Autumn and winter are great seasons to snuggle up with your cat, enjoy warm beverages, and play in snow. The cold temperatures can bring on a cold for both owners and cats. It may seem strange to some, but cats can get colds.
This raises the question: can you catch a virus from your cat? What other illnesses and diseases can you get from your cat? Or what can you do to help your cat with? These are vital questions for cat owners who want to do the best for their feline companions.
A Cat with a Cold: What Symptoms Are There?
If you’re not used to a sick cat, it can be challenging to pinpoint what is wrong with your pet. Outdoor cats are more susceptible to getting a cold than indoor cats. indoor cats. This is because they’ll come in contact with other cats who sneeze and disperse the bacterial droplets. If you notice that your cat is sneezing, it could be a sign of infection. cat keeps sneezing It might be on its way towards getting the sniffles.
Here are some additional symptoms to look out for if your cat is suffering from a cold.
Can a Cat Catch a Cold?
You cannot get a cold from your cat. They cannot also catch a virus from you. Because the common cold virus is species-specific, both cats and humans can get it from different viruses. This means that the virus cannot survive in certain hosts unless the conditions are right.
Cats get colds from species-specific viruses. bacteria Usually transmitted by air or water droplets. There are many respiratory diseases that can infect humans, but the rhinovirus is the most prevalent. Although you might not get the sniffles, there are other diseases and illnesses that you can contract from your feline friend.
4 Diseases that a Cat Can Get from a Human
Any illness or sickness that can infect a person from an animal are called zoonotic diseases. These diseases could be bacterial, viral, or parasitic. Some zoonoses may be completely prevented by vaccines while others require treatment.
1. Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a tick bite-related illness. Lyme disease is not likely, but it is possible. Your cat might not show symptoms if it is bitten by a tick.
Lyme disease can also be contracted by cats if they have ticks on their skin. Lyme disease is curable in humans. However, patients may get a condition called Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).
This condition can make symptoms last for weeks or even years after initial treatment. The symptoms include a fever, skin rash, and fatigue. If the infection is not treated, it can spread to your joints. heart, and nervous systems, which can lead to more serious problems.
Lyme disease can be treated on its own but it is better to consult a professional for proper diagnosis.
2. Cat Scratch Disease
Cat scratch disease can be contracted by humans from infected cats. Bartonella henselae bacteria. This disease can be transmitted by scratching. bite,A cat licking a human’s open wound.
If your pet has fleas, it’s best to get rid of them with a flea treatment because that’s how cats or kittens This bacteria is easy to pick up. The symptoms of infection can appear three to 14 days after the wound has been licked.
These symptoms include reddening or swelling around the injury, fever, headaches, and exhaustion. After a few days, the person’s lymph nodes near the wound can also start to swell, hurt, or become tender.
Most cats don’t exhibit any symptoms of this disease but seek immediate medical advice if you show any of the above symptoms after a bite, scratch, or lick.
3. Rabies
Although you’re more likely to catch rabies from a wild animal bite, you can get it from your pet too. Rabies can be transmitted to outside cats if they get bitten by a rabies infected animal. This is why it is important to keep your cats safe. caring for cats is to ensure they’ve gotten all their vaccines.
The disease transmits via saliva so a bite is more likely to get it. Although it is unlikely that you could get rabies from a scratch on your cat, it is possible. lick This cannot be completely ruled. Rabies affects the host’s central nervous system and causes strange behavior like aggression, loss of appetite, and nervousness.
Your cat will experience symptoms and eventually die seven days after the infection has spread to the brain. A human can experience symptoms for up to one year.
4. Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, one of the most common parasitic diseases in mammals, is one of the most serious. It can be treated with antibiotics or other medications. People at highest risk include pregnant women, infants, and those with weak immune systems.
Cats can pick up the parasite from uncooked infected meat. It can also be transmitted to humans by eating uncooked or undercooked infected meat. But, your cat can also pass it on to you through their feces.
Infected cats could push their heads on surfaces, have ear Twitches, balance problems, and a fever are all symptoms. People’s symptoms may vary depending on their health and age. A healthy adult might experience swelling, body aches and fever. Additional blurred vision and lung problems may be experienced by immunocompromised patients.
3 Diseases Your Cat Could Catch from You
Although this is something that cat owners might not like to hear, there are a few ways your cat could be infected. You can also infect your cat with diseases.
1. Covid-19
While studies are still in the infancy of pet ownership, there have been a few cases where pets were adopted. sick The Covid-19 virus. This can happen to pets who have been in close contact with people who have tested positive.
Like humans, your cat might not have any symptoms and may not get sick. You can expect a full recovery if your cat does get sick. Symptoms are typically mild and very similar to ours. Expect a runny nose and shortness of breath, as well as sluggishness, fever, coughing, and sluggishness. They may also have a fever. eye discharge.
According to the CDC’s guidelines If you suspect your pet might have the Coronavirus, it’s best to keep them home. It can be risky to bring your pet to the veterinarian, especially if they are already sick. Call your vet to discuss the best options. In these cases, some vets offer consultations over-the-phone.
2. Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin that can spread easily between humans and cats. Ringworm can be spread to cats by touching infected people or items like countertops or blankets. Ringworm can be transmitted to cats by contact with open skin wounds.
Ringworm is more common in people with weak immune systems, such as children and older adults. This is why if you suspect you or your pet has ringworm, it’s best to get it treated as soon as possible to avoid spreading it to others.
It is easy to treat for both humans as well as cats. An enzymatic skin cream Your cat might experience temporary relief. Both can experience similar symptoms. hair Itching, scaly, or loss of skin. A cat’s nail Beds and claws could become infected. Humans may also notice their nails becoming brittle and discolored.
3. Giardia Infection
Giardia infection can be caused by water-borne infections in your intestine. It usually occurs when you drink unclean water or are in close proximity to poor sanitation that has been contaminated by a microscopic parasite.
As is to be expected, symptoms appear in the stomach and can include stomach cramps and nausea as well as bloating and diarrhea. The infection can spread from person to person or through food.
This makes it easy for your cat to get the stomach bug. Both cat and owner can experience symptoms for several weeks. It can cause watery diarrhea or vomiting in cats. This can cause rapid dehydration.
For a complete diagnosis and treatment, it is best to take your pet in to the vet. The treatment will include oral therapy for approximately a week. After that, they will be tested for two to four more weeks.
How to Prevent Your Cat from Getting Sick
- Vaccinate — The best way to protect your pet from any disease is to prevent the disease from forming. Ensure that you’re up to date with your pet’s vaccines and veterinary check-ups. This will help prevent them from contracting life-threatening diseases like rabies.
- Keep them away — Some diseases are highly infectious and can spread through microscopic droplets or sneezes.
- Keep it clean — Keeping your and your pet’s living space clean is already half of the battle won. A regularly cleaned area doesn’t allow germs or sicknesses to breed. It is also important that you wash your hands after handling pets in order to prevent any illness.
- Balanced diet —A nutritious meal is vital to your pet’s health. While bacteria carry many diseases, an unhealthy diet could be making your cat sick as well, especially when they’re missing out on essential immune-building vitamins.
Final thoughts on catching a cold from your cat
Although you can’t catch a cold from your cat you might get other illnesses or diseases from them. You may also catch a few diseases from your cat.
There are several ways to prevent cross-infection. Regularly practice these things. cat check-ups Check your furry friend’s health at home. If they are not, you can take them to the vet for a check-up.
You and your feline friend need to look out for one another when it comes to health and other risks.
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