Neighbor's outside kitties - Don't Touch???

[ThingsGottaChange]

Just how dangerous is it to have contact with an outside kitty if you have your own inside kitties? We have three indoor cats and because we are on SS we haven't gotten them to a vet since their first shots as kittens. They are all very healthy.

Our neighbor has three outside cats that hang out in our yard sometimes. One of these guys is an unneutered male that is the most gorgeous (all black), lovable thing you ever saw. And, I am a total sucker for cats. I did ask the neighbor today (he's just a kid) which cat's were his and if he was feeding them. He is feeding them but, said his ex-roommate left a couple of them when he moved out. He did say the black cat was raised inside and probably had shots at one time. They all seem healthy and happy. The only one I've been close to is the black guy.

My dilemma, of course, is having contact with strange cats and then having contact with my own. Is it really that dangerous, as far as transferring ickies, etc? I would love this guy to come visit me when I'm sitting on the deck this summer but, worry about our own cat's health.

Any advice/experiences is much appreciated! Next time I see "blackie" I'll get a pic and you'll see why it's hard not to visit with him!

Thanks, all!

*cross posted in Pets

[truedelphi]

1. I think your main worry would be more intimate contact than this thing of

You touch kitty and then bring kitty's disease in on your hands.

What would be an easy way to transmit disease is if your kitties were outside kitties and had a fight and got scratched, or got bit. Or if you had an outdoor water or food bowl that all the cats rank from.

My advice is that after you play with outside kitties, wash your hands thoroughly.

If for no other reason than outdoor kitties often have poison oak or ivy on their fur.

PS the same experts that have us all so germ-aphobic also have us spraying benzene, formaldehyde and other nasties to keep our air smelling fresh. Normally, animals and people are far more likely to get sick from chemicals they breathe than from germs. THe sicknesses are then immune problems and cancer.

Of course, if someone is stressed, lacking sleep or malnourished, that is different. Germs can do a lot of damagge when anyone is run down.

If I notice that a flu bug is going around, I don't eat meat for a month or so. I only get the flu about every four or five years.

[ThingsGottaChange]

7. I admit that I do "over" worry

And being bombarded with warnings of every kind, doesn't help. But, I do know a sick cat when I see one and certainly would not come in contact with an obviously ill kitty. Except, maybe to save it!

[skygazer]

2. I'd be more worried about going to the vet in case of emergency

If one of your cats got hurt and had to go to the vet, they'd be coming into contact with other cats more intimately than through incidental contact via you.

I'm not sure how much of a danger that would be either, but I would think more of one.

[ThingsGottaChange]

8. You're absolutely correct, skygazer

I DO worry about that. We did have to have Duke looked at last year for an abcess on his chin. Everything went very well with that. I remember I had to have my girls innoculated before they could be spayed.

[Mind_your_head]

3. I think it will be fine for you to love on blackie when you see him outside

without having to worry about transferring any ickies to your kittys. Just wash your hands when you come inside before you touch your 'guys/gals'.

[ThingsGottaChange]

9. This is exactly the answer I was hoping for!

Of course, I would wash my hands and probably also change clothes before handling my little stinkers. Wait til you see his pic. NO ONE and I mean NO ONE would be able to resist those dark gold eyes with the jet black fur! :loveya:

[Mind_your_head]

13. Looking forward to seeing the pic.....

One of my cats is named 'Midnight' (guess why?)....she's got green eyes though....so I know "of what you speak"

Peace & :loveya:,
M_Y_H

[Dora]

4. Watch out for fleas. They'll jump. You'll carry. nt

[ThingsGottaChange]

10. Yes. Don't want to forget the little jumpers. Thx! n/t

[noonwitch]

5. Wash your hands after touching the outdoor kitties, but before touching yours

That should do the trick.

[ThingsGottaChange]

11. Another perfect answer!!! Thx, noonwitch! n/t

[applegrove]

6. Could be you are being adopted. I would not touch the male. You could

kill your kitties.
I talked with a lady who fosters litters and she had to give up fostering very young litters because too many of those stray kittens died. It was just too hearbreaking.

For sure there is disease out there and if your friend is unneutered he is traveling ten blocks at least to look for a female. Whatever disease is going around a stray unneutered male probably has.

I wouldn't risk it.

[ThingsGottaChange]

12. Shame about the foster lady

What did those kittens die from?

[applegrove]

14. I don't know. But it was too hard on her so she just fosters older litters now.

She has a whole photoalbum.