Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. Viral diseases are not transmitted to kittens from other species. Bacterial infection or parasite infestation are two theoretical possibilities but there is only a very small chance that the kitten will get into any problems at all.
How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?
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People can only become infected with Toxoplasma gondii parasites through contact with infected animal faeces (usually cat faeces). A healthy person does not usually require treatment for toxoplasmosis, as symptoms are mild and usually disappear within a few weeks.
The primary concern regarding Toxoplasma in pigs is that edible tissues become infected with T. gondii and the ingestion of undercooked pork can become a source of infection for humans. Toxoplasma gondii causes infection in most warm-blooded animals including livestock and humans.
However, in kittens and debilitated adult cats, coccidiosis can cause severe watery or mucousy diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal distress, loss of appetite, and vomiting. In severe cases, death may occur.
If cat litter boxes are not regularly cleaned, the urine and feces accumulate and ammonia fumes build up. Ammonia is a toxic gas made from a combination of nitrogen and hydrogen. Living in an atmosphere filled with these ammonia fumes can cause a great deal of respiratory discomfort and problems.
Salmonellosis is the most common bacterial infection transmitted to humans by other animals. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea. Yersiniosis is another bacterial disease that can cause intestinal infections in people.
Cats get Toxoplasma infection by eating infected rodents, birds or other small animals, or anything contaminated with feces from another cat that is shedding the microscopic parasite in its feces. After a cat has been infected, it can shed the parasite for up to two weeks.
Feline treatments for toxoplasmosis usually involve an antibiotic called clindamycin that you can give your cat by mouth. A veterinarian may also prescribe steroid creams or oral steroids for your cat`s eyes or other affected areas. These medications should help symptoms fade within a few days.
Coccidia causes diarrhea and can be fatal, especially in kittens. Clean your cat`s litter box regularly to prevent infections. Keeping cats indoors protects them from coccidia and many other diseases.
Kittens frequently get the parasite from contact with their mother`s bodies while nursing. Infected kittens less than six months old almost always get sick since their immune systems are immature. Coccidia is also frequently passed among cats at shelters.
In addition, cats kept indoors (that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat) are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasma. But, if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or have a weakened immune system, it is important to protect yourself from infection.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, swollen glands and muscle aches. Most people who become infected with Toxoplasma have no symptoms. If people develop symptoms, they usually begin 1 to 3 weeks after being exposed to the parasite. Symptoms usually last for 2 to 4 weeks.
Age: Younger cats were less likely to have antibodies. The likelihood of having Toxoplasma antibodies increased steadily from 1-4 years of age. Hunting.
Intestinal worms cannot live for long outside your cat`s body. Worm eggs can survive for years in soil and poop, though, so it`s always important to wash your hands thoroughly after touching your cat or disposing of their poop.
Once a diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is confirmed, you and your health care provider can discuss whether treatment is necessary. In an otherwise healthy person who is not pregnant, treatment usually is not needed. If symptoms occur, they typically go away within a few weeks to months.
Many common infections are spread by fecal-oral transmission, including E. coli, adenovirus, campylobacter, coxsackie virus, giardia, hepatitis A, Salmonella, and Shigella.
Common ones include roundworms, pinworms, hookworms, tapeworms and liver flukes. Roundworms (Ascaris species) are round and long, and the length can reach 20 cm. They have pointed ends and are light brown or pink in colour. They live in the human small intestine and their eggs are passed out with stool.
Blood tests will determine whether a cat has been exposed to the organism. These tests do not necessarily mean that Toxoplasma is the cause of any disease since most exposed cats do not develop disease; however, high levels of certain antibodies can suggest current infection.
The prevalence of oocyst shedding in cats is very low (0-1%), even though at least 15-40% of cats have been infected with Toxoplasma at some point. This means very few cats at any one time are actually able to pass their infection on to people.
Feed cats only canned or dried commercial food or well-cooked table food, not raw or undercooked meats. Ensure that the cat litter box is changed daily. The Toxoplasma parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is shed in a cat`s feces.
“There is no cat litter that can inactivate Toxoplasma,” says Patricia Conrad, DVM, a parasitology professor and co-director of University of California Global Health Institute`s One Health Center.
It is extremely unlikely that you would pick up toxoplasmosis by petting your cat or being scratched or bitten by your cat, because the organism is not spread by the fur or saliva. You CAN, however, pick up toxoplasmosis by eating undercooked infected meat, particularly lamb and pork.
Another method is the strategic vaccination of cats to reduce environmental contamination by reducing oocyst expulsion. Several studies on T. gondii vaccines for cats have also been conducted86. The T-263 strain completely prevents oocyst-shedding in the tested animals8.
The common presenting symptom of cerebral toxoplasmosis is headache, often accompanied by fever and altered mental status (9). Individuals may also present with visual disturbances, seizures, cranial nerve abnormalities, and sensory disturbances.
The most common symptoms of cryptosporidiosis are fever and diarrhea. Cats will also display intolerance for food, or in more serious cases, will suffer from organ disease. Other symptoms include lethargy and intolerance for exercise.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Q. What are concerns of kittens exposed to swine feces?
ANSWER : A. Viral diseases are not transmitted to kittens from other species. Bacterial infection or parasite infestation are two theoretical possibilities but there is only a very small chance that the kitten will get into any problems at all.
Read Full Q/A … : The Link Between Animal Feces and Zoonotic Disease
Q. I found a kitten in my garage he’s 4/5 weeks old I was giving him milk replacement for couple started giving wet food why does he cry when he’s poopin
ANSWER : A. Does the kitten seem to strain when he’s passing feces ? Did you introduce wet food gradually ? Has the kitten got plenty of fresh water available all the time ? Is the food a good quality food ? How are the feces : dry and a bit hard or loose ? If the kitten is crying when passing feces, he must be in discomfort, wether it is his tummy or just the actual passing through because for example he is constipated it is difficult to tell without seeing him and being able to get more details about his daily routine and medical history.
Read Full Q/A … : The Scoop on Cat Poop – WebMD – Pet Health Center
Q. I have a 1yr old male 38 lb Labradoodle and my gf just brought a month old kitten home. Can they interact? If not, for how long?
ANSWER : A. Interactions whenever a new pet is brought into the house should start off slow, then can be increased in time. The best steps when introducing a new cat is to allow your cat or kitten to have a room in the house all to him or herself. Allow your dog to sniff under the door to get used to the kitten’s scent, and even show your dog articles such as bedding the cat has slept on. After a few days, an introduction with your dog on leash, or a barrier such as a gate where both pets can look at each other but not see each other is best. This will allow each to get used to seeing the other without the ability to jump, bite or scratch the other. Once the two are used to this, then a face to face interaction can begin. If at any time a fight or scuffle breaks out, separate the two pets and try again at a later time. The amount of time this introduction takes can vary depending on how the two react to each other.
Until your kitten is older, or you are sure both are fine together, do not leave the two pets together unattended. Even a well-meaning and playful dog can accidentally break a leg of a kitten or worse without meaning to! A safe room for your kitten to be in while you are away, or a barrier to allow your kitten to escape to safety if needed will help until both are big enough to play alone safely.
Read Full Q/A … : Dogs and Jealousy
Q. i believe my cat is pregnant but showing signs of being in heat
ANSWER : A. Cats are induced ovulators, meaning they will continue to go into heat until they are bred, or spayed (reproductive organs removed). If your cat is showing signs of being in heat (excessive yowling, presenting her rear to you for inspection, attempting to get out or other cats hanging near your house) and you don’t want kittens, it is best to have her spayed. Most cats are also semi-seasonal in their heat cycle meaning they will more likely be in heat through Spring-Summer than in Fall-Winter.
Pregnancy in cats lasts about 60 days. Signs of pregnancy may include weight gain, increased appetite, nipples that become pronounced or “leak” and seeking nesting areas to deliver kittens. If you saw that your cat was in heat, or had her mated, you can use the date she was bred to determine when she may be due for kittens. Your local vet can help determine if she is indeed pregnant and can also take an X-ray to determine the number of kittens present if your cat is nearing her due date. Be sure to feed mom a kitten formula in the last few weeks of her pregnancy and during nursing as it will help provide extra beneficial nutrients for both mom and babies.
If you do not want kittens, some very early term pregnancies can be aborted with spaying, otherwise spaying mom is usually done when kittens are weaned from their mom.
Read Full Q/A … : How to Tell if a Cat is Pregnant: 12 Steps (with Pictures)
Q. We brought 2 new kittens home. One of them is sneezing. We have a Sr cat and an adult who is now coughing. What to do?
ANSWER : A. Commonly respiratory infections (viral -Herpesvirus and Calicivirus- and possibly bacterial) can cause sneezing episodes in kitten especially if not vaccinated yet. If your kitten is affected by respiratory infection could develop or have more signs such as discharge from eyes, more discharge from nose, coughing, being lethargic, depressed and inappetent.
The coughing episodes of the adult cat could be completely unrelated to the cause of sneezing of your new kitten, especially if your adult cat is already vaccinated.
The cause of cough in adult cats are not necessarily related to respiratory problems, heart problems could cause that as well.
Keep the nose and the eyes of your kitten free from discharge, keep your kitten warm and take both of them to your veterinarian as soon as possible to identify the cause and the relationship of the two problems and treat appropriately.
Read Full Q/A … : 3 Ways to Handle a Stray Cat – wikiHow
Q. I have a rescue kitten who wants to nurse on my neck all the time. How to stop?
ANSWER : A. This is very normal behavior, especially from kittens who have been separated from their mothers early. This is a behavior that the kitten should outgrow as he/she gets older. If it is of concern, perhaps you can purchase a “stand in” in the form of a soft, cuddly stuffed animal. Meanwhile, encourage kitten kibble and soft foods if the kitten is already weaned. Congrats on your new rescue!
Read Full Q/A … : How can I stop my new kitty from sucking on my neck?
Q. I recently added a new 2 month old female kitten to my house and my male 5 month the old kitten has turned aggressive and chases the kitten down..
ANSWER : A. It is possible it could be play behavior but without seeing it in person, hard to say. Is the male kitten neutered? You may want to consider doing so. Also, try re-introducing the kittens slowly by creating a safe space for the new kitten behind a closed door in a room. Keep her there for at least a week so she is protected but your male is still able to smell her. After a week or 2, you can then graduate to using a baby gate so they can then not only smell each other but safely see each other as well. If that is going okay, after another few days you can bring the gate down. Also, be sure to have feeding bowls in separate locations and at least 2 litter boxes.
Read Full Q/A … : Ragdoll Cats
Q. I have two 3 week old kittens that I am bottle feeding. The kittens both have diareaa and there buts are red. Is there anything I can do ?
ANSWER : A. Diarrhea in kittens can be caused by many things, including intestinal parasites (very common in kittens), wrong formula, recent changes in diet (from queen’s milk to formula or from one formula to another), and other gastrointestinal upsets. Their bottoms are likely red and irritated from the diarrhea soiling the fur and skin, trapping moisture against the skin and serving as a breeding ground for bacteria. First, stop feeding the formula. Second, collect a fecal sample to be analyzed by your veterinarian for intestinal parasites. Third, call your vet and make an appointment as soon as possible, ideally the same day. Diarrhea in kittens is serious business and can lead to death from dehydration and loss of nutrients. Finally, in place of formula give an electrolyte replacement solution (like Pedialyte for infants/children) – plain, no flavors, no colors – for at least the next 1-2 feedings. This is not the same as a sports drink. After the 1st or 2nd feeding of straight electrolyte replacement solution, start to add formula back into diet at 1/4 strength ( 1 part formula to 3 parts water), The following feeding mix 2 parts formula to 2 parts water. Then, 3 parts formula to 1 part water. Finally, offer full-strength formula. If the diarrhea continues or worsens with increasing amounts of formula, go back to just electrolyte solution and repeat the process.
Read Full Q/A … : Raising Orphaned kittens Part 2: What to do, week by week
