Symptoms of Cat Diseases in Humans

Humans cannot catch many diseases that affect cats. This does not mean humans are totally immune to diseases living in the family pet. Bacterial infections, parasites and fungal diseases occurring in cats are some of the conditions that can transmit to humans, causing a wide range of symptoms from mild skin irritations to life-threatening organ failure.

  1. Bacterial Infections

    • Bacterial infections in cats are most often transferred to humans through bites or scratches. Cat scratch disease is one such infection that results in swollen lymph nodes around the head and neck, fever, headache, fatigue and sore muscles or joints. According to the Centers for Disease Control, humans can also become infected with campylobacter from mishandling cat feces. This bacteria causes an infection of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and in rare cases, a disease of the nervous system known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

    Parasitic Infections

    • Fleas are the most common parasitic infection to jump from cats to humans. Fleas cannot live on humans, but the little buggers will bite anyway, which causes inflammation and skin irritation. Fleas are also parasite carriers and may be infected with tapeworm larvae that will infest a human host if accidentally ingested. Improperly handling the feces of cats infected with roundworms can lead to infestation in humans, which can cause serious damage to the eyes and other organs, with symptoms ranging from pain to bloody urine and organ failure.

    Fungal Infections

    • Ringworm--not a worm, but a fungus--appears on cats as a gray scaly spot on the skin, and owners may not immediately recognize it. This is unfortunate because the infection transfers very easily to humans. Ringworm can spread quickly throughout the skin, causing itchy circular patches that can lead to painful sores should the infection be allowed to continue unabated. A doctor will prescribe a topical steroid to help fight the infection.

    Viral Infections

    • Only one viral infection spreads between humans and cats--rabies. This disease of the central nervous system is spread by bites or scratches and is universally fatal if not treated quickly. Symptoms in humans include numbness around the infection site, fear of water, high tolerance to pain, rage, fever, hallucinations, organ failure and death. Even indoor cats should be vaccinated against rabies in case of encountering an animal infected with the disease.