A kitty question....when she licks herself.......please help??

Question

When a cat licks herself and you touch her and she is wet, are your hands dirty and do you need to wash them immediately?
Or is cat saliva generally clean?

Answer 1

I think it's fine, but if you were going to eat something with your hands I would try and wash them beforehand.

Answer 2

I have lived with cats since I was born and cat saliva shouldn't be an isue unless you're petting your cat with an open wound on your hand. (And I mean something serious, not just a papercut.) For fun, after my cat has cleaned herself I'll ruffle her fur to rough-house with her and I have never made a big deal about washing my hands. The only time I would see this making itself a problem is if you have a kitten and there may be any potential chance that it may have worms. Worms CAN be transmitted from kitten to human. A cat will clean themselves, thus getting the eggs that the worms have laid near the cats anus near their mouth and then when the cat goes to lick other parts of their body can transport the eggs to other parts of her. When you pet your cat the eggs can stick to your hands and then when you go to eat or drink something you have a chance of accidentally ingesting them. Other then that, there shouldn't be a worry.

Answer 3

You should actually be ok. Cats have an antibacterial/cleansing agent in their saliva. The flip side is their saliva also contains an anaerobic bacteria. This is only dangerous, however, in the case of deep punture wounds from a cat bite. If that happens, it is necessary to get medical attention as soon as possible. I would be more worried about washing your hands if she is just coming out of the litter box or has that kitty litter dust smell indicating she was just in the litter box.

Answer 4

Pet salivia is his cleaning solution. If you have allergies (like I do but I still have a cat, because I love animals.) That's where your allergies react to, IT'S NOT THE FUR. It's the saliva on the fur. So you really do not have to worry about anything or be paranoid. But with all good cooking habbits, I constantly wash my hands when I bake or cook even if I hadn't touched the cat. But you have nothing to worry about with his saliva, unless you have really BAD allergies (like me hehe) you will have an allergic reaction.

Answer 5

Normally, it is pretty clean. But with all the health standards and bacteria out there today, you should wash your hands. Remember, they are licking their butts, etc. too.

Answer 6

Cats are not clean. They're covered in cat spit. That's a joke, but if you don't want it in your mouth, it's not clean.

Answer 7

taste it and find out. wash your hands no matter what you touch

Answer 8

cat's lick themselves to clean themselves, so i would imagine it would be clean.

Answer 9

its simi clean if your a germ freak you should wash tour hands but its O.K. so...... Merry Cristmas! (*(I)*) :P

Answer 10

THEY ALL DO THAT
JUST KEEPING THEM SELVES CLEAN