What diseases are most communicable? How much do you clean?

Hello,

This is partly a disease question and partly a feral question.

We have been trapping ferals for TNR and I've been extremely careful about washing myself and my clothes to keep from transmitting any diseases to our cats. Some cats in the colony have been sick, and I don't know what they're sick with.

I am wondering what's practical and what's paranoid.

What diseases will stay on your clothes? What diseases are there other than URIs, FIV, rabies, distemper and FELV that we should be concerned with?

There are enough ferals around that I don't even like wearing my shoes inside anymore.

Where do you draw the line on washing anything and everything?

Well I am no expert but I know conditions such as distemper and URI's, fleas.. can be transmitted to your cats through your clothing and hands etc.

FELV, Rabies and FIV are more difficult because they are spread through cat to cat contact (i.e. saliva).

I just wanted to say that when I come home from school if I have been holding the cats there at all,I change my clothes as soon as I walk through the door.
I don't worry about my shoes because they are not running loose all over the floor.
I wouldn't consider you paranoid if you had a pair of shoes you wore outside while you were dealing with the ferals.

Oh yeah,another thing that is very transmittable is ringworm.You can catch it and so can your kitties.

Scott,

When I worked with the outside colony in town- I don't do much with them anymore, I have passed the responsibility off to another rescuer- but when I did work with them, I always wore the same clothes and shoes, and bagged them afterwards until I could wash them. I always washed them seperate and used bleach with them. None of my crew ever got sick. I always took a shower before interacting with the resident and my outside cats as well. Hope this helps!