With a Murderous Mind this morning....

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Don't 'Leave'

Cats actually have a toxic bacteria in their mouths that can cause serious infections in anything it bites, including plants. I can't for the life of me remember the name of the bacteria right now but if you google it you will come across it. It is not in the cat's mouth every second of every day that is why it can happen sometimes and not others. I don't know what it is about them, but cat's are devils in disguise, all those old wives tails are based on some sort of truth. Similiar reason why pregnant women can't be around cat litter. So sorry about your orchid.

The bacteria you are speaking of is Bartonella...the same bacteria that can cause 'Cat Scratch Fever'. It's not a bacteria that would pass on to plants...a plant won't contract it. And, really, only humans w/compromised immune systems are at risk for contracting it. I think children need to be careful because they are young but it's usually only immune compromised individuals who need to be extra cautious.

You can test a cat for it and antibiotics can be given to treat the cat if it's positive.

FWIW - humans can also contract this bacteria from a tick bite.

As for the liter box thing...that's a parasite that I don't now remember the name but it can cause toxoplasmosis (sp?). The same parasite can be contracted from eating foods that aren't cooked properly. So, it's not a disease to start w/it but rather a parasite that can cause problems. It's won't affect plants.

[bil]

Originally Posted by katrina

As for the liter box thing...that's a parasite that I don't now remember the name but it can cause toxoplasmosis (sp?). The same parasite can be contracted from eating foods that aren't cooked properly. So, it's not a disease to start w/it but rather a parasite that can cause problems. It's won't affect plants.

That is a bi host parasite that a lot of cat owners have. The parasite has two hosts, rats and cats. It asexually reproduces in the rat but to reproduce sexually it must be eaten bby a cat. The parasite has evolved to make the rat like the smell of cat urine where normally it would run a mile. In humans that irst stage parasite makes people more reckless. I am pretty certain you can't get it from food, unless said food has been contaminated by cat faeces from an infected cat..

Interestingly, there are a number of Zombie parasites that control their hosts. I know of a fungus that does it to flies, and a parasite that does it to snails and one that alters the behaviour of water woodlice or whatever it is they are called.

[estación seca]

Most cat bites can become severely infected even in people with normal immune systems. Cat bites are far worse for infection than are dog bites, but human bites are even worse than cat bites.

Toxoplasmosis is, indeed, a very serious parasite, especially to pregnant women or newborns. It is not very prevalent any more in industrialized nations and is a very low risk in North America and Europe. It is common in areas of the world where most animals run free.

As far as zombie parasites... There are parasites in family Orchidaceae that induce their hosts to expend vast resources on supporting the parasites. The infected hosts often build structures, at great expense and without concern for the opinions of the spouse, so the host may heat the environment inside to benefit the parasite, while the host's relatives shiver in cold weather because the host is trying to save money heating the family home. Hosts spend money purifying water intended for the parasites while drinking cheap wine to limit expenditures. Hosts regularly spray the most intense poisons in the growing areas while insisting their own food be organic. Plus, I have observed more orchid hosts smoke (tobacco?) than do hosts of other plant groups. Hosts use vast quantities of carbon to heat the parasite enclosures, all while decrying global warming. But, worst of all, the parasite causes unshakable denial of infestation in the host.

[My Green Pets]

Would you believe that those parasites can actually take such firm hold of their host that they can influence major life decisions such as where to live?

But I digress. Back to cat germs.