Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Jimbee on 15/02/2024 08:58:00

Title: Washing Your Hands After You Pet Your Cat.
Post by: Jimbee on 15/02/2024 08:58:00: Should you wash your hands after you pet a cat? I mean, specifically what does science have to say on the subject?

Cats tend to be cleaner than dogs. But unlike dogs, you really can't give a cat a bath. And it is wintertime. Washing your hands, especially every time you pet your cat, would make them very dry.
Title: Re: Washing Your Hands After You Pet Your Cat.
Post by: paul cotter on 15/02/2024 12:37:08: We(the boss and myself) run a small scale cat shelter and do a small amount of tnr work. I invariably wash my hands after any cat handling: dry hands is a small price to pay to avoid toxocara, toxoplasmosis and other unspecified zoonoses.
Title: Re: Washing Your Hands After You Pet Your Cat.
Post by: alancalverd on 15/02/2024 21:24:16: Quote from: Jimbee on 15/02/2024 08:58:00
Cats tend to be cleaner than dogs.
Depends on your definition of clean. They certainly spend more time licking themselves, and in more places, than dogs, but anyone allergic to cat saliva (and a surprisingly large number of people are) wouldn't agree with the proposition.
Title: Re: Washing Your Hands After You Pet Your Cat.
Post by: Zer0 on 16/02/2024 16:34:42: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/health/plague-cats-oregon.html

ps - Prevention, better than Cure.
Title: Re: Washing Your Hands After You Pet Your Cat.
Post by: Petrochemicals on 16/02/2024 19:35:41: Quote from: alancalverd on 15/02/2024 21:24:16
Quote from: Jimbee on 15/02/2024 08:58:00
Cats tend to be cleaner than dogs.
Depends on your definition of clean. They certainly spend more time licking themselves, and in more places, than dogs, but anyone allergic to cat saliva (and a surprisingly large number of people are) wouldn't agree with the proposition.
I have never seen a cat drag its anus across the parlour carpet alan.

Edit.

Yes wash hands, also kitchen surfaces.
Title: Re: Washing Your Hands After You Pet Your Cat.
Post by: paul cotter on 16/02/2024 20:39:14: Petro, I have seen that precise manoeuvre being performed by a cat. It is an indication of worm infestation and the cat does it due to anal irritation from the worms- administer anthelmintics pronto.
Title: Re: Washing Your Hands After You Pet Your Cat.
Post by: Origin on 16/02/2024 22:41:35: Quote from: Jimbee on 15/02/2024 08:58:00
But unlike dogs, you really can't give a cat a bath.

Cats do take showers though..

(https://media.tokopyramid.com/Cat-Showers-500x619.webp)
Title: Re: Washing Your Hands After You Pet Your Cat.
Post by: Petrochemicals on 17/02/2024 09:17:16: Quote from: paul cotter on 16/02/2024 20:39:14
Petro, I have seen that precise manoeuvre being performed by a cat. It is an indication of worm infestation and the cat does it due to anal irritation from the worms- administer anthelmintics pronto.
Fair enough. Maybe it is less prevalent in cats, after all dogs are coprophacics.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprophagia
Title: Re: Washing Your Hands After You Pet Your Cat.
Post by: Origin on 17/02/2024 19:15:25: I have never felt the need to wash my hands after petting any of the many cats I have had. I guess I'm lucky to be alive?