Stray cats also known as feral cats are cats that live in the wild or on the streets, having no owner. A lot of animal lovers feed stray cats; however, this may present a few risks that you need to be aware of.
1. Stray Cats Could Have Rabies
Stray cats may transmit rabies to people through saliva and biting. Rabies is a rare medical condition in humans, but it is fatal.
However, there are many non profit organizations that vaccinate feral cats and this reduces the number of stray cats with rabies and the potential risk of infection.
2. Other Zoonotic Diseases
Cats may transmit a number of diseases to humans. These diseases are also known as zoonotic and, along with rabies, include:
- Chlamidosis, which is an infection of the respiratory tract
- Skin psoriasis, which will cause irritations and different marks on the skin
- Conjunctivitis, also known as red or pink eye
- Lyme disease, caused by tick bites
- Salmonellosis caused by bacteria and resulting in diarrhea
- Toxoplasmosis, that may also be present in domestic cats
- Cat scratch disease
- Cryptosporidiosis and Campylobacterosis, both bacterial diseases that cause diarrhea
Stray cats are more exposed to several viruses, bacteria and diseases, as they encounter more cats that carry infections than a pet. In addition, stray cats are involved in a lot of cat fights, where they may get injuries that weaken their immune system.
The zoonotic diseases may be transmitted through bites or scratches, so in case you get injured while feeding a stray cat, you need to clean the wound and visit a vet immediately for suitable vaccinations or medication.
3. Parasites
Intestinal parasites such as hookworms may be transmitted to humans also. These may be transmitted though saliva or feces, so make sure you wash your hands after each encounter with a stray cat.
The roundworm, even if it is a fungal infection and not a worm, may also be transmitted to humans.
Even if most parasites cannot be transmitted to humans, fleas may potentially transmit the tapeworm larvae to humans. The infection can occur if you ingest a flea from a stray cat; however, the chances of ingesting a flea are very low.
In addition, you may infect your own pets with fleas, as these may transfer from the stray cat to your clothes and then to your pets.
4. Unpredictable Behavior
Stray cats may be infected with rabies or other diseases that cause a lot of pain and make the cat aggressive. In addition, feral cats are always on the defense, being used to having to fight for food.
A stray cat may attack you and display unexpected behavior such as jumping on you, biting or scratching.
By avoiding to feed feral cats, you will avoid all the complications that may result from a bite or scratch. Also, a feral cat has a different diet than a pet, so by feeding him commercial cat food, you may also cause digestive problems.