Cats are cute and adorable. However, be careful with the fur. There are various dangers of cat dander to watch out for, especially if you have a cat at home. To avoid various diseases due to the danger of cat fur, you also need to know how to prevent it.
For those of you who keep animals at home, especially cats, the danger of cat dander is an important thing to watch out for. This is because cat fur can contain bacteria and parasites that can cause various diseases, from ringworm to toxoplasmosis.
This can be more dangerous for pregnant women, people with weak immune systems, or people with certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune diseases.
Various Diseases Caused by Cat Hair
Beautiful cat fur is often an attraction to be kept. However, there are several potential diseases that can be caused by cat dander, including:
1. Cat's claw disease (cat scratch disease)
Cat's claw disease is caused by a bacterial infection Bartonella Henselae. These bacteria are not only able to transfer to humans through cat bites or scratches, but also through cat hair.
When stroking a cat's fur that is contaminated with bacteria and unknowingly directly wiping the eyes, you can potentially get this disease.
Cat's claw disease can lead to more serious health problems for people with compromised immune systems, such as HIV/AIDS or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
2. Ringworm (ringworm)
Ringworm is a disease caused by a dermatophyte fungal infection of the skin. This disease can be transmitted by animals to humans, and one of them is cats.
Cats are animals that are often infected with ringworm. These animals can get ringworm if their fur is often wet or rarely cleaned.
You need to be alert when you find symptoms of ringworm in cats, such as a circular area that is crusty and accompanied by hair loss. If your cat has ringworm, take her to a veterinary facility or clinic and clean the house thoroughly so that no mold spores remain.
3. Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is found in the feces of infected cats and can be transmitted to humans.
This disease can be dangerous for pregnant women and people who have weak immune systems. In pregnant women, toxoplasmosis is at risk of causing miscarriage, premature birth, or congenital disease in the fetus. Toxoplasmosis disease can also interfere with female fertility.
4. Allergic reactions
Cat fur is often exposed to saliva, feces, and cat urine. When touching the dirty cat fur, people who have a history of allergies can experience an allergic reaction.
Allergic reactions that generally appear are itching, rash, or bumps on the skin. However, allergic reactions due to the dangers of cat dander can also cause symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes due to allergic rhinitis.
People who have a history of asthma can experience recurrence of symptoms more often when exposed to cat dander.
Reducing the Risk of Cat Hair Danger
To protect yourself from the dangers of cat dander, you are advised to take the following steps:
Clean yourself after touching the cat
Don't forget to always wash your hands with clean water and soap after touching the cat and cleaning the cage or litter box. This habit needs to be applied by everyone who lives in the house, especially children.
To be on the safe side, also make sure your child does not play in a location that is easily contaminated with cat litter.
Clean the cat and cat cage regularly
Cleanliness of the body and cage is an important thing in raising animals. To keep your cat and yourself healthy, wash your cat regularly with clean water and a special cat shampoo. This is important to prevent the development of bacteria, parasites, and fungi in the cat's body.
However, pregnant women are not advised to bathe the cat. If you are pregnant, ask someone else to help you and your baby to avoid the dangers of cat dander.
Don't let the cat sleep with you
Limit certain areas of the house, especially the bedroom, by not letting cats in and even sleeping with you. This is because cat hair can fall out and stick to the sheets and blankets you use.
In addition to the several ways to reduce the danger of cat dander above, check your cat with a veterinarian and also give regular vaccines. Vaccination can protect your cat from viral and bacterial infections.
Keeping a cat is very fun, but you have to be aware of the dangers of cat dander to prevent the various diseases above. If you are allergic to cat dander or feel complaints after exposure to cat dander, you should consult a doctor for treatment.