i was babysitting last night and the children's cat, muffin, is very sick. i think she has cat flu but they won't take her to the vet. i was showing the girls how to clean the discharge off her face that was coming out of her eyes and nose and fed her. i woke up this morning and have a very sore throat which is unusual because the weather hasn't been bad. could i have picked up what their cat had?
2007-09-14 23:54:13 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
No. Humans can't catch colds from cats. You can catch the flu from a sick ferret-- and also get a healthy ferret sick if you have the flu. But not a cat. "The Cat Flu viruses are not from the same group or type of viruses as the human colds and flu, which is why humans are never affected. " http://www.chapmananimalhospital.com.au/templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?Story_No=1943&specie=2
And ferrets and the flu http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/ferrets/a/ferretsflu.htm
2007-09-15 00:01:19 · answer #1 · answered by mathaowny 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Anything is possible.
My grandchildren were sick a lot when they had a cat and dog. Finally found a great farm home for both. Kids much better, cat catching mice. Some was allergies but what a difference. My ex-wife cleans houses but she won't do houses that have pets any more as she feels sick after working in them. Again, maybe just allergies.
Here's some CDC material and there is plenty more on the Internet.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/animals/cats.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pregnant.htm
EDIT: Read this also, although you may not have caught flu or cold there seems to still be the possibility of catching something with the same symtoms......
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2006/1/25/154715/753
2007-09-15 00:16:25 · answer #2 · answered by andyg77 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, you can not. Humans and cats do not share viruses. Bacteria yes, viruses no - and cat flu is a virus
Cat flu is also fatal if left untreated. Tell your friends they're risking their cat's life, and that is unacceptable. If there's discharge from the eyes already, this is fairly advanced. If you can't convince them, call the ASPCA to come and get the cat or something - it is not the owners decision to let a cat suffer. Owner have responsibilities only, not rights, and if they don't act responsibly I personally would not hesitate to have the cat taken off them.
You can't catch this illness from the cat, but I would tell the owners that they can, and that their children are at risk. Maybe that would make them sort their ideas out.
Chalice
2007-09-15 00:57:56 · answer #3 · answered by Chalice 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely not! Cat flu or colds are a different type than we humans get.
2007-09-15 00:08:51 · answer #4 · answered by alminemine 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, when I read up on this the literature says that cats and humans cannot give their cold to each other. It's a totally different "germ".
2007-09-15 00:23:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, some illness can be transmitted from cats to
humans. Sounds like you might have cat scratch disease.
http://www.petstation.com/cat-zoonoses.html
2007-09-15 01:05:54 · answer #6 · answered by Ski Freedom 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. Dogs immune systems are different than ours, and are designed to handle much different illnesses than we.
2016-05-20 00:50:29 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No there is a species barrier that prevents that.
2007-09-15 00:33:05 · answer #8 · answered by Sylkie_ 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no
2007-09-14 23:59:05 · answer #9 · answered by Funny looking somebodies avatar 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋