When Marcia and I went to the chemo class, one of the things brought up was pets. With a cat, they said we could interact, play, pet, cuddle etc., no problem. They also said not to allow them to sleep in the bed with us. Socrates sleeps with Marcia and occasionally will sleep at my feet.

As I sit here typing with the boy all curled up on my legs, purring and extremely happy we're here for the weekend, I'm feeling guilty having to close the bedroom door and keep him out when we sleep (well.. YOU stand there and look at that pitiful face when I'm closing the door!).

I've looked a bit around on the web and haven't found anything that substantiates keeping them off the bed. If we can play, cuddle etc with them, then why kick them out at night? I know the obvious issues with litter and such.... but but but but Marcia is changing that and doing the raw meat feedings (he eats a raw chicken diet with an open supply of high protein kitten food). Anyone have some info?

"T"

No, this is one I have not heard of. Im wondering why the cat cant sleep on the bed? Maybe dander??? If you get the answer to this please let me know. I have 2 cats glued to my side every night, they follow me relentlessly while I get ready for bed. They are just waiting for me to go to bed so they can sleep too.

The only negative I have ever heard is that by sleeping with pets (any kind) it can interfere with getting a good nights sleep.

I have never heard of such a thing either! I wonder tho if the minimal (previously unheard of) negative effect is outweighed by the positive one of less stress and enjoyment of having your beloved pet with you.

I agree with Christine - let us know!

Donna

This comes from the JH Patient Guide, there are a few pages of Care for the immunocompromised patient. It's the only thing I have that says anything like this. The rest is on the word of the oncology nurse and resident that taught the class. "T"


Q: Can I still take care of my pets?

A: If you have a cat or dog, try to spend little time in contact with it and wash your hands immediately afterward.

A: You should not have any contact with birds, fish, rodents, reptiles or farm animals.

A: If you pet develops diarrhea, remove it from your living area until a veterinarian has seen it.

A You may not clean up pet urine or feces, including litter boxes, bird cages or aquariums.

A: Avoid exposure to any cat which has not been declawed.

MORE:

I did find a few pages that stated similar things. None of which suggested that your pets shouldn't sleep with you. Marcia and I have decided to allow him to do what he wants to do. We were fortunate to find a friend of a friend who house/cat sits 4 days a week so he's certainly not starved for attention but still, it's traumatic enough we're gone all week and he has someone else here watching him. Poor boy has to be confused

After a game of fetch this afternoon, he laid with me, got pets and was just an absolute sweetheart. I came to the conclusion that the joy he brings to me is far more beneficial than the slim risk of an infection IMO. If precautions are taken, it appears the risk is low. What I've read since indicates those with higher immune risk cancers are at more risk (bone, blood etc).

Acute Taxoplasmosis can be acquired in immune compromised patients, like cancer, and mainly from contact with fecal matter, and mainly from cats. But if I had a pet, I would just be cautious, use gloves when changing litter, wear mask, and hand wash then, and also after petting, and others may want go avoid contact or exposure. There are some other disease, infections from pets and animals like Cyrptoridiosis, Mycobacterium, Ascarid infections, Campylobacteriosis, Chlamydial, Cryptococcosis, Giardiasis, Psittacosis-Ornithosos, ringworm, and Salmonellosis.

After looking into this further and getting affirmation like yours and others, we're not going to worry about it. We'll take proper precautions.

"T"

All I can say is through treatment, our dog was practically glued to Vince. I don't know if it was that he sensed a need or if he was an opportunist who took advantage of a warm body laying on the couch...but he rarely left V's side, something I think V took comfort in. My thoughts are, if you know the bloodwork is still strong, I wouldn't worry too much about the contact.

PaulB is absolutely correct wrt the risk to patients with compromised immune systems.

That said, I think anyone who has a cat that they love is going to be loved by that cat in return and the risk though real, is minimal. I firmly believe that in your case, as it was in mine, the benefits (documented) far outweigh the risks.

[Edit to add:] I did the same with my cat Waldo and credit him for my easy healing! Having him lay facing me on my chest, purring and pouring healing love into me simply was amazing in the way it elevated my spirits!

I'd say go for it, just as you are doing!

I did have a French Bulldog, named Nemo, who I had for 6 years, but had to give him up from cancer treatment, due to being hospitalized for 6 months. I still miss him.

We now have 7 cats, 2 85' Pit mix rescues and a bunny. Pre cancer we didn't have the dogs but one of our 7 cats glued himself to me throughout my entire Tx as if they drew straws. He would also lay on my chest and purr and that really comforted me greatly.

Our cat (A stray) showed up on the scene after our Dog passed away. Our Dog was right by my side through the good and bad of surgery and six months later radiation/chemo. Even in failing health herself it was almost like she lived to see me get better. "Murray" arrived on the scene literally after Trixie passed away. As with most felines he has a take or leave it attitude, but when I got sick again a couple Months ago he's been right there with me, and yes David, he's on my lap in the recliner and almost on top of me when in bed. Funny, I've not heard of denying a pet but then again I never brought it up to my medical team and they never asked. My thought is they're an extended family member/caregiver! If they make a difference and there's no substantiating evidence as to why not then "Why not?"

Pets DO make a difference! The waiting room attached to the Rad Tx room where my son was being zapped and where I waited for him, was regularly visited by a therapy dog. She was a beautiful collie and would only approach anyone after being invited. I'm not a "dog" person but when I saw her sitting a few feet away and looking at me with her gentle soulful eyes, I couldn't help but smile at her and she came over and sat by me for a few minutes. It really helped.

My guy took comfort in the household kitties; they'd lounge with him and the purrs were soothing when feeling so bad otherwise.

Here is a new twist. I have always said pets are great, providing more benefit than liability. A new thought just hit me yesterday that made me pause and decide to at least throw it on the board.

We have a loving little feline, Dennis, yes his name implies his personality, who is just less than a year and is the tiger in the jungle, often bringing home fruits of the hunt.

Poor Robin Red Breast, the latest hunt's prize, on the doorstep; this one not yet molested like most. This morning he is all over me giving me kisses and I am thinking how many dead bird germs might now be all over my face.

Just passing along the thought.

Well, cats usually like to be very clean, always cleaning themselves. So you are probably ok. Just go wash your face and brush your teeth just to be on the safe side. One of my partially tamed feral cats always washes her paws in the water dish and then dumps it over to wash her back paws. I had to get her a kiddie pool to use.

Dennis....never have named any of my cats Dennis but IT FITS THEM ALL!!! We can't let any of our 7 cats outside anymore due to the ever constant presence of Coyotes. They "arrived" about 5 years ago and appear to be a problem all across the US. Nevertheless we do have a screened in lanai and occasionally one will run through the house with a freshly caught lizard in his mouth.

According to CNN:

70 - The percentage of Americans who considered themselves "dog people," according to a 2006 Gallup Poll.

20 - The percentage who told Gallup they liked cats better.

70 million - The number of pet dogs in the United States in 2012.

74.1 million - The number of pet cats in the United States in 2012.

So David, you're keeping the numbers honest.

Btw no word on the other 10%. I'm figuring monitor lizards.

Having now been home for two weeks, I'm finally starting to see a little daylight at the end of the tunnel. Besides the comfort of being "home" the best therapy has been interacting with our cat Socrates. He's an exotic breed (Pixie Bob). They call Pixie Bobs dogs in cat clothes.

If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be getting any exercise! He likes to play catch and fetch with his "mousie" (a tin foil ball scrunchie thing). He'll bring me his "mousie" and I throw, he attacks, plays and drops it for me to throw again. I end up walking back and forth between the living room and kitchen tossing that silly thing around for at least 15 minutes before he finally has had enough and crashes.

Whats even better is when he comes up in my lap and sprawls out for pets. Best therapy there is Common sense hygiene practiced and there's no down side.

"T"

"I end up walking back and forth between the living room and kitchen tossing that silly thing around for at least 15 minutes before he finally has had enough and crashes. "

Ummmm, whose playing fetch with whom?????

I've had several cats over the years that love to play fetch. I have one right now but my greatest all time was Ernie, a small male yellow tabby who would go to all links to find his "pray" and return it to me. I would always try and out smart him even throwing off of our 3rd story balcony down to the screened in lanai and that little sucker would take off down our stairs to the 2nd floor and then out onto it's balcony and down a set of spiral steps to the lanai, find it and run full speed back up to me. He was the best!

[quote=davidcpa]"I end up walking back and forth between the living room and kitchen tossing that silly thing around for at least 15 minutes before he finally has had enough and crashes. "

Ummmm, whose playing fetch with whom?????[/quote]

Yeah well... what can I say? He owns me and he's spoiled rotten! ~lol~ By far he's the coolest cat I've ever had.

"T"

You all do know the BIG difference between cats and dogs, don't you?

Dogs have owners, cats have staff.

But seriously, cats pose a serious risk to folks getting chemo, because chemo often causes immune system crashes. And cat's claws are labs for malicious microbes one of the worst of which is known as "Cat Scratch Fever" and is definitely nothing to mess with if you have a compromised immune system.

So when my buddy, Waldo would come and cuddle on my chest, I had a small blanket I'd lay over my chest just so that he could "make bread" with his front claws without putting me at risk since the claws do not go through the blanket.

Also changing their litter boxes... Not good

I had a dog for 7 years, who I had to give give up after cancer hospitalization in 2009, and always wanted to get another pet, but the risks of infection is one reason I haven't, besides it being restricted on my lease now lol.

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html

Patients and their pets is a serious topic. One can make the argument that potential for spreading disease is increased by proximity to pets while others make the case the emotional uplift from the pets offers significant therapeutic benefits. That said, I can not recollect a single post where someone during or post tx stated any infection, disease, or any negative medical consequence from a pet.

I completely agree, donfoo. I take that risk without many qualms, but I do pay attention to the risk during our interactions.

I always want to warn people of the risk, and let them make the decision what to do with that information.

Bart

During nadir, I was instructed to stay away from our pets for that short block of time.

I was doing the same as Bart, just sharing what I knew about Taxoplasmosis, very little lol, and adding to the conversation, and cat scratch fever. Even still, if I could, I would have a pet.

Just to mention, before being diagnosed with cancer in 2009, I had a scratch from dog on my leg, and subsequently developed an abcess in the area, which had to be surgically removed, and from the hospitalization and or from surgery, contracted MRSA, which led to sepsis. During that time (21 days), I showed them the enlarged cevical lymph node, which was thought to be from the infection, which of course turned out to be cancerous.

You know, even discussing pets, each person is unique, like we say all the time about everything else cancer. Paul, your comment reminds me that one's current state of immune system and Uptown mentioning where in process of treatment, all weigh in to what the right balance of benefits and risks is for each of us.

Gotta pipe in here because before, during and currently my wife and I had/have 2 85 pound pit mix rescues, 10 stray alley cats that found us and a small whole house roaming rabbit. We all live inside and except for the occassional "disagreement" we all get along. My wife is the "collector" and I am the default "keeper". I have never had a medical issue and quite frankly they were and are a constant comfort to us. One of my cats, Sandy a large yellow male whose since passed, stayed on my chest the entire time I was in the bed during Tx.

My pit (actually my sons but it lives in my house) may have smelled my tumor before DX. He constantly sniffed my neck before and hasn't done it since. My only warning is that dogs in particular can sense you are in distress and try and protect you. This is another one of those " let common sense be your guide" things.

That's it Don, immune system, co-medical conditions, health status, type of cancer treatments weigh in to take universal precautions when handling, cleaning pets, even doing yard work.

Paul, you are exactly right. One of the purposes of regular labs is to monitor things like blood counts. Going through Hep C treatment in 2002, I had to review weekly labs in detail with the doctor's office. When neutrophils dropped to 1,500 I was instructed to wear a mask and gloves even doing yard work. I didn't realize anthrax is from the dirt until then. Neutropenia is also an ongoing issue with treatment for SOME. As in all things cancer, there is no one size or one rule fits all.

I had my pooch face through my treatment. Just wash your hands. Hugs.

[quote]I had my pooch face through my treatment. Just wash your hands. Hugs.[/quote]That may work. We have a cat who shows us love all the time. The hunter drops of birds, rats, snakes, whatever he brings home and drops on the doorstep.

Of course, later in the evening he is licking my face or I'm spitting out cat hair.

Oh well still here - one year post and great immune system. Even I'd think twice if I was in the throws of rads or chemo. Just saying, it all depends.

My wife loves to remind me when I'm being licked in the face by one of our cats or dogs that they lick their butt with the same tongue.

[quote=davidcpa]My wife loves to remind me when I'm being licked in the face by one of our cats or dogs that they lick their butt with the same tongue. [/quote]Wonderful! My hunter cat's hunting prowess may not resonate with many but your example is surely universal. Makes one wonder.