#1
#1 out of 199.40%
health3h ago
Your Cat Can Bring Home More Disease Than You Think. Here's What to Do.
- Outdoor-roaming cats have three to five times higher odds of carrying a zoonotic pathogen than indoor-only cats.
- Cats allowed outdoors have similar pathogen odds to feral cats, increasing potential human exposure.
- About 60% of owned cats have unsupervised outdoor access, a rate higher in some regions.
- Outdoor cat activities include hunting wildlife, which can carry pathogens.
- Cat owners are exposed when cats bring prey or defecate in shared spaces.
- Preventing unsupervised roaming is the most economical and humane intervention.
- alternatives include catios, leash walks, or supervised outdoor time.
- Vaccination and treatment remain vital for cat health despite controlled outdoor access.
- One Health approach links ecosystem protection to reducing pathogen exposure for people.
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