Q: I have a compromised immune system, and I want to adopt a cat. What do I need to know about protecting my health? A: Many people are immunocompromised because of physiologic factors like pregnancy or extremes of age, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, infectious diseases like HIV, or treatment with immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune diseases, cancer, or organ transplantation. People with compromised immune systems can enjoy the health benefits of living with pets provided they take precautions. Talk with your health care provider about the specifics of your own health while keeping the following general guidelines in mind. Adopt a healthy adult cat because adults are less likely to carry disease than kittens. Be sure the cat is sterilized, current on vaccinations, and tests negative for the feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses, because both suppress the immune system, making the cat susceptible to diseases you can catch. Keep …