it's true that wspa came here to train the "vets" (and i use the term loosely) to spay, neuter and euthanise the local cats in a campaign to reduce them. it seems the gov find it easier and probablycheaper to put out rat poison. fortunately, most cats know not to eat it. but the ones that do, suffer an horrendous slow painful death. as far as diseases go, the only life-threatening disease from cats is rabies. however, another human can give you: aids, syphillis, typhoid, ebola, rabies, yellow fever, hepatitas, smallpox, SARS, etc. need i go on???
mr. rochester seems to have an unfounded fear of small animals. maybe he was tied up as a child.