Individuals with compromised immune systems who are thinking about bringing a kitten into their home may want to first have the animal's blood cultured for Bartonella henselae, the bacteria that causes cat scratch disease.
Cats can act as carriers, without being ill themselves, and can pass on the disease when they scratch or bite people. The wound does not have to be very deep to do its damage -- still, washing bites or scratches immediately with anti-bacterial soap is an important step in helping prevent the illness from occurring.
Relatively healthy individuals can become sick from Bartonella henselae; however, their symptoms are usually mild and disappear within a few weeks or months. As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that people who have poorly functioning immune systems, due to disease, other disorders, or chemotherapy, avoid kittens and young cats -- and, if they do get bitten or scratched, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
