Cats and humans normally keep their diseases to themselves. If you've ever been licked affectionately or scratched accidentally and gotten a rash, you've been infected by one of the few diseases that can be transmitted to a human from a feline. Cats can pick up diseases from litter boxes, contaminated soil, other cats or fleas and ticks. If you come into contact with an infected cat, you risk contracting a disease. But by using caution, you can prevent an infection, according to Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.Indoor CatsCat scratch fever or disease does not cause a distinct rash (or a fever), but the scratch site may become red.Rocky Mountain spotted fever is transmitted by ticks, producing a rash that can spread across the wrists, palms, ankles, soles and trunk of the body. The disease is common in the south central and the mid-south regions of the United States. Physicians treat it with antibiotics.Cats with toxoplasmosis pick up the parasite on their paws from their litter box.

Infected humans may develop a rash accompanied by fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, fever or swollen lymph glands. Healthy people may show no symptoms, but pregnant women risk a miscarriage or premature birth, and newborns risk severe illness or blindness. Pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems from HIV or cancer should not come in contact with litter boxes.Golden Retriever Pups For Sale In WiOutdoor CatsOutdoor cats can pick up germs from contact with the ground, fleas or infected animals. Car Seat Fitting KensingtonRingworm is a skin infection caused by a mix of fungi found in the soil that passing cats can contract. T Shirt Trojan RecordsRingworm creates a dry, scaly round area on the skin with a rash-like red, uneven, swollen border and a clear center.

Physicians prescribe anti-fungal cream, shampoo or oral medicines for ringworm. Toxocariasis comes from the parasitic roundworm Toxocara. Infected cats' stools contaminate the ground, and cats picked up the worms' eggs. The eggs hatch in the human intestine. This causes a visceral larva migrans infection, which can appear as a rash, as well as swollen lymph nodes, fever, cough or wheezing and an enlarged liver. These can go away by themselves or with medicines that kill the larvae. According to Kidshealth, larvae that get to the eye through the bloodstream can cause permanent loss of vision.An itchy skin disease that comes from contact with hookworm-contaminated soil is called cutaneous larva migrans.PreventionWash hands after handling cats or cleaning their litter boxes. Scoop litter boxes daily, and clean with scalding water and detergent periodically, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine suggests.Don't let small children, especially those with HIV or cancer or who use prednisone frequently, play with kittens or roughly with older cats.

Use flea and tick control, and keep outdoor sandboxes covered.ReferencesCornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Zoonotic Disease: What Can I Catch from My Cat?The Nemours Foundation: KidsHealth: Infections that Pets CarrySome strains of staph are resistant to antibiotics. If your kitty has a skin infection, a chance exists you'll have one, too. Staph is one of several rash-causing diseases that can jump from cats to humans. Keep an eye out for skin health issues on your kitty, especially if kids or immune-suppressed individuals inhabit your home. Staphylococcus Bacteria Cats can carry and transmit the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which is responsible for staph infections. This germ is common; roughly 20 percent of people have it on their skin, according to Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine website. Staph becomes a problem when it enters an open wound. The infection causes a bumpy red rash that can extend over several square inches of skin. Healthy adults have little to worry about, but the disease can be dangerous for pregnant women, children and people suffering from autoimmune disorders.

Cats can transmit the normal or methicillin-resistant strain of staph, but you are more likely to contract it from elsewhere in the environment. Cat Scratch Disease Cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection that cats transmit when they bite or scratch. About 40 percent of cats carry it at some point in their lives, according to the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. Much like staph, cat scratch is mostly a problem for vulnerable individuals and children. Many people that contract it never even realize they are infected. Swollen lymph nodes, fever and fatigue are the primary warning signs. Call your doctor if the area your cat bit or scratched is visibly inflamed or infected. Parasites If you start getting itchy red bumps after holding or petting your kitty, she may have creepy-crawlies in her fur. Mites and fleas are common sources of skin irritation in cats, and their bites cause rashes in humans. Mange mites are tenacious critters that can produce quite a bit of skin damage and hair loss on your kitty.

They can't actually infest humans, but they can and will bite you if given the chance -- such as when you're petting your infested kitty. Don't rely on a visual inspection to identify mites; most of them are too small to see without a magnifying lens. Treatment and Prevention It's easy to dismiss scratching and hair loss in your cat, but you should never ignore it just because it can't spread to you. Call your vet if your kitty develops bald patches and red, itchy skin. Keep her isolated from people and other animals until your vet gives you a diagnosis. Wear disposable gloves before touching your pet's skin. Make sure kids know not to pet her for now. Keep your cat indoors to reduce her chances of picking up pathogens and parasites. If your cat continues to give you skin rashes, discuss the possibility of cat dander allergies with your doctor. Infections from Excrement Cleaning the litter box is never fun, but knowing you can get sick from doing it makes it even less enjoyable. Pregnant women and immune-suppressed individuals should avoid litter boxes due to the risk of toxoplasmosis, which is caused by a common parasitic protozoa.