Can I catch my cat's cold?

If you’ve ever had a cat sneeze in your face you might have wondered if kitty colds are contagious.

Diseases that can pass from animals to people are called zoonotic diseases. Catch scratch disease and rabies are two common examples. Fortunately, the common cold is not a zoonotic disease. In fact, the viruses that give humans the sniffles do not affect cats at all. And the same is true in reverse – humans are not susceptible to feline viruses that cause sneezing in cats. So although it might be hard for you to stay healthy during flu season, your pet should not be affected. So go ahead and play with Fluffy when you’re staying home sick from work. She’ll appreciate the extra attention.

– Dr. Andrea Looney, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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