Cats

You are unlikely to get ill from touching or owning a cat. However, to best protect yourself against germs that cats may carry you should wash your hands after contact with cat faeces, avoid cat scratches and bites but if you are scratched or bitten by a cat wash the area with soap and running water right away.

There are physical and mental health benefits to pet-ownership. To get the most out of your pet you should keep your pet healthy and take precautions to avoid catching diseases they may carry.

Here are links to cat-related diseases, not all the diseases are associated with Ireland and you should take care when handling animals abroad:

Bartonellosis (cat scratch fever) - A bacterial disease associated with a bite or scratch from a cat.

Campylobacter - A bacterial disease associated with cats, dogs and farm animals

Cat Scratch Disease - A bacterial disease associated with cat scratches and bites.

Cryptosporidiosis - A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs, especially puppies, and farm animals

Dipylidium Infection (tapeworm) - A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs and fleas

Giardia - A parasitic disease associated with various animals and water

Hookworm Infection - A parasitic disease associated with cats and dogs

Leptospirosis - A bacterial disease associated with wild and domestic animals, including cats

Plague - A rare bacterial disease associated with rodents, cats and fleas

Q Fever - A bacterial disease occasionally associated with cats

Rabies - A viral disease associated with various animals, including cats. Ireland is officially rabies free.

Ringworm - A fungal disease associated with various animals, including with cats

Salmonellosis - A bacterial disease associated with various animals

Toxocara Infection - A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs and their environment

Toxoplasmosis - A parasitic disease primarily and frequently associated with cats

Last updated: 22 January 2018