TB and cats

The real risk of catching this infection from your cat is tiny!

The media's most recent scare mongering would have us all believe that we are going to catch TB from our favourite furry friends. Before you start worrying about cats replacing badgers as public enemy number one and the government announcing regional cat culls, take a moment to put things in perspective.

This is not the first, nor sadly will it be the last, time that this emotive topic has arisen. For this reason, I have compiled a collection of useful factual information for you to consider alongside the media hype.

FACTS

• The type of bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB) was first identified by scientists in the late 1800s and it wasn't until 2008, that it was shown that TB has been infecting humans for at least 9000 years. 
  
• Cats and humans have been living together for nearly 10,000 years. 
  
• The original role of cats in society was not simply companionship - they were an important means of keeping rodent populations controlled. 
  
• Like humans, both cats, rodents and many other mammals (eg badgers, cows and deer) can be infected with the type of bacteria that causes TB

It is certainly reasonable to conclude from these facts that cats and humans have been exposed to TB for a very long time from multiple sources. In fact, it is humans that are thought to have originally transmitted the infection to animals. It is little surprise that with over 9500 years of exposure to TB, today's science means we may be able to show TB transmitting the other way (from cat to human). 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...
We may be statistically more likely to catch TB from other people - especially if travelling through airports and/or to countries where the incidence of TB is high or if you live in areas of the UK with a higher than average immigrant population such as London and parts of the Home Counties.

Useful Links

Discussion from leading cat expert behind research into feline TB


International Cat Care's Advice Sheet on Feline Mycobacterial Infection (TB)


Download the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratory's Factsheet

Symptoms of 
TB in Cats

Skin lesions including:

• Nodules/lumps
  
• Non-healing sores/wounds
  

Deeper or wide spread infections:

• Limping 
  
• Coughing
  
• Weight loss 
  
• Vomiting
  
• Diarrhoea 
  
• Lethargy
  

Many diseases can lead to these symptoms and statistically the chances of the cause being TB would be very unlikely indeed. 

If you have any concerns that your cat may have TB please contact me to arrange for a checkup.