If you happen to share your home with both a cat and a dog, you might be wondering if it is possible for your dog to catch a cold from your cat. To address the question we need to understand first what type of respiratory illness our canine friends can be affected with.
Both dogs and cats are susceptible to upper respiratory infections (URIs), which encompass a range of viral and bacterial diseases affecting the respiratory tract. In dogs, common causes of URIs include:
Canine Parainfluenza Virus (CPIV): A highly contagious virus that contributes to kennel cough. It’s a condition characterized by a persistent cough, nasal discharge, and sometimes fever.
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV): A contagious and potentially fatal virus that affects multiple organ systems, including the respiratory tract, leading to respiratory signs, neurological symptoms, and systemic illness.
Bordetella bronchiseptica: A bacterium commonly associated with kennel cough in dogs, though it can also infect cats and other animals, causing similar respiratory symptoms. This is one of the diseases that dogs can catch from infected cats.
Can Dogs Catch a Cold from Cats?
While dogs and cats can share some infectious diseases, the transmission of cold-like illnesses specifically from cats to dogs is relatively uncommon. The Feline Herpesvirus (FHV) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV) are primarily adapted to infect cats, and there’s limited evidence to suggest that they can cause clinical illness in dogs.
However, the potential for transmission between species exists though rare. Factors that influence the likelihood of dogs catching a cold from cats include:
Host Factors
Whether a dog can be affected by the virus from a cat, depends on the dog’s age, immune status, and overall health. Healthy adult dogs with robust immune responses may be less susceptible to infection.
Viral Compatibility
FHV and FCV are species-specific viruses, meaning they’re adapted to infect specifically cats. While dogs can contract respiratory infections such as CPIV and CDV, the specific viruses causing illness in cats may not be as effective at infecting dogs. Bordetella bronchiseptica is known to affect both dogs and cats.
Environmental Conditions
The likelihood of transmission can increase in places where dogs and cats share close living spaces, such as homes or shelters with poor ventilation and hygiene practices.
Usually no, dogs cannot catch a cold from cats. Although it is rare, there are other existing diseases that are transmittable between dogs and cats:
Parasites, worms and other diseases: some of them can be transmitted between different species, including humans, dogs, and cats. The ringworm, toxoplasmosis, and certain types of bacterial infections. Both dogs and cats can transmit parasites such as fleas and ticks.
Respiratory Infections: While dogs and cats can both suffer from respiratory infections, the specific viruses or bacteria causing these infections may differ between species.
Overall, while it’s important to be aware of potential health risks when dogs and cats interact, the likelihood of a dog catching a cold specifically from a cat is relatively low. You can lower the risk of infections by maintaining good hygiene in your home and monitoring your pets’ health. If you’d like to read more on cold illnesses in cats, you can check out our main article: Cold Symptoms in Cats: Everything You Need to Know.