Is it possible that my cat has lyme disease like I have? Is that a dumb question? Whenever I have a flare up she is sick too!
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
I think so....
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
From what I understand.... if you have Lyme and you bite your cat, there is an associated risk of the cat being infected.
My advise is please try to refrain from biting your cat.
Actually, I would also look for Bartonella (cat-scratch fever). It often goes undetected in cats... and can become chronic.
Posted by sillia (Member # 23994) on :
Do you know if your cat is actually sick, or is she just sleeping close to you when you are sick?
Cats are very sympathetic with their humans and usually know when they are sick. They tend to stick close to you when you are ill. For example, a couple of years ago I had the flu and my cat stayed next to me for most of one entire day, during the worst of it. When I started getting better she seemed to know and then went off to do her own thing.
Cats will also take care of each other that way, lying close to each other if one is sick.
Posted by sickpuppy (Member # 23846) on :
This makes me miss my cat! I had to go live with my parents and the cat and husband are living in my/our apartment still!
More importantly though, can your cat give you lyme?
Posted by pas (Member # 22416) on :
Sickpuppy,
I believe I got Lyme and Co. (including Bart of course) from 2 cat bites and multiple scratches a few years ago. I was working with strays/ferals and most were flea/tick infested.
The bites became bad blood/bone infections and things really went downhill from there...
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
So Tin if I scratch my cat is that human-scratch fever? Posted by pas (Member # 22416) on :
The real question is, would Ted Nugent sing about it? Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Posted by laurajeanne (Member # 23825) on :
ha ha this is funny - but what I mean is if I have lyme, and I got it from a tick, could my cat have gotten bit by a tick as well - (she does not have ticks but I have found a tick on her several years ago).
I am just wondering if she will be experiencing similar illness.
Posted by laurajeanne (Member # 23825) on :
funny about the cat scratch fever. but it causes optic neuritis. i have optic neuritis.
Posted by sickpuppy (Member # 23846) on :
This has inspired me to go bite some of the docs who poo-pooed my list of symptoms and told me nothing was wrong!
Grrrrr.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Yes
Posted by iceskater (Member # 8655) on :
From what information that I have seen, it is possible for a cat to acquire Lyme via a tick bite. The incidence of Lyme is lower in cats as opposed to dogs, because they have a higher basal temperature around 101 degrees, if I remember correctly. The higher body temperature is less conducive to the survival of a spirochete. I am not versed on the coinfections in animals. I would address any concerns with your veterinarian, or call a school of veterinary medicine, such as University of Pennsylvania for information. If your kitty is strickly indoors, it would decrease the probability of exposure to ticks and fleas. All of my babies are indoor.
Good luck.
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Cats can get Lyme from ticks.
bartonella from fleas
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Thanks for the laugh, folks...
I think deer can be infected with Lyme but not be ill. I'm not completely sure, though.
Maybe some animals can carry it but not be ill...?
That's funny. My cat stays around me alot.
Posted by laurajeanne (Member # 23825) on :
we got my cat when I was 17. I lost my eyesight that summer... She had a TON of fleas when we got her. She was feral.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[lol]](graemlins/lol.gif)