Can cats spread disease to dogs?

While some diseases can spread from cats to dogs, the risk of this happening is generally low.

However, it's important to be aware of the following:

* Cat scratch fever: This is a bacterial infection that can be spread to dogs through scratches or bites from infected cats. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

* Toxoplasmosis: This is a parasitic infection that can be spread to dogs through contact with cat feces or infected raw meat. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, and vomiting.

* Feline leukemia virus: This virus can be spread to dogs through close contact with infected cats. However, dogs are not typically susceptible to feline leukemia virus, so the risk of infection is low.

* Canine distemper virus: While this is primarily a disease of dogs, cats can also carry and transmit the virus. Dogs can become infected with canine distemper virus through direct contact with infected cats or through contact with contaminated objects, such as clothing, food bowls, or bedding.

It's important to keep your cat up to date on their vaccinations and to practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands after handling your cat or cleaning their litter box. This can help to reduce the risk of spreading diseases from cats to dogs.

Additionally, if you have both a cat and a dog, it's important to keep them separate from each other to minimize the risk of cross-infection.