Can you catch a cold from a cat? And, what other diseases and illnesses can you catch from your cat, or which ailments can you give your cat?
As a cat owner, you only want the best for your feline friend, which is why these are crucial questions to answer.
Any illnesses or sicknesses from an animal that can infect a human are called zoonotic diseases. These diseases may be viral infections, bacterial, or parasitic infections.
Lyme disease is an illness caused by tick bites. It is unlikely (but not impossible) that your cat will get Lyme disease. If your cat picks up the bacteria from a tick bite, it might not even show symptoms.
However, your cat may carry ticks on them, which can cause you to contract Lyme disease. Lyme disease in humans is curable, but patients might get a condition called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).
Cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection that humans can get from an infected cat carrying the Bartonella henselae bacteria. This disease can get transmitted through a scratch, a bite, or a cat licking a human’s open wound.
Although you’re more likely to catch rabies from a wild animal bite, you can get it from your pet too. If your outside cats get bit by a rabies-infected animal, they may catch the disease.
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic diseases among all mammals. It is curable and treated with antibiotics and other medications. High-risk people are pregnant women, babies, and people with weak immune systems.
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