Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

fhinz · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 295 Location: KL or Miri

There's a cat and her 5 kittens here, at my work place where I'm working as a trainee. I really love to bring them to my brother's house (I live there right now) coz I'm afraid they can't survive in this barren land. Well, Cyberjaya is sort of barren, right? Anyway, do you think if I bring the cat to home where there's a baby, is it going to be hazardous to the baby? And, I shouldn't bring the cat family into a car where a baby also in the car, right?
It's really hard for me to make the decision either to bring the cat back to home or not. I'm going to call the SPCA but I'm pity the mother cat if she'll get neutered.

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

You pity the cat getting neutered? I think that's better than having her giving birth to kittens 3 times a year! Plus, if you bring to SPCA, chances are that they will euthanise them. They simply have too many animals there.

Anyway, back to your question.
Any direct contact with animals will bring some sort of risk of transmissible diseases. Even direct contact with other HUMANS will also bring risks. If you want to live your life risk-free, then you have to find an island on your own where there are no other lifeforms there.

That being said, there are also a few research that believes children will have stronger immunity when they have pets at home, or have constant contact with pets.

Both are true. But what you can do, if you decide to let them have contact with pets, is to lessen the risks. That means taking care of hygiene. Simply washing hands before eating will help a lot. Take care where and how you throw away cat litter too. Other than that, you can give regular deworming to both cats and kids. Keep the cats healthy and treat any diseases that they have as soon as possible. Steps like those helps to reduce the risks.

Also, you can learn more about zoonotic diseases. When you learn more about it, you may start to recognise any early symptoms and get medical help as soon as possible.

fhinz · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 295 Location: KL or Miri

IWell, if there's no one want to take care the big family of cats, better get the cats neutered. Though I still can't make myself to allow my cats to get neutered.

hmm, no wonder my mom always insist on washing my hands and face after play and cuddle with my cats!

So, any direct contact might cause any illness? What about the same air they (the cats and humans) breathe? I'm going to bring the cats inside the car with the baby. The car always air-conditioned and the baby always sit in the front with her mother. Any caution or precaution that I should do?

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Not all direct contact will lead to a disease. Firstly, the cat has to be carrying some disease that is able to transmit to humans. Most of the time, you do not have to worry about that. Even when travelling in the car, in short distances, I would not worry so much. Why not get them checked by a vet first to see if they are carrying anything contagious?