Posted by AMD on January 26, 2006, at 7:59:25
In reply to REALITY CHECK, posted by Racer on December 30, 2005, at 0:27:40
I survived the cat, but I finally made my girlfriend return it to its rightful owner, her ex-boyfriend, whose presense as a "third wheel" in our relationship has been a non-ignorable aspect of our interactions. (Read: fun weekend fights.)
Sorry I haven't checked in in so long. You have all been very supportive, and I appreciate it.
Racer, the post below really made me laugh. I'll remember the bath tip.
amd
> > I dont mean to freak you but cats can pass on toxoplasmosis,which has been linked to certain things,but dont worry you have to actually have touched thier poo first.
>
> Toxoplasmosis is a virus which many cats do carry. It can be fatal to fetuses, so AMD, if you're pregnant right now, don't clean the catbox. In adults, though, unless you've got a seriously impaired immune system -- as in AIDS, or severe autoimmune disorders, or being on immunosuppressants for organ transplant -- toxoplasmosis is like having a cold. It's not a serious illness.
>
> It's certainly not something to worry about. And AMD? You know that you find things to worry about, so find something more realistic than toxoplasmosis, 'K? Worry that the UN will bring charges against our government in the ICC, over the war in Iraq, or that the delicate ecosystem in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska will be damaged by drilling so that your neighbor can drive a Hummer. Worry that the supermarket is repricing merchandise on the shelves, against federal laws. Something that might be real.
>
> And enjoy the cat. What's the story? Is the cat moving in with you? If so, you'll likely get immune to that one cat over time -- that's what's happened to me with mine, and I'm told that it's common. What's more, if you give the cat a bath, it will remove the allergens -- which are in the saliva, not the fur -- AND cats hate baths. That can be a real bonus, if you're feeling vengeful for the itchy eyes and cough and runny nose.
>
> (OK, funny story: I was living with a boyfriend when we got my Big Cat. He swore up and down that he was allergic to cats, then one day decided we needed to get a cat. Within days, I was so sick I even went to my doctor. She diagnosed my allergy -- I would never have thought of that. He was fine. No problem, never. "allergic" was apparently his way of saying he had never liked cats... After we broke up, he got a new cat right away...)
>
poster:AMD
thread:592715
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060122/msgs/602957.html