Are There Any Dangers Of Cats Catching Any Disease From Catching And Eating Mice?
I’m thinking of making a live trap for the mice in our garage so the cats can catch then easier, but I want to make sure they can’t get sick from them. They catch a few mice a year now.
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Absolutely, but only if the mouse is infected with something or if it has parasites. I had a darling cat that used to catch mice and rats. There are lots of out door cats in my neighborhood, all of which were healthy and whatnot. It turns out somewhere along the way, one of the mice or rats that my cat caught had a mycobacteria disease. Mycobacterial diseases include tuberculosis and leprosy, just to name a couple. Without going into too many details we went through a horrible time trying to save him, and in the end decided to euthanize him to stop his suffering. The vet advised us that he wouldn’t have made it for even another year, and he would have been in pain the whole time. Please, please do everything you can to get rid of these mice. Even though diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy are immensly rare, you’re better to be safe than sorry. The only good news is that studies currently show no link as to people being able to catch those diseases from cats.
I think the greatest danger is if the mouse has been poisoned – secondary poisoning is just as dangerous for the cat as if he had eaten it himself.
Not all cats will recognize a mouse as “food”. They may kill them and not eat them.
There are a few problems with cats eating mice, but they aren’t that common.
The most common problem is with your cat getting worms – which can be fatal if not treated.
Possibly, but not likely. If the mouse has fleas (as most do) and the cat gets bitten, the cat could pick something up that way but if Kitty is current with its vaccinations, it should be all right.
You can catch the mouse easier by that trap any way to the question, well you see that most of the mouses in every country is effected to fleas so make sure that your cat got all the kinds of vaccinations it needs.best of luck in your mouse catching.
I don’t know what he got… But my mom’s cat caught a rat outside and lets just say after 3 days at the vet and $600 later he was feeling slightly better. I’m not sure what he got but he was a sick sick kitty. He no longer goes after anything that looks like a mouse or a rat including my sister’s guinea pig. Just be careful.
#1 by sofiamar on February 1, 2010 - 5:35 pm
Absolutely, but only if the mouse is infected with something or if it has parasites. I had a darling cat that used to catch mice and rats. There are lots of out door cats in my neighborhood, all of which were healthy and whatnot. It turns out somewhere along the way, one of the mice or rats that my cat caught had a mycobacteria disease. Mycobacterial diseases include tuberculosis and leprosy, just to name a couple. Without going into too many details we went through a horrible time trying to save him, and in the end decided to euthanize him to stop his suffering. The vet advised us that he wouldn’t have made it for even another year, and he would have been in pain the whole time. Please, please do everything you can to get rid of these mice. Even though diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy are immensly rare, you’re better to be safe than sorry. The only good news is that studies currently show no link as to people being able to catch those diseases from cats.
#2 by old cat lady on February 1, 2010 - 5:42 pm
I think the greatest danger is if the mouse has been poisoned – secondary poisoning is just as dangerous for the cat as if he had eaten it himself.
Not all cats will recognize a mouse as “food”. They may kill them and not eat them.
#3 by robinwha on February 1, 2010 - 7:21 pm
There are a few problems with cats eating mice, but they aren’t that common.
The most common problem is with your cat getting worms – which can be fatal if not treated.
#4 by ktrb on February 1, 2010 - 7:55 pm
Possibly, but not likely. If the mouse has fleas (as most do) and the cat gets bitten, the cat could pick something up that way but if Kitty is current with its vaccinations, it should be all right.
#5 by ARAVIND TONY on February 1, 2010 - 10:12 pm
You can catch the mouse easier by that trap any way to the question, well you see that most of the mouses in every country is effected to fleas so make sure that your cat got all the kinds of vaccinations it needs.best of luck in your mouse catching.
#6 by Free WP Autoposter Plugins on February 2, 2010 - 4:33 am
I don’t know what he got… But my mom’s cat caught a rat outside and lets just say after 3 days at the vet and $600 later he was feeling slightly better. I’m not sure what he got but he was a sick sick kitty. He no longer goes after anything that looks like a mouse or a rat including my sister’s guinea pig. Just be careful.