Kashmir witnesses rise in cat exposure cases

Srinagar, Sept 30: Kashmir is witnessing a rise in cat exposure cases in recent years with health experts suggesting precautionary measures to mitigate infections to humans, if not treated can be fatal.
As per the data maintained at the Anti-Rabies Clinic at SMHS, an associated hospital of Government Medical College Srinagar this year has received 5,964 cases from 1st April 2024 till 27 September including 3,015 dog bites and 2,679 cat exposures.
“We receive almost one thousand animal bite scratch exposures every month in Anti Rabies Clinic SMHS Hospital this year while last year from April 2023 to March 2024 around eight thousand cases reported to SMHS Hospital,” said Dr S. Muhammad Salim Khan, Professor, Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, GMC Srinagar.
He said that cat exposure is increasing exponentially over the last few years as many people are keeping them as pets while almost all dog bites are reported from stray dogs.
Khan said cat exposures are reported as pet owners fail to follow proper norms such as vaccination, deworming, timely treatment and hygiene practices.
“There is a trend of rearing cats, especially Persian cats. They often face scratches which people ignore. Those people who rear cats and other animals should first go to a qualified veterinarian to check whether the animal has diseases that may transfer from animals to humans. They should ensure treatment of disease and immunizations for animals,” he said.
As per doctors avoiding cat exposure is important for individuals with cat allergies or those with compromised immune systems. They said if friends or family members own cats, limit visits to their homes.
“When visiting is unavoidable, request that they keep the cat out of the room you’ll be staying in and ventilate the area beforehand.”
Doctors suggest people to avoid and refrain from touching or petting cats. If contact happens, wash your hands and change clothes to prevent the transfer of allergens.
Though cats are soft and cuddly, they may bite or scratch when they’re spooked. “When a cat bites, it may not seem like a big deal. It can be cute when they’re playing but some cat bites can pose significant health risks,” he said.
Khan said such infections if transferred to humans may cause abortions in females. “It is important that if you rear a cat, be conscious. We have seen at ARC that we get many cases of cat bites. If there are any warning signs they should immediately contact a doctor otherwise there are chances of disease spread,” he said.
Over the past several years, pet ownership has increased in Kashmir. Unlike farm animals that provide milk, meat, and eggs, pets are kept purely for companionship.
“A person who intends to keep a pet must be mentally prepared to take proper care of it, including behavioural needs, adequate feeding, shelter, and healthcare facilities. It is irresponsible to bring home an animal without committing to its proper care,” he said.
Though house cats are often vaccinated against the most serious diseases, like rabies, stray cats aren’t usually vaccinated and can carry several diseases.
As per doctors, if cat bite infections are left untreated it can spread to other parts of the body, causing a condition called septicemia (blood poisoning), which requires hospitalization. In rare cases, these infections can be fatal.