Cat (outside during the day)

Question

Hello,

my son's (CF, 14 years old, colonized with encapsulated PSA, FEV 90%) grandparents would like to "adopt" a stray cat who is very healthy according to the vet. The cat is outside during the day and sleeps in the house. No litter box.

Is this a reasonable plan with a CF child and, if so, which hygiene measures are required? Are there any particular vaccinations apart from the usual ones necessary for the cat? Can our child sit in the same chair as the cat? Is a litter box in the house off-limits? What about stroking the cat?

Many thanks for your advice.

Answer

Hello,

The 14-year-old boy seems to be a CF patient chronically colonized with PSA and in good condition.

One prerequisite for having a cat is that the cat is healthy, which is the case, according to the vet.

Also, a cat allergy has to be ruled out.

After all, cats are innately clean! It would be most hygienic to not have a litter box at home. If one has to be in the house, after all, it should be cleaned daily and always only while wearing rubber gloves and a surgical mask.

Stroking the cat is allowed, but the hands should be washed afterwards, just like always before meals and in general before eating anything at all.

The vet will decide which vaccinations are necessary for the cat.

Of course, the boy can sit where the cat has sat before, but the cat should not be in the patient’s bed!

I do not think a connection between having a cat and colonization with pseudomonas is relevant or even given. It will be safest to schedule regular visits in the CF clinic and sputum tests/throat swabs (every 2-3 months).

Apparently the patient has a mucoid pseudomonas colonization, so that he will surely get antibiotics therapy continuously or in intervals, perhaps even regular i.v. antibiotics cycles. In this case, the cat poses an even lower risk of infection or transmission concerning a PSA germ for the patient.

Kind regards,
Dr. H.-E. Heuer

14.01.2013