I need answers please ...

jaymetal

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Hello. Here is my situation. I recently started volunteering at the local petsmart store cleaning the cat cages and handling the cats and socializing them by playing with them and holding them. Ok, recently, I noticed that some of the kittens/cats was sneezing. One cat I had taken from the cage sneezed right in my mouth as I pulled her out. Before i leave there i usually use the sanitizer in the store to clean my hands. Once home i use my own again.  I reported all this to the President of the shelter. My concern is this... Can I contract or somehow bring anything unhealthy into my living space at home that will harm my own cat. I have not had my cat quit a year and he has been very happy and healthy. He runs and plays and slides across the floors and having a ball. I need to know the risk and if anyone can shed some light on this topic for me. I hate to have to do it, but ill give up helping out if it means I could make my own cat sick.. Any information will be appreciated. I love animals but not at the risk of my own pet.
 

ldg

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It's a real concern, of course. That said, the rescue really shouldn't have sick kitties in the adoption cages at the store. :(

But there are easy steps to take to prevent you bringing anything home. In addition to washing your hands as soon as you get home, before petting your kitty, if you want to be ultra careful, change your clothes when you get home, and leave your shoes at the door.

If you want to be ultra, ultra careful, dedicate a pair of shoes to the volunteer work. Leave them in your car, and change before you go in, and when you're done.

But just as we're exposed to germs all the time and our immune systems fight it off, same thing goes for our kitties. I assume your kitty had the basic vaccinations. And if adopted from a rescue or shelter, your kitty has probably already been exposed to all of these things and has developed an innate immunity.

That's not to say that during a time of stress your kitty might have an immune system "dip" and be more susceptible. But the basic precautions outlined above should be sufficient. :)
 

feralvr

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I completely understand your concerns with volunteering and bringing germs home. I actually wear a smock when I volunteer. I used to be a groomer and have a few of them. They are light weight, short sleeved, and zipper. I also change my clothes in the garage. I have a hamper in there and just toss the clothes in the hamper to wash later. The smock I shake out at the shelter and leave it in the "locker room". I also leave my shelter shoes in the garage and spray them with Lysol, top and bottom. :lol3: Yep, I tend to go overboard only because I have two that are immune compromised and I have to be extra careful. I also wait to shower on my volunteer days till after I get home. ;)

Of course, volunteering at the shelter, there is no way to avoid sick kitties. :( I have not volunteered much since we moved, just a few times. At Petsmart stores, I would think that some would get sick too but agree with Laurie in that if they are really ill, the rescue should get them into a volunteer foster home, see the vet and come back when they are healthy. A little sneezing and a minor cold can just be watched. Good that you talked with the president/director of the rescue about the sick kitties. Thank you for helping the cats. :hugs:
 
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jaymetal

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I wish to thank you very much for your reply.  Since reading this I have thought of things that I have done wrong already. I came home and picked up my boy wearing the same shirt I had worn while picking up all the other cats earlier at the store. Bad bad!  There is a lot I must consider before I get too deep in this i'm thinking. I need to consider my own health too. I have wicked allergies and asthma on top of it all. I am ok with my one cat, but i'm thinking being around multi cats could pose some challenges.  I do wish to do the most good for my cat as possible. Even if it seems ultra ultra .  I had a lot of loss in just the past year. Including two of my fur family members Chad and Joey.  Its always in the back of my mind whatever I undertake. Thank you again for your valuable input.
 
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jaymetal

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Hello. Thank you for your kind reply.  I am going to take steps to ensure as best I can the health of both my boy Tyler and myself.  At the store PetSmart where I started volunteering, it was already relayed to me that the President of the shelter being represented at PetSmart had to remove some younger kittens because of excessive cough and sneezing.  So afterwards, I got alittle concerned. Perhaps even paranoid. Better to be over cautious I guess. You and the other person has suggested some good ideas and i'm going to have to put them into action.

You have six cats? How do you do it? Having one keeps me on my toes.


Thanks again.

Jayme
 

feralvr

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Hi Jayme! I am really sorry to hear of you losing :rbheart: Chad and :rbheart: Joey all on one year. It IS very hard to go through that inevitable part of our lives with our furkids. Not easy at all. :shame: Sure, it is a good idea to be cautious when you are a shelter volunteer and have kitties at home. If the precautions are taken then you should be just fine but I completely understand your worries especially since you have bad allergies and asthma. :hugs: :vibes::vibes::vibes:

OH :lol3: My six are the joy of my life!! They do keep me busy here at home but we have a daily routine that works quite well. Cats love routines and schedules. I have a playtime with them each evening as well. They all look forward to that and so do I! :D
 
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jaymetal

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Thank you for your response. It means a lot !  The anniversary came and went for Joey and Sunday was harder on me than I thought it would be. Especially in the late evening hours. It hit me like bricks I think because it was around that exact time that things started to happen.  I went into panic mode. It was if I was right back in the center of the ugly of Sept. 22 all over again. My senses were very keen and I was home alone and I got control of myself.  Today feels better even though it all still feels fresh to me.

I will continue on with my volunteering. I will just exercise care in what and how I do once im back home around my boy Tyler. Someone had mentioned a good idea about Lysol spray and leaving shoes at the door .. I went out and bought some and then wash well the clothes I wear.

Thanks again.  I also added a url where I had submitted a brief memorial for Chad awhile back that I forgot about. If you care to view it I added it in a post or you can do it here.

http://www.our-happy-cat.com/chad-cat-memorial.html          The beautiful picture of him on his condo looking out is 3rd to the last picture taken of him.  The one in the suitcase is where I had just gotten home from Florida and I unloaded the suitcase and he jumps right in.  The one in the basket is one of his last photo's I took. He loved his bags, boxes and anything he could fit his large size into
.
 

feralvr

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Thank you for your response. It means a lot !  The anniversary came and went for Joey and Sunday was harder on me than I thought it would be. Especially in the late evening hours. It hit me like bricks I think because it was around that exact time that things started to happen.  I went into panic mode. It was if I was right back in the center of the ugly of Sept. 22 all over again. My senses were very keen and I was home alone and I got control of myself.  Today feels better even though it all still feels fresh to me.

I will continue on with my volunteering. I will just exercise care in what and how I do once im back home around my boy Tyler. Someone had mentioned a good idea about Lysol spray and leaving shoes at the door .. I went out and bought some and then wash well the clothes I wear.

Thanks again.  I also added a url where I had submitted a brief memorial for Chad awhile back that I forgot about. If you care to view it I added it in a post or you can do it here.
http://www.our-happy-cat.com/chad-cat-memorial.html         The beautiful picture of him on his condo looking out is 3rd to the last picture taken of him.  The one in the suitcase is where I had just gotten home from Florida and I unloaded the suitcase and he jumps right in.  The one in the basket is one of his last photo's I took. He loved his bags, boxes and anything he could fit his large size into:sun: . :)
I am sorry about the hurt/pain and grief. I know it all to well. It is hard to find our way without their physical presence in our daily lives. :rbheart: Chad was beautiful, just stunning, and he is forever in your heart and there with you on a different level, one that is not tangible, but real. :nod:

The Lysol is what I suggested using on your shoes. At most shelters, they have it in the bathrooms as well and I would spray the soles of my shoes right before I left to get in my car. :lol3: NOW that IS overboard, huh? Never spray Lysol around cats though, it is toxic to them as it contains phenol. I use it on my shoes in the garage only.

Hang in there and keep on lovin' on Tyler, he will bring you much comfort. :rub: ;)
 
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jaymetal

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Huh? That was you? About the Lysol? LOL .. Well I forgot who had said it, but that shows I pay attention.  It's true what they say about your first love... Chad was and will always be my most special cat of all. Not that I didn't love them all equally, its just Chad was my soul mate. My first .  I learned a lot about up keep and care too. A lot afterwards however. It helped enhance my care each time. I feel good about it all . Just the occasionally melancholy feeling time to time.  Thank you for your thoughts of caring. Have a good day.
 
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