Can I catch diseases from my cat?

Healthy cats are generally harmless cats. But humans can be susceptible to some ailments spread by sick cats. These illnesses are called zoonotic diseases because they jump across species.

Cat scratch fever, or bartonellosis, is the most common illness spread from cats to humans. A scratch or bite from a sick cat can cause flu-like symptoms. Salmonella may be spread to humans through kitty litter. And rabies of course, is the most dangerous of all zoonotic diseases, hence the need for vaccination.

Common sense hygiene and kitty litter patrol will spare cat owners from most threats. And remember: you are far more likely to catch a disease from another person than from a cat.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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