First we learned that your cat's poop might give you fits of rage, and now it turns out just being around our cats could make us seriously sick.

我们在一开始就知道你家猫咪的便便可能会惹毛你，而现在发现，仅仅是待在猫咪周围也会使我们身染重病。

NPR reports more people are becoming seriously ill with something called cat-scratch disease, a sickness that you can get if your cat's claws pass on certain bacteria when they scratch you.

美国国家公共电台报道，越来越多的人由于“猫抓病”而身患重病，它是由于你家猫咪在抓你时爪子上携带的病菌传染而致病。

You can also get it by kissing your cat or touching your cat. Nothing is safe.

即使是亲吻和抚摸猫咪也可能患病。没什么是安全的。

Each year, around 12,000 people get the disease that causes symptoms like a bump or blister¹ near the scratch, fatigue², fever, headache, and more.

每年约有12000人患“猫抓病”，感染后会出现抓痕处肿起或起泡、疲劳、发烧、头痛等症状。

The disease comes from bacteria that's passed cat to cat and is also found in flea³ poop, which cats can get on their paws, in their fur, and in their mouths.

这种疾病由猫和猫之间传播的细菌造成，该种细菌也存在于跳蚤粪便中，而它们会黏附在猫咪的爪子、毛发以及嘴里。

If your cat scratches or bites you, you're at risk for the disease that can turn into a heart infection or cause your brain to swell⁴.

如果你家的猫抓了你或咬了你，你就有心脏感染或脑肿胀的风险。

While fewer people are getting the disease, NPR points out, a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the cases that do happen are getting more serious.

美国国家公共电台指出，虽然患病人数较少，但美国疾病预防与控制中心已经发现，一旦患病，情况就会变得越来越严重。

To lessen⁵ your risk for the disease NPR says you should be sure to treat your cat for fleas⁶ and and keep it indoors.

为了降低患病风险，美国国家公共电台建议，你应当确保猫身上没有跳蚤并且让它一直待在室内。

It's also a good idea to wash your hands after you touch your cat and not to kiss your cat.

摸完猫后立刻洗手是个不错的习惯，切记不要亲吻猫咪。

If it has flea poop in its fur and that poop comes into contact with your mouth, you might get sick.

如果猫身上有跳蚤粪便并且与你的嘴接触，你就有可能生病。

And NPR reports that kittens are especially risky⁷ because young cats are even more likely to have the bacteria that makes you sick.

公共电台报道称，小猫更加危险，因为它们身上携带的细菌会在增加你患病的可能性。

We always suspected cats had some grand plan to take over the world. Maybe cat-scratch disease is their first step.

我们一向怀疑喵星人有着统治地球的远大抱负。也许猫抓病就是它们迈出的第一步。