About a month ago this stray cat came into my garden and my ma loves cats so she started feeding it. We noticed sticky pus- like stuff over it's eyes. My pregnant girlfriend comes to my regulary and cats are appartently dangerous to pregnant girls. So my mum rung the vet who told her stary cats who were from around farms or something like it carry the equivlent to the aids virus. Is is true cause it sounds like crap to me?
2007-08-31 04:42:48 · 28 answers · asked by alex0ve 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
As long as you dont have sex with it you are ok. If you do, wear protection!
2007-08-31 04:56:49 · answer #1 · answered by Stephen Burkusmaximus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2
2016-08-24 14:09:48 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a type of feline "aids" but it isn't contagious to humans. It is like so many diseases animals get that cannot be passed to humans.
Just for future reference, "aids" isn't a virus. In humans the virus HIV causes the immune system to become weakened and the term "aids" which actually stands for: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is the resulting illness from being infected with the virus. That is a very simple explanation but for this purpose, an adequate one.
Pregnant women are advised not to be around cats because of the threat of toxoplasmosis.
Here's a link that explains it better:
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/illness/180.htm
l
2007-08-31 06:35:03 · answer #3 · answered by KD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there is a virus called FIV - Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, the equivalent of HIV in humans, but you cannot catch it from the cat, nor can you transmit HIV to a cat. There may be some confusion here with cat scratches and HIV. People that have HIV are much more susceptible to cat-scratch fever because of their weakened immune systems. Perhaps this is what your husband has heard and didn't hear completely. You cannot even get HIV from a human with the virus if they scratch you. There has to be an exchange of bodily fluids from both sides.
2016-05-17 22:35:37 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats can be infected with cat or feline aids. It is the same as human aids, but we can't catch it from them and they can't catch ours.
Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that cats can have and pass on to humans. This is only a problem if the human is pregnant as it can harm the foetus. A pregnant woman should avoid all contact with cat faeces (gardening, cleaning liter trays etc) although most people who have been around cats all their lies will already have built up an immunity.
2007-08-31 04:51:19 · answer #5 · answered by Tarkarri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cats can occasionally carry FIV not HIV so it's Feline not human. Cat's are not dangerous to pregnant women, it's their poo. Also sheep's poo. That is because it can (not always but can) contain a bacteria which can cause toxoplasmosis to an unborn child. Basically anyone around a cat or sheep who is pregnant should get someone else to do the litter tray / mucking out. If the cat "goes" outdoors then there is absolutely nothing to worry about.
2007-08-31 04:52:21 · answer #6 · answered by Carrie S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your Girlfriend would be much better advised to stay away from dog faeces which can carry toxoplasmosis. This is nasty and causes blindness in babies and children. Cats are generally very clean animals and love or hate them do not really carry anything worse than fleas that irritate humans. Watch out for cat scratch fever though - a real medical condition but I have yet to contract it from my scratchy cats!
2007-09-01 03:15:42 · answer #7 · answered by apes1963 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat's can carry Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). This is the feline equivelant of HIV. Humans cannot get FIV. The reason pregnant women should beware of cats is because they can carry a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii which can cause complications up to and including abortion. The CDC has tips on how to avoid this at http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pregnant.htm.
2007-08-31 04:52:27 · answer #8 · answered by J.D. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is such a thing known as FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) which is the cat version of AIDS. But it cannot be transmitted to humans. Also, pregnant women can be around cats, they just shouldn't clean the litterboxes because they can contract toxoplasmosis (inhaled from feces).
FYI: Feline leukemia and FIV are not the same thing...and neither can be transmitted to humans.
2007-08-31 04:47:31 · answer #9 · answered by NurseBunny 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is a cat version of the aids virus but I don't think it can be tranferred to humans,but its highly contagious to other cats.Your girlfriend is right to stay away from any strange animals though,they could be carrying any diseases that may be harmful to the baby
2007-08-31 04:47:38 · answer #10 · answered by Lou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats can carry a disease called Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV instead of HIV). It's not contagious to humans although it is to cats. It is not the same as Feline Leukemia.
2007-08-31 04:47:49 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋