Insulin Needles are a constant indirect threat?

[Erik]

So when a cat is injected you pull the needle out right? And since many cats have fur, logically, the fur will make contact with the used needle and contaminate that fur, so by this logic, doesn't the fur in that area, even if it's a little bit, become a hazard for any surface it comes in contact with or if anyone pets that area? I mean I guess you could then logically wipe that area with some sort of appropriate cleaner but I'm not fully sure what that would be.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

When you take the needle out of the cat after injection the insulin, it will not hurt if it touches any fur as the needle is being discarded. Never use a needle more than once. Any fur that is touched with the needle will not be effected in any adverse way or if the fur touches anything.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I suspect you're over thinking the scenario. Consider what happens if you get an injection at your doctor's office or if you have diabetes and you're giving yourself a shot. Regardless of whether there's fur (and with humans, there may be very fine hairs), there's no incidence of contamination. You don't get your family sick. I've been on this site for a very long time and not heard of anyone having a problem with a pet-borne illness. Likewise, I've work at a medical center for decades -- before it was standard practice to glove for giving shots and never had a medical professional become contaminated unless they stuck themselves with a needle. We have had members inadvertently stick themselves after having given their cat an insulin shot and not infected themselves. Remember, for a pet to infect you, the animal would need to be ill.

Also, consider that your cat cleans him/herself quite thoroughly, as do dogs. They will lick from one end to the other and then snuggle up to give you a kiss. We don't get sick.