Diseases Children Can Get From Cats

Campylobacteriosis

• This bacterial infection has the potential to spread between cats, dogs, farm animals and humans. Symptoms of campylobacteriosis include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Children can catch this disease if they come into contact with an infected cat's feces.

Cat Scratch Disease (CSD)

• Cat scratch disease, also known as cat scratch fever, is a bacterial disease that is spread through the bite or scratch of an infected cat. This infection causes swollen lymph nodes, infection at the contact site, loss of appetite, headache, fever and fatigue. Kittens are more likely to carry this bacteria, so children should be taught to handle the kitten properly to avoid biting or scratching.

Parasites

• There are several parasitic diseases that can be spread between children and felines. This includes tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms. Infection of these parasites can occur in several ways, such as ingesting an infected flea or coming into contact with an infected cat's feces.

Plague

• Though rare, it is possible for cats to spread the plague bacteria to children. Symptoms of the plague include swollen lymph nodes, fever, weakness and chills. This bacteria is mostly found in the southwestern portion of the United States. It can be spread by an infected cat, but also by infected fleas or rodents. This disease can also be caught by simply breathing in infected drops of contaminated water.

Rabies

• If a cat is bitten or scratched by another animal infected with the rabies virus, then he too, will become infected. Unfortunately, cats can spread this disease to children. Children should be monitored to prevent contact with wild animals, including feral cats. Wild animals are more likely to carry the disease than a house cat.

Ringworm

• Ringworm is not actually a parasite as the name might suggest. Instead, ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection that can infect dogs, cats and humans. Fortunately, it is not considered to be a serious disease and can be treated with anti-fungal medications available at the physician's office.

Toxoplasmosis

• Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can be passed between cats and children, though this form of transmission is relatively rare. It is more likely that a child will catch toxoplasmosis from consuming raw or undercooked meats or even playing outside in the garden.

Prevention

• While cats may seem to host a plethora of potential diseases, many of these can be easily prevented. Proper vaccination and regular veterinary exams can reduce the chances of a cat becoming infected or keep an infection from going undetected. Children should always wash their hands before and after playing with cats to prevent the spread of diseases and infection between cats and children; and vice versa. Children should also be taught not to play with or touch feline feces and also not to rough-house with cats.