Cats and Worms

[hayley2007]

I have asked many different veterinarians about this and have read on the Internet which sometimes can lead to reading false information but I was wondering, can the worms that cats get be given to humans? I have heard no and maybe and yes. Those that told me no said that the types of worms cats get are not the same types of worms that a human can get and they are rarely, if ever, transferred from species to species. Those that told me maybe said that you maybe could if you ingested some eggs. Those that said yes were from what I have read around the Internet. I figured I would listen to the real life in person veterinarians than reading something I found on the Internet but I just wasn't sure of what any of you have heard from your veterinarians? All comments appreciated.

[Savas]

I should have clarified that, yes it's a really irritating fungus. :)

I was lucky and didn't suffer any itching but it was damned persistent. It took three months to clear up, and got infected to boot.

I did the same thing also, expensive cream from the doc, ended up using lotrimin over the counter to deal with it.

I also had it in a really...awkward place. Luckily it was just a patch the size of my palm that didn't spread, but I was in daily fear it would spread to nearby regions that I decided I would shoot myself if reached there!

I do know if you're fairly careful you don't have to worry about most transmittable illnesses from cats. We've been around them in some form or other for over ten years, at the shelter and here at home with the passing through brood and our own.

We always take precautions that aren't to extreme, mostly just common sense (wash hands after handling litter box, DON'T eat out of the cat's dishes!!! :)  )
We TRY to be wary of cats that steal food and drink from our cups, but to be honest, I know it happens sometimes when I'm not looking. So...I wouldn't worry to much about transmission of worms or FLV. It is, I hear, really sucky when it happens...but I think that there must be some genetic predisposition in some folks that makes them susceptible. I've talked to families who've dealt with ringworm since and it seems that the kids get it, one of the parents, but THE OTHER parent doesn't get it no matter what. Which makes me think it must be a related gene from the infected parent.

Or perhaps with worms and the like it depends on just how sturdy your digestive tract is. *sigh*. I don't know, I just know I try not to worry about it to much.

[Ghilly]

Ringworm is not a worm, though, it's a fungus.  While it's highly contagious and quickly passes from animals to humans (and vice versa), it is treated with topical corticosteroids, while intestinal worms can only be treated with anthelmintics (wormers) that are taken internally.

Like you, I picked up a horrid case of ringworm from a kitten that I adopted from a shelter about 18 years ago and boy, oh boy, was I ever a mess!  I had lesions all around my neck like a necklace because she liked to nurse on my earlobes!  Because I had never dealt with ringworm I had no idea what I had.  It starts out as tiny little red pin-***** looking things that itch like there's no tomorrow.  At the time, I worked for a group of vets and one of them looked at the red pin-pricks around my neck and suspected flea bites from "visitors" that had come in on the shelter kitten.  Within two to three days of the pin-***** stage the little red things turned into crusty circles, and at that point it was obvious to the vet that I had a galloping case of ringworm.  By this time, of course, I had spread it all over myself because I was thinking "flea bites" and going about my life as usual.  So now I had lesions all down my arms, on my legs, a half dozen or so on my stomach and sides, and one on my lower back.  

The itching was so bad I was out of my mind with it!  I was prescribed a topical corticosteroid that was costing me $50 a tube, and I was going to need 2 tubes of the stuff!  After the first tube it didn't look like anything at all was happening with the lesions, so I went to the store and bought a tube of Lotrimin A/F for athlete's foot.  I put that on the lesions and within 3 days they were all dried up and all but gone.  If I had known, I would have gotten the Lotrimin A/F right from the get-go and saved myself the $50 I spent on the one tube of cream!

Ghilly

[Savas]

I'll add that I just went through a bout of ringworn I picked up at the shelter a few months ago (my first time in over ten years. I was shocked and dismayed!)

So yes, it is possible!

[Ghilly]

Humans CAN get worms (roundworms and hookworms) from cats and dogs.  The eggs, however, have to be in the enviroment for two weeks before they become able to infect humans, so if you keep any areas that are soiled by the pet clean, and keep your own hands washed (especially under the nails), it's not likely that you will become infected.  Children are more prone to becoming infected, since their personal hygiene skills are not usually the greatest.

Ghilly