The common cold is a mild viral respiratory infection in humans, most frequently caused by rhinoviruses or seasonal human coronaviruses. When a person has cold symptoms, they often worry about cross-species transmission to their feline companion. This article addresses the specific risks of transmitting the human cold virus to a cat and explains what truly causes respiratory symptoms in felines.
The Specific Answer: Human Cold Viruses and Cats
The viruses responsible for the vast majority of human common colds cannot infect cats due to the species barrier. Viruses are highly specialized agents that require specific receptors on the host species’ cells to gain entry and replicate. The receptor sites targeted by human rhinoviruses, which cause an estimated 50% of human colds, are not present or functional in the feline respiratory tract. This means the virus cannot attach to a cat’s cells, effectively stopping the infection. Therefore, sneezing on your cat will not give it a typical human cold, nor will the common human coronaviruses that cause cold symptoms.
Understanding Respiratory Illness in Cats
Since cats do not catch human colds, symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose, and congestion are caused by cat-specific pathogens. These signs are attributed to Feline Upper Respiratory Infection (FURI), often called “cat flu.” FURI is frequently a complex illness involving more than one infectious agent. The two primary causes, responsible for approximately 90% of FURI cases, are Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV). Both viruses are highly contagious between cats, spreading through respiratory secretions, sneezing, or shared bowls. FHV-1 often causes severe symptoms, including fever and eye inflammation, while FCV is associated with oral ulcers or sores on the tongue.
Treatment for FURI is largely supportive, as there is no direct cure for the viral infection itself. Veterinarians focus on managing symptoms to keep the cat comfortable and prevent secondary bacterial infections. Supportive care involves cleaning nasal and eye discharge, encouraging the cat to eat and drink, and using humidification to ease congestion. Cats infected with FHV-1 become lifelong carriers, and the virus can reactivate during periods of stress, leading to recurrent episodes of sneezing.
Are There Shared Respiratory Illnesses?
While the typical human cold virus cannot jump to cats, a few exceptions exist where pathogens can cross the species barrier, a process known as zoonosis. Some bacteria can be shared, such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, which causes respiratory illness in cats and dogs and can infect immunocompromised humans. This bacterium causes symptoms similar to coughing and sneezing.
Certain viruses with high mutation rates have shown the capacity to transmit from humans to felines, an event known as reverse zoonosis. Human influenza viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) have been documented to infect cats exposed to sick owners. In most reported cases, the resulting respiratory symptoms in the cats were mild or non-existent. To minimize the risk of transmission for these shared pathogens, maintaining good hygiene is a preventative measure. This includes washing hands thoroughly before and after handling a cat, especially if you have respiratory symptoms. Avoiding close face-to-face contact, such as letting a sick person kiss the cat’s face, helps prevent the direct transfer of respiratory droplets.