will my cats be at risk?

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shayne@cyburban.com - 24 Feb 2004 01:06 GMT

I have a cat lady friend who persists in "rescuing" feral cats,
not nice, healthy kittens but sick older ones with coughs and
pussy eyes. She locks them in a room in her house and drags them back
and forth to the vet in her car. My question is, if a ride with her
in her car even without her cats, am I putting my two indoor cats at risk
of infection. That is, can I pick up enough germs on my clothing that I
can spread them to my cats and make them sick?

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Sharon Talbert - 24 Feb 2004 22:15 GMT

sigh. My sympathy is more likely with your friend, even not knowing the
details, though I hope the cats have a bit more freedom than a locked
room.

I rescue (no quotes here) feral cats and have been doing so for more years
than I care to think about. I hope my friends don't feel the way you do.
Most viruses are not hardy enough to hang around waiting for you to sit on
them. And your cats, being indoor-only and fully vaccinated, are not
greatly at risk for anything more serious than the sniffles. You can
always disignate yourself as the driver, so you aren't worried, and hope
her cats don't catch something.

As for the reference to healthy kittens, feral kittens are very much at
risk and need careful vet care to get them up to speed.

Snottiness aside (sorry about that), I wouldn't worry over-much, unless
she has cats keeling over right and left. Talk to your vet about it;
better yet, talk to your friend's vet.

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats

> I have a cat lady friend who persists in "rescuing" feral cats,
> not nice, healthy kittens but sick older ones with coughs and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> of infection. That is, can I pick up enough germs on my clothing that I
> can spread them to my cats and make them sick?

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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / February 2004

will my cats be at risk?