Having pets and children under one roof can be worrying at times. When it comes to cats, they can sometimes carry diseases, but there are very few diseases that are transmissible from cats to humans.
Doctors recommend keeping the cat indoors and away from roaming cats, this is one of the safest ways to keep the cat free from disease and parasite.
If your children are cat lovers, then you should be wary of pets or rather some unwanted visitors they may be carrying — affecting the children’s brains, according to a new research.
According to a study by The Journal of Parasitology, parasites carried by cats are linked to reduced reading and memory aptitude in children. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite grown in the guts of cats that hides in cells in the brain and muscles without producing any symptoms.
Children who tested positive for this parasite, which can be spread through contact with faeces, had poorer reading and memory skills.
Scientists at the University of Iowa and Florida International University conducted the study. They gave children a cognitive test to assess their reading and memory and found that children who tested positive for the parasite, scored lower in the tests.
Toxoplasma gondii can produce a flu-like illness, but in more severe cases, it can go on to form cysts in the brain cells.
The authors of the study also said that vitamin E could help reduce the effects of Toxoplasma gondii on the brain.
However, they said they would need more longer-term studies to confirm findings.
The scientists also referred to previous research that found this parasite can alter human behavior due to the effect it has on the brain.
Besides cats, other causes of this parasite infection include: undercooked meat, especially lamb and venison, and ingesting water, soil or anything else contaminated by cat faeces.
According to pediatrician Dr. Laila Jamal at King Abdulaziz Hospital, it is fairly rare to pick up a disease from a cat. “It is highly recommended that mothers take their cats to the vet for a full checkup before their child is born,” she said. “The vet should check the cat for ringworm. They need to ensure they stick to a regular worming and de-fleaing regime,” she added.
Below is a list of diseases that can be caused by pets, especially cats:
Salmonella: This diseases is caused by bacteria of the Salmonella genus existing in cats. It is most commonly acquired via oral ingestion. Cats are most likely to become infected after eating certain kinds of birds. Humans and cats are not allowed to be physically close to their nose and mouth.
Cat Scratch Disease: This is caused by a bacteria called Bartonella Henselae. This is rarely a problem in people with a healthy immune system; it is most often seen in immunocompromised people. Antibiotic treatment for you and your cat usually clears up this infection.
Toxoplasmosis: It is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Many animals can get toxoplasmosis including sheep and cattle. Cats shed the parasitic cysts in their faeces, which then infect humans and other animals. In healthy adults, Toxoplasmosis usually causes only mild symptoms. If a woman becomes infected during her pregnancy it can have devastating effects on the unborn fetus.
If a woman owns a cat while being pregnant it is advisable to do a blood test to see if she has antibodies to Toxoplasmosis, which would indicate a past exposure to the parasite. If she has been infected in the past, there is little to no risk of her passing it on to her unborn baby. If the new mommy hasn’t had prior exposure, it is advisable to have her partner clean litter trays during the pregnancy. Or if she chooses to clean it herself, she must use rubber gloves and try to avoid inhaling any dust from litter trays, it is advisable to wear a mask.
Humans can also be infected by eating undercooked meat and vegetables, one must ensure the meat is thoroughly cooked and that they wash their hands and utensils after handling meat. There is a greater risk of one becoming infected with Toxoplasmosis from raw and undercooked meat than there is from your cat, if kept indoors.
Ringworm: This is caused by a fungi, not a worm. It is more a nuisance than a danger. It can sometimes be hard to eliminate from the environment, however with stringent cleaning and the use of anti-fungal creams it can be cleared up. Again, if the cat is indoors and has been cleared as safe by the vet, there is little chance of catching the disease. Ringworm is more common in kittens and cats living in over-crowded conditions.
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Are pets dangerous for your children?
Are pets dangerous for your children?
Where We Are Going Today: Joontos restaurant
While staying at Dar Tantora: The House Hotel in AlUla recently, I kept coming back for seconds at the establishment’s restaurant, Joontos, awarded a Bib Gourmand distinction in the Michelin Guide 2025.
If you are also staying at the hotel, this is the breakfast option that is conveniently provided — with no buffet in sight.
On my first breakfast there, on a crisp cool morning, I overheard several guests ask if there was a buffet and each was told no, it was a la carte.
That special attention to each plate made sense moments later when my selection arrived. I did not need to be distracted or stuff my plate with a mismatch of items but focus on one decadent dish at a time.
Even if you are not a hotel guest, you can — and perhaps should — also dine there. Seating is limited, so it is best to book ahead.
You can enter either from outside the building or via the labyrinth within the hotel. Like in life, the path there seems complicated at first, but very easy once you know where to go.
The aptly-named Joontos derives from the Spanish word “juntos,” meaning “together.”
While the staff told me they tend to skirt around using the overused word fusion, the food is indeed a tasty mix of this and that.
It serves what they call “modern Saudi cuisine” from chef Jaume Puigdengolas, using local ingredients from nearby farms, with a menu medley full of international favorites.
The outdoor seating in the fresh air is spacious and offers sweeping views of the ancient rock formations. But the main view will be your beautifully curated dishes, bursting with vibrant color and even brighter flavor.
There are limited semi-indoor tables, which usually need to be reserved.
Since oranges were in season, I had freshly squeezed juice and indulged in the mascarpone croissant with berries that they recommended, both highlights. I also could not resist the plate of homemade baked bread with various sauces for dipping.
One morning, I ordered the Moroccan eggs bowl, made with freshly poached eggs — I asked for mine medium — served with roasted cherry tomatoes, olives, whipped labneh and chili oil.
I returned for several days and also for a group lunch — everything was excellent. It was consistently good.
My food arrived on time, and the service was attentive; friendly without being overbearing.
That said, on one visit, my friend ordered a granola yogurt bowl and an egg dish — the granola arrived instantly, and she raved about it, but the eggs never came.
Despite asking multiple times, they did not arrive, and we eventually had to rush out, so the rest of the order was canceled.
Joontos is deliberately kept exclusive to AlUla with no other branches, ensuring high quality and a unique experience.
It is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a smart-casual dress code.
If you travel by car, there is free parking available at Old Town South Parking, making it easy to pop in and enjoy a meal, as many locals did.
While the Dar Tantora hotel is named for the tantora atop its building — the triangular stone sundial whose shadow across the space below historically signaled the start of the farming season — perhaps the truest marking of time is one’s grumbling stomach, signaling that it is time to eat.
Follow them @joontos_alula on Instagram.
