Can you bring within illnesses for your cats on your clothes from other cats?
I have a few ferals and a couple possible strays in my neighborhood. I have a couple cats already and be told that you could get them sick just by petting one of them and then petting your own. Is that true? I asked my vet and they said that's nonsense. My mother then said her vet said the exact opposite.
It just seem like an urban myth preying on our insecurities of inadvertently getting our pets ill.
I am amazed that your vet said that! Germs are spread through the air and through contact. It's like thing with cats as it is with empire - why do you think they encourage us to wash our hand frequently during cold and flu season, and have those anti-bacterial wipes for use on the grocery cart handle at the store? If the outdoor cats are ill, you will get the germs on your hands, and next spread them to you own cats when you pet them. It would be best to wash your hands when you come in the house.
I will utter that when I go to visit certain shelters I pocket my shoes off in the garage, and wash my hand thoroughly as soon as I get in the door. My shoes are then wipe down with bleach. I won't risk bringing shelter germs into the house (note I'm not being critical of the shelters - but it's a fact that in attendance are many sick cats in most shelters). Overkill? Maybe. But why risk it?
Next time you are at the vet - ask him if he wash his hands if he shakes hands beside a person who has a cold. And then ask him why it's different for cats.
Both of your vet are technically right. it is possible to transfer illnesses such as viruses, bacteria and vermin (e.g. fleas) between cats by stroking one cat and then going home to your cat. However, it is quite unlikely and as long as your contact beside the stray cats is limited you shouldn't have a problem. to be honest, the main issue you'll enjoy is with fleas and as long as you're following a flea control program then it shouldn't become an issue.
what the vet said (and he would know) is right.
Most things are spread from the saliva of the pet not somthing that would spread through clothes.
If you really want to know call a couple other vet and ask them.
Yes you can. Some virus can live for 24-48 hours on surfaces (such as clothes). It's always a good idea to purify up and change your clothes after handling potentially sick cats. My vet says yes you can. You can bring fleas in short even being around other cats. They can hitch a ride on your shoes into your house then onto your cat.
Answers: Yes it is true-your vet should know this so I would find a better vet! here's a list of cat diseases and how they are spread http://pets.iloveindia.com/cats/cat-dise...
yes there are certain things you can pass on through your clothes and hand
