Aa
Is it true
I watched a documentry on cats a while back and I'm still in disbelief at what I saw. Apparently, research has shown that there is something in cats saliva and I think they said it is a microscopic worm. When a cat bites a rodent for example, the worms get into its blood stream and go to the rodents brain. The only side effect from the worm is how it chemically changes the brain, making the prey more placid and not afraid. Apparently this allows the cat to more easily play with its prey before making it food. They took several cat owners to see if they had these worms but none were found. It is thought the cat has to actually bite you to get the worms directly into your bloodstream. There is nothing you can do to remove the worms, they multiply into billions. Well, I was shocked to say the least. Many legends regarding cats seem to point to this unique ability. The worms don't seem to alter a cats brain, the cat is simply a perfect host.
Has anyone else heard of this or seen the same documentry? I'm trying to find out what the name of the worm is.
Has anyone else heard of this or seen the same documentry? I'm trying to find out what the name of the worm is.
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/toxo.html
not nearly as dramatic, but a lot more factual.
not nearly as dramatic, but a lot more factual.
thankyou so very much for taking the time to write out all this information..!!
I hope you continue to post on our cat forum, with so many of your own you will have tons of stories and tips to share.....p.s. good luck with the new baby too..♥
I hope you continue to post on our cat forum, with so many of your own you will have tons of stories and tips to share.....p.s. good luck with the new baby too..♥
to everybody
I know this is an old comment but if anybody need the info:
Toxoplasmosis is just an infection ( not a disease)
I am toxo (+) positive.. means that i got it once and now I am inmune to it, I am almost 4 months pregnant 3 dogs and like 8 cats and we are perfect. My cats are indoor so i dont worry ..( if you cat goes outside, please keep him inside the house while pregnant so he wont be licking or biting dead birds or else)
i did a lot voluntary work before for shelters and i did eat a lot of sushi...so not to sure from where i got it from..just glad i did had it (lol) So I am immuned to it today.
I do clean my litter box but i use gloves and a mask to cover my nose because of the litter dust and of course the smell. The litter had to be clean twice a day if you have more than 2 cats..or just once a day if you have only 1 cat...anyway if you buy a litter robot ( google it) or go to amazon.con buy one and just with pressing 1 botton your litter will be clean..amazing!..$ 300 a little bit expensive but whay is $300 to keepyour cat happy, you wont have much work and your house will be clean..
if your cat is in indoor cat you have nothing to worry, if your cat comes and go just be carefully and not touch the poo poo by mistake ..use gloves!
Also..attention: Toxoplasmosis is not only in cats.... its in raw meat (any) in the garden when planting flowers or in the vegetables, just wash your vegetables and cook your meat well...ahhh and imported cheese!..read carefully be aware...
Toxo, its dangerous when is the first time you get the "infection", but if you had it alreay and then your will be inmune, just be careful anyway you dont want to get sick of anything ( even a flu) when pregnant... ( think about worse like aids, drinking, drugs)
also be aware that toxoplasmosis is like a flu, you feel a little bit warm, troath hurts a little bit...its just an infection and most likely you will get it from your food ( raw meat, raw sushi, raw fish, unwash vegetables....your garden!) just go to the doctor and they will sedn you a prescription.
By the way, my parents had 3 cats while pregnant with us , they sleep wit my mom and dad , I am talking 40 years ago and guess what?...we are 3 happy , healhty person and having family today!... I think this doctors and documentaries about it just want to inform me you to be aware of things...but 40 years ago.... who knew? and nothing happened..I am proof of it
this is from a proud mom of a lot of furry babies....they rock!..i love them and i can not wait to teach my baby to defend them and probably be a future vet to care for them!.....
god bless you all!
I know this is an old comment but if anybody need the info:
Toxoplasmosis is just an infection ( not a disease)
I am toxo (+) positive.. means that i got it once and now I am inmune to it, I am almost 4 months pregnant 3 dogs and like 8 cats and we are perfect. My cats are indoor so i dont worry ..( if you cat goes outside, please keep him inside the house while pregnant so he wont be licking or biting dead birds or else)
i did a lot voluntary work before for shelters and i did eat a lot of sushi...so not to sure from where i got it from..just glad i did had it (lol) So I am immuned to it today.
I do clean my litter box but i use gloves and a mask to cover my nose because of the litter dust and of course the smell. The litter had to be clean twice a day if you have more than 2 cats..or just once a day if you have only 1 cat...anyway if you buy a litter robot ( google it) or go to amazon.con buy one and just with pressing 1 botton your litter will be clean..amazing!..$ 300 a little bit expensive but whay is $300 to keepyour cat happy, you wont have much work and your house will be clean..
if your cat is in indoor cat you have nothing to worry, if your cat comes and go just be carefully and not touch the poo poo by mistake ..use gloves!
Also..attention: Toxoplasmosis is not only in cats.... its in raw meat (any) in the garden when planting flowers or in the vegetables, just wash your vegetables and cook your meat well...ahhh and imported cheese!..read carefully be aware...
Toxo, its dangerous when is the first time you get the "infection", but if you had it alreay and then your will be inmune, just be careful anyway you dont want to get sick of anything ( even a flu) when pregnant... ( think about worse like aids, drinking, drugs)
also be aware that toxoplasmosis is like a flu, you feel a little bit warm, troath hurts a little bit...its just an infection and most likely you will get it from your food ( raw meat, raw sushi, raw fish, unwash vegetables....your garden!) just go to the doctor and they will sedn you a prescription.
By the way, my parents had 3 cats while pregnant with us , they sleep wit my mom and dad , I am talking 40 years ago and guess what?...we are 3 happy , healhty person and having family today!... I think this doctors and documentaries about it just want to inform me you to be aware of things...but 40 years ago.... who knew? and nothing happened..I am proof of it
this is from a proud mom of a lot of furry babies....they rock!..i love them and i can not wait to teach my baby to defend them and probably be a future vet to care for them!.....
god bless you all!
always knew there was something controlling my brain!!!.......yikes its a worm!
That's a problem I've had too... though I like to flatter myself and think of it as a snake. Ol' One Eye has gotten me into more trouble....
That's a problem I've had too... though I like to flatter myself and think of it as a snake. Ol' One Eye has gotten me into more trouble....
Let me backtrack....I know the toxoplasmosis is real and a threat and danger, especially to pregnant women, but it's beyond me how any person can escape this parasite if it's as easy to contract as you imply...we would all have to be infected. What I really can't get my brain around is the idea of these parasites somehow controlling their host and what are the symptoms of the end result? Is there any vaccine for us or the cats? Can you ever really, once and for all, be rid of these worms or do you just carry them around for the rest of your life? Also, one last thing....my husband just asked me, "can they hide in or on cat hair?" If so, I guess we're doomed! :(
Seriously, ed, look at what you've started. This cannot be a true story......but it's fun, let's keep it alive!!!
i guess i'm full of worms. My cats bite me all the time. Think I will change my moniker to "wormy."
awwwww its like that movie where they come out of the toilet as you are sitting on it ...awwawawa
I was thinking about asking that very same question, then when I read what you wrote, I'm sorry but I had to laugh out loud. I was envisioning this tremendously big worm lurking, well never mind. Then when I read ed's response, well I nearly wet my pants, just kidding! This discussion has been priceless. Thanks, you guys
The parasites do not grow in size. They have to remain tiny to hide inside living cells in the host. If you are infected, it usually starts with flu like symptoms.
This is beginning to sound like invasion of the body snatchers. Maybe it will end up being like the war of the worlds where lots of people ran out of their homes screaming after a radio show was broadcast on the story. Maybe now we will see millions of cat owners screaming, running to the nearest hospital.
This is beginning to sound like invasion of the body snatchers. Maybe it will end up being like the war of the worlds where lots of people ran out of their homes screaming after a radio show was broadcast on the story. Maybe now we will see millions of cat owners screaming, running to the nearest hospital.
What if a human gets a cat bite? About 8 years ago I found a wild kitten I picked up and it bite clean through my hand, no I did'nt go to doctor, guess I was lucky as I did'nt get rabies. But, what about the worms, If this is the case I must be one big worm inside by now. Really this is something I will need to explore.
"This particular 'parasite' has yet to be recognized as a parasite and not a bacterium. It is not only carried by cats, but also birds, dogs, snakes, and rabbits"
A parasite is an organism (bacterial, viral or larger) that lives in, on or with another organism. So this is definitely a parasite because the main host is only the cat family. The Cat family is definitely the primary host because this is the only specie in which the parasite will reproduce and when transferred to other living things such as birds or rabbits, the parasite has only one purpose, to return to a cat to reproduce. While present in animals other than cats, the parasite causes tissue cysts mainly in the brain and muscles and changes the personality of the host. In rodents they seem to lost the ability to notice the smell of a cat as something to fear and seem to even roam towards their enemy. A cleverly evolved system for the parasite to return home for breeding.
If a cat eats an infected rodent or bird, the parasite survives the stomach and reaches the small intestine where is reproduces again to be released in faeces. If vegetable are not washed, or meat isn't cooked long enough, we are at risk of consuming these parasites. Once ingested, the parasite hides inside our own immune system cells, macrophages, and travels around the bloodstream having access to all areas of the body. This parasite is the cause of Toxoplasmosis which can be severe or fatal. Pregnant women are recommended to ensure fruit/vegetables are throroughly washed. All meat is thoroughly cooked and avoid touching raw meat. Avoid gardening and definitely avoid cat litters. A baby doesnt develop a fully funtioning immune system until at least a year old and so this disease is very dangerous.
Of the 750 deaths attributed to toxoplasmosis each year in the USA, 375 (50%) are believed to be caused by eating contaminated meat, making toxoplasmosis the third leading cause of foodborne deaths in this country.
I know these figures are not high, but if we know how to avoid contracting the parasite then we are at much less risk because the parasite does exist. So, wash fruit and veg, preferably peel where possible. Wear gloves when gardening if cat faeces are likely. Wear gloves when handling cat litter. Thoroughly wash hands if you have been near cat faeces. Make sure you heat meat enough to kill the parasites, even though the trend in cuisine seems to be to eat meat more raw. Keep children away from the vicinity of cat faeces.
A parasite is an organism (bacterial, viral or larger) that lives in, on or with another organism. So this is definitely a parasite because the main host is only the cat family. The Cat family is definitely the primary host because this is the only specie in which the parasite will reproduce and when transferred to other living things such as birds or rabbits, the parasite has only one purpose, to return to a cat to reproduce. While present in animals other than cats, the parasite causes tissue cysts mainly in the brain and muscles and changes the personality of the host. In rodents they seem to lost the ability to notice the smell of a cat as something to fear and seem to even roam towards their enemy. A cleverly evolved system for the parasite to return home for breeding.
If a cat eats an infected rodent or bird, the parasite survives the stomach and reaches the small intestine where is reproduces again to be released in faeces. If vegetable are not washed, or meat isn't cooked long enough, we are at risk of consuming these parasites. Once ingested, the parasite hides inside our own immune system cells, macrophages, and travels around the bloodstream having access to all areas of the body. This parasite is the cause of Toxoplasmosis which can be severe or fatal. Pregnant women are recommended to ensure fruit/vegetables are throroughly washed. All meat is thoroughly cooked and avoid touching raw meat. Avoid gardening and definitely avoid cat litters. A baby doesnt develop a fully funtioning immune system until at least a year old and so this disease is very dangerous.
Of the 750 deaths attributed to toxoplasmosis each year in the USA, 375 (50%) are believed to be caused by eating contaminated meat, making toxoplasmosis the third leading cause of foodborne deaths in this country.
I know these figures are not high, but if we know how to avoid contracting the parasite then we are at much less risk because the parasite does exist. So, wash fruit and veg, preferably peel where possible. Wear gloves when gardening if cat faeces are likely. Wear gloves when handling cat litter. Thoroughly wash hands if you have been near cat faeces. Make sure you heat meat enough to kill the parasites, even though the trend in cuisine seems to be to eat meat more raw. Keep children away from the vicinity of cat faeces.
I think this thread is becoming more and more interesting. Please, people, keep it coming. I love to know about all this stuff, just don't have time to read anymore :)
This particular 'parasite' has yet to be recognized as a parasite and not a bacterium. It is not only carried by cats, but also birds, dogs, snakes, and rabbits.
The articles you posted are of the same study. It is only 1 study. Yes, it is intrigueing. Yes, it may raise a few questions. But the 'few'questions are limited.
If you are convinced that cat saliva is going to make you sick, there is no interest in trying to convince you to do some real research on the topic.
The articles you posted are of the same study. It is only 1 study. Yes, it is intrigueing. Yes, it may raise a few questions. But the 'few'questions are limited.
If you are convinced that cat saliva is going to make you sick, there is no interest in trying to convince you to do some real research on the topic.
There is nothing known which can destroy this parasite.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=2288095&page=1
http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/060803_tgondii_culture.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=2288095&page=1
http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/060803_tgondii_culture.html
You probably saw this on 'Monsters Inside Me' a new series on A&E
most of those episodes deal with Wildlife encounters including forage (plants) that can be invasive to humans.
most of those episodes deal with Wildlife encounters including forage (plants) that can be invasive to humans.
Ed..... cats hunt many different species in the 'rodent' family and also insects and sometimes snakes and such. All these species carry some time of worm or parasite. This is why it is important that you treat your cats at least 2x a year, preferably every 4mo. for such infections.
You also have to remember us Humans also carry parasites constantly. Some good and some bad. This is the same with our Feline companions. Their systems, just as ours, are inherently designed to deal with this.
The saliva from a cat does NOT carry "worms" and such. But the tongue does carry dinstinctive markers that make it easeir for them to follow their prey.
Cats are nearsighted, so they rely mostly on their olefactory and auditory senses.
You also have to remember us Humans also carry parasites constantly. Some good and some bad. This is the same with our Feline companions. Their systems, just as ours, are inherently designed to deal with this.
The saliva from a cat does NOT carry "worms" and such. But the tongue does carry dinstinctive markers that make it easeir for them to follow their prey.
Cats are nearsighted, so they rely mostly on their olefactory and auditory senses.
I did post the web sites concerning this but it disappeared for some reason.
If im not allowed to post links....simply do this....
open google and search for
cat parasites humans
you will see many links to this strange thing about cats controlling humans etc.
If im not allowed to post links....simply do this....
open google and search for
cat parasites humans
you will see many links to this strange thing about cats controlling humans etc.
If I remember correctly it was to do with how the body handles hosts. The man presenting the documentry actually swallowed tape worm eggs to see how long they took to grow inside him. If also covered how some animal hosts were affected by various things. I will carry on searching.
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