CAT DIARY

[RaK]

CAT DIARY
copyright 2009, Mark Mason
One Flu Over the Cuckoos Nest

I’m in hiding. The unthinkable has occurred. Swine flu has stuck the animal community. At first no one cared because only a ferret in Oregon had come down with the swine flu. Who would be afraid of THAT? A ferret? There just aren’t that many to go around. So none of us in the animal kingdom gave it a second thought until another living thing succumbed to the virus.



A cat in Iowa was diagnosed with H1N1. A CAT! This was an indoor cat whose owners recently had the Swine Flu. A few days later he felt sick and was hospitalized. If he can get it, I can get it. Every cat can get it. So to avoid getting your beloved cat sick, veterinarians and scientists alike have suggested a few things a human can do to protect a cat from Swine Flu.



Wash hands frequently, particularly when preparing meals for the cats. I would add that you should also wash the can before you open it so as not to let any germs on the tin cover drop into my food.


Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Just because another human may not be in the room, we cats are everywhere. And remember your snot particles drift downward where we live and we have to walk through it. Washing paws is not an option for us because: to clean them we have to lick them. I’m getting sick just thinking about this.


Avoid touching your face then touching the cat. That is something a cat can’t do. We HAVE to touch our face if we want to clean up.


Avoid indoor gatherings with lots of people. Great news, especially with Thanksgiving coming up. Everybody and their mother will be visiting here. It’s bad enough on Bunko night. And *everybody* wants to pet the cute cat. I’ll be in the attic.


Avoid close contact with your cat during an illness. Cats have a sixth sense that when you are sick, we try to comfort you by curling on your lap or snuggling by your side. If you have Swine Flu, I’d rather be locked in the bathroom. And absolutely no rubbing noses. I don’t like it when a healthy Big Owner does it to me. Why does he think it’s so cute? I think he likes the cold feel.


Avoid sharing beds with your pets when you are sick. Toughest one to enforce because we know how dependant you are for cat body heat during winter months. For the time being I’ll sleep under the bed. Don’t come looking for me.


Getting the vaccine for your cat won’t work. It was developed for humans only. To which I say: get to work on it. Now.


Wear a respiratory mask. You may look stupid, but I’d rather have you look stupid than me look sick. Besides, how stupid will you look when you bring your comforter to the cleaners because I threw up on it?


Remember: Flu unto others as you would have them flu unto you.


While cats can catch the flu from owners, it does not appear that owners can catch the Swine Flu from the cat. Bummer, because if *I* get it I would love to pass it on to the Big Owner. Scientists say cats cannot pass the virus on because cats don’t cough or sneeze when they are sick. But I *could* lick the Big Owner’s nose.



http://www.catdiary.com/

[John Mike Forrest]

Thank you dear one, this is good info! Have a blessed day, love to you and your fur family