Key facts at a glance
- Cats can catch a cold just like humans, and when they do, they suffer from similar ailments.
- As a rule, a little rest and attention is enough to cure the cold within a few days.
- Normally, a human cold is not contagious to cats.
- If the infection is caused by bacteria, humans and cats can sometimes infect each other.
- In addition to a harmless cold, cats can also get cat flu.
Cats can catch colds too
Just like humans, cats can catch a cold. The symptoms are quite similar. Tiredness, lack of appetite, coughing, sneezing and a runny nose are also among the typical symptoms associated with a cold in cats. In addition, when cats have a cold, their eyes often water.
Treatment of a cat with a cold
A simple cold can usually be easily cured in cats with a few days of rest and a cozy, warm place to sleep.
As a rule, it is not necessary to take a cat to the vet with a cold. However, it is quite possible that the condition of the four-legged friend deteriorates and, for example, fever is added to the symptoms or the symptoms do not subside even after several days.
In these cases, a trip to the vet is of course essential. After all, it may well be that it is not a harmless infection, but a serious illness such as cat cold.
Can cats catch a cold from their owners?
Despite all the apparent similarities in terms of symptoms and treatment, different pathogens cause the common cold in humans and cats. It is therefore normally not possible for you to catch a cold in your cat or infect your four-legged friend. The viruses involved in the common cold are host-specific and do not spread across species.
If you have a cold, you can still cuddle with your cat without hesitation and can take care of your house tiger as normal.
However, there are exceptions. Because if the cold was caused by bacteria in you or in your cat, transmission between humans and animals is sometimes possible. Certain bacteria such as streptococci, pasteurella, chlamydia and bordatella can affect both humans and cats. In this case, it is therefore advisable to avoid close physical contact until the two- or four-legged patient has fully recovered.
Cat flu is not a harmless cold
The term cat flu may sound harmless. In truth, however, it is a serious cat disease that can occasionally cause permanent damage, including blindness.
The symptoms of cat flu are similar to those of a cold. However, affected animals should always be examined by a veterinarian so that the right treatment measures can be determined.
Cat flu is particularly dangerous for young and decrepit cats. In addition to feline plague, it is therefore one of the diseases for which the Standing Vaccination Committee for Veterinary Medicine recommends vaccination for all cats, regardless of how they are kept.
Infecting cats with a cold – our conclusion
As you can see, if you do catch a cold, you don’t usually have to worry about infecting your cat with it. Your four-legged friend is therefore welcome to keep you company and cuddle with you while you cure the infection.
This also applies if your cat has a cold. In this case, however, you should bear in mind that an infection with cat flu can initially make itself felt like a harmless cold.
If your cat’s symptoms do not subside after a few days or maybe even increase, the supposed cold is definitely a case for the veterinarian, who can examine your four-legged friend thoroughly and prescribe any necessary medication.