Can a cold be transmitted from a human to a cat or vice versa?

[xiphias]

I've just shaken off a cold; I'd been sneezing for a couple days, then, yesterday afternoon and today, I just did nothing but sleep, and I'm feeling better now.

But now Nora's sneezing.

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Entirely possible. There are all sorts of viruses that are capable of cross-species transmission. The obvious example that has been much in the news lately is various forms of flu, where pigs and birds often serve as reservoirs. Ebola. HIV, thought to have mutated from SIV. Wouldn't surprise me if there were rhinoviruses that could jump the species barrier.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

The thing is, though, that all viruses that have transitioned to humans come from herd, flock, or at least tribal animals, rather than solitary animals like cats.

Parasites, on the other hand. . .

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Much of the problem is that keeping animals in herds or flocks facilitates disease transmission.

Of course there are also bugs that infect animals in the wild and are still transmissible to humans, like Ebola, or a variety of SIV that's mutated enough to jump the species barrier....

[felis-sidus.livejournal.com]

Most vets and doctors I've asked have said no. While I have great respect for both professions, I beg to differ. In my experience, my cats frequently got colds after I'd had one, and the reverse. Although, they had fewer chances to get sick first, so the family bug usually hitched a ride in with me.