Re Russell Link's cautioning people about raccoons feces and the
transmission of diseases their feces to humans, especially children.

Let's not forget roaming cats and the diseases they may carry that are
also transmissable to humans - adults as well as children.
The U.S. Center of Diseases Control and Prevention states that cats are
the domestic animals more prone to carry rabies than dogs. Interesting.
The parasite which causes Taxoplasmosis resides in the intestinal tract
of cats, and diect contact with humans causes serious illnesses in
children and pregnant women.

Hookworm and Roundworm carried by cats can easily infect humans,
especially children who are prone to play on the ground.

So a word of caution. Raccoons AND roaming cats carry diseases which are
transmissable to and cause serious illinesses to humans, especially
children.

Gene Kridler
Sequim, Wa.
ekridler at olympus.net