are you pregnant?  if not  only thing you can catch is ringworm
which that is not
but  if you come in contact with other animals you could be a carrier

http://www.netpets.org/cats/catresc/californ.html

http://www.netpets.org/cats/catresc/groups/california.html

Hi
this cat needs help  you should help her  or him after all
if you don't help they cant ask for help them self..
think about it  maybe.. this cat came to you  because she thought you would
help her
Linda

Are you sure that isn't just tear ducts? Sometimes tears can accumulate there
and not necessarily be a sign of anything wrong with the cat.

This cat is asking for your help- if you can't or won't keep the cat then
find a no-kill shelter that will take the cat and find him/her a new home

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs

take the cat in

You are very kind to feed the cat.  Please continue to do so and give
it some water as well.  Perhaps you could advertize its description.
It might be a lost cat.  It doesnt have to go into your house.  It
will be just fine to stay outside and will appreciate the food you
give it.  YOu could give it a little pat on the head without any fear
of catching anything.  My friend feeds a feral cat. I noticed that  it
has bad eyes I noticed when I visited her last weekend.  But that cat
would be impossible to catch.  She has no carrier to take it to the
vet and wouldnt do that anyhow.  She just feeds it and one or two
others and I think at night various varmints come and finsh off the
food.

I doubt you would get sick from touching it, but when in doubt,
washing your hands afterwards would certainly be prudent regardless.

Many cats have that tear "channel" from their eyes as a normal
permanent marking...

X-No-Archive:

In article
<ae29190f-455b-4bf7-9f93-808efa80eada@c58g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>,

You fed it, you keep it ;-). I recommend that you keep feeding it until
you can place the cat with someone, unless you decide you want to keep
it yourself. From what you write, the cat seems domesticated and would
take to a new home quickly. I think the cat would make an excellent
companion for you or someone in need of one. A trip to the vet with the
cats for tests, shots, neutering (if needed), a litter box, and food and
water and you're good to go. You may not be able to afford these things.
_All_ my cats have been or are strays or from a shelter(one). One was
decidedly feral and pretty mean, but has taken to me quite well over the
years.

Where I now live, stray cats show up all the time, well...several per
year. Most have been feral, but even a feral cat can be won over with a
some patience. I'm working on one right now...don't know what I'll do
about him and he has to survive the local coyotes. The nearest shelter
(by 20+ miles) refuses to take cats from me since I'm "not in their
area". Funny, they allowed me to adopt a cat from them. Around here,
cats just stop showing up for food or their lives are ended cruelly.
Because of the attitude at the nearest shelter and my limited means,
there is little I can do. That same shelter shows preferential treatment
to the manager's friends, even though they are from my area and have the
means to pay. So it goes...

Good luck,
SBZ

The three most significant diseases acquired from cats cannot be
contracted from touching it.  Toxoplasmosis can be acquired by
handling OLD (>48 hrs.) feces from new kittens and is generally only
dangerous to the human fetus therefore pregnant women should avoid
handling the litter box.  Cat scratch fever is what it sounds like and
needs a scratch that draws blood to be caused.  Cat bites can cause
Pasteurella multocida cellulitis.  If the cat is friendly, you are
unlikely to be bitten or scratched, but if you are, you can
immediately avoid consequences by seeking medical evaluation if it
happens.  The vast majority of bites or scratches result in nothing at
all, since the rate of contagion in both cases is low.  The animal you
describe sounds domestic and friendly and will probably be the most
grateful creature you ever meet in your life if you help him/her.
Don't be afraid.

--tension

No, you won't get sick from touching it.   The poor thing is just in need of
a lot of love, attention, a cozy secure, and safe place to sleep, and food.
You would look the same if you were in it's place.