You might love nothing more than a cuddle with your cat to lift your mood or ease away the stresses of your day - but that simple affectionate move could end up killing you.

This dramatic finding comes from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US, who spent eight years studying the human impact of a condition known as cat scratch disease. As its name indicates, the disease is spread via scratches and bites from cats. According to the Telegraph, the disease can cause fever, pustules, and even death in the very worst cases due to swelling of the heart and brain. Dr. Christina Nelson of the CDC said:

"The scope and impact of the disease is a little bit larger than we thought. Cat-scratch is preventable. If we can identify the populations at risk and the patterns of disease, we can focus the prevention efforts."

Scientists say the best ways to avoid catching the disease are to wash your hands after every time you pet your cat, and to avoid kissing the animal. It's also vital to check that your cat doesn't have fleas. Cat scratch disease is more likely to affect young children, and has been known to flare up after the Christmas period, possibly due to untreated cats being given as presents. Kittens are also believed to be most likely to carry the disease. However, the research indicates that the disease is not very common: the annual incidence in the US was 4.5 outpatient diagnoses per 100,000 population. So that's probably enough to convince all "crazy cat ladies" that it's safe to keep the snuggles coming.