Can you catch something from your cat?

Greetings, I am seeking some advice. My cat recently fell ill and passed away shortly after. The symptoms included severe ocular and nasal issues, extreme lethargy, and a complete inability to eat—essentially the feline equivalent of a severe flu. This cat sneezed directly into my face two or three times, and over the last few days, I have begun feeling unwell myself. I am experiencing a thick buildup in my throat that makes swallowing difficult and triggers intense coughing. Additionally, I have felt incredibly weak lately. While I can usually manage minor ailments with a heavy dose of Vitamin C, I am concerned that this might be something more serious contracted from the animal. I would appreciate any insight into what this might be. 🤷

And why on earth didn't you get the cat autopsied?

I know there's a fee involved, but come on. A sick cat sneezes right in your face and then drops dead on you. 🤷

Go see the vet and make sure you tell them exactly what happened with the cat.

I honestly don't get why you didn't just head to a doctor before deciding to start a whole thread about this on the forum...🙄 Generally speaking, posts that follow the "it hurts here, what could this be?" format tend to be pretty irritating. It’s as if people think we're all on medical standby here, rather than actual physicians working at a local clinic.🤣
Then again, it is entirely possible to catch something from a cat...

Aaron Kern19 said:Hey, I need some advice. My cat recently got sick and passed away shortly after. She had major issues with her eyes and nose, was totally lethargic, and couldn't eat. It was basically like the flu in humans. She sneezed right in my face a few times, and now over the last couple of days, I've been feeling sick too. I have this thick stuff building up in my throat that makes swallowing hard and triggers a nasty cough. Plus, I've been feeling incredibly weak lately. Usually, I can shake things off with a bunch of Vitamin C, but I'm worried this might be something more serious I picked up from her. Thanks if anyone has an idea what this could be... 🤷

go see a doctor.
A friend of mine got hit hard by an illness last winter. She felt terrible. After getting bloodwork done, they found out her liver enzymes were completely trashed. She went through doctor after doctor, turning yellow from jaundice, and nothing was bringing those levels down. It dragged on for about two months before they finally realized there was an infected cat in her apartment building and she'd caught whatever it had. So, don't mess around—it might not be anything scary, but you definitely need to get checked out...

Anyway, here is what I found ->
Common infections passed from cats to humans include:
- Campylobacter jejuni infection - causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain. This bacteria lives in the digestive tracts of infected animals (pets or wildlife), and humans catch it through contaminated water, feces, or unpasteurized milk. It's a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis and spreads easily among family members or kids in daycare.
- Cat Scratch Disease - if someone gets bitten or scratched by a cat carrying Bartonella henselae, they might deal with headaches, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue.
- Rabies - a very serious viral disease transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal via a bite or wound. Besides dogs and cats, foxes and raccoons are common carriers. Regular vaccinations for pets have significantly lowered how often this happens in both animals and people.
- Ringworm - a fungal skin infection spread by touching an infected animal. It shows up as relatively circular patches with red, uneven edges and clear centers. The skin gets dry and flaky, and hair may fall out. It can also affect the scalp.
- Toxocariasis - caused by parasites that live in the intestines of dogs or cats. It spreads through eggs shed in feces, which often contaminate soil or sand. This one is dangerous because the larvae move through the body and can end up in the eyes or brain. Human symptoms include fever, coughing or wheezing, an enlarged liver, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes.
- Toxoplasmosis - humans get this from contact with infected cat feces or undercooked meat. Most healthy people don't even show symptoms. If they do, it involves swollen glands, fatigue, muscle aches, fever, sore throat, or a rash. For pregnant women (where it can pass to the fetus!) or people with compromised immune systems like those with cancer or HIV/AIDS, it can lead to severe complications.

Author: Dr. Vlatka Erman, DVM
Source: PetMD website

I appreciate the help, redeagle96. I tried searching online myself but came up empty. Based on what I've read, it sounds like cat scratch fever, toxocariasis, or toxoplasmosis—though I doubt it's the latter two since I haven't had any contact with cat feces. Still, one can never be too certain. The only reason I haven't seen a doctor yet is because I suspect this is just a standard common cold unrelated to the cat. I simply wanted to check here to see if anyone else was experiencing similar symptoms... and they are.

You certainly didn't catch that cold from a stray cat.

It’s not cat scratch fever if your lymph nodes aren't swollen. That disease is pretty much defined by a massive, swollen node right where you got bit or scratched.

I’ve dealt with this three times now. One of my cats clearly carries the bacteria in her saliva, and every single time she nips me, my lymph nodes flare up. I've had swelling in my neck, under my armpit, and even in my groin—it just depends on where the bite happened.

As for toxoplasmosis, I don't think cats actually die from it. They pick it up from eating infected raw meat, and then humans catch it from their litter boxes.