Diseases of Cats That Are Contagious to Dogs

For households with both cats and dogs, the initial obstacle is teaching the cat and dog to get along. However, a cat-and-dog household must also take into consideration that certain diseases can be passed between dogs and cats, as well. That means if your cat falls ill, you may need to keep it separated from your dog or you may even need to treat both pets to ensure proper elimination of the illness.

  1. Kennel Cough

    • While you most commonly hear about kennel cough in dogs, it occurs just as commonly in cats. If a cat is already infected with kennel cough, the cat can pass the disease along to any other cats or dogs it comes into contact with (dogs can also pass the disease to cats). Kennel cough is caused by a bacterial infection that requires veterinary treatment to ensure full recovery from the disease. Symptoms include excessive coughing, fever and vomiting.

    Ringworm

    • Ringworm is a highly contagious disease of the skin. This condition is caused by a fungus that feeds on the dead layers of skin, causing lesions, hair loss and extreme discomfort. Cats can give ringworm to dogs, humans or any other pet with fur (and humans or any other furry pet can give ringworm to cats). Veterinary treatment includes oral and topical medications, and is necessary to prevent the spread of the disease.

    Diarrhea

    • Diarrhea may be the result of food indiscretion, a reaction to medication or a viral or bacterial infection. If your cat is suffering from diarrhea, you must be vigilant about cleaning up after your cat, keeping the litter box, bedding and food/water dishes extra clean. This is because if your dog is exposed to any of these items, the dog can contract the bacteria or virus that gave your cat diarrhea. One pet with diarrhea is enough--seek veterinary advice and take all necessary precautions to prevent both pets from becoming ill.