.

I am also worried that whatever he does have (if anything) he may pass on to my children. I am unsure whether they have been vaccinated, but am guessing they prob have, as the person who previously had the cats was a good owner, got them spayed and wormed them regularly, but I will have to check it out and make doubly sure about that one.

The cats, have been going out at night also which they are not used to, as I am yet to get a cat door for them. There is also quite a lot of wild cats around this neighbourhood.

The cat that is sneezing also vommited once yesterday, but it was right after he ate, and the previous owner said he did that sometimes if he ate too much, or too fast.

I am really not sure what to do here, and any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Hello,and congratulations on the new additions to your family.

My hunch is that your cat might have been exposed to feline distemper or some other sort of respiratory infection by mingling with some of the neighborhood strays. It's important to wash your hands after handling this cat, but other than that, I don't think the illness poses any danger to your children. My best advice is to take this cat in for a checkup. The vet will diagnose the cause of the sneezing and eye mucous, and prescribe any necessary medication. To be on the safe side, take the other cat with you too. Distemper is highly contagious.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the problem doesn't turn out to be serious.

-- Contributed by: jme

Hi Sayleana,

Colds in humans and cats are both caused by a virus, but cats have a different virus that is unique to the feline species. This means that they do not catch colds from us and we do not catch colds from them.

If the cat stops eating, stops drinking water, or seems lethargic, take him or her to the vet immediately.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Are colds in humans and cats different?

-- Contributed by: Sayleana
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