can cats catch human colds

Cats cannot catch human colds, nor can humans catch colds from cats. Cats do get their own version of colds, often called "cat flu" or feline upper respiratory infections, caused primarily by viruses such as feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. These infections produce symptoms similar to human colds, like sneezing, runny noses, and watery eyes, but the viruses are species-specific and not transferable between cats and humans. Cat colds are contagious among cats themselves, spreading through direct contact or shared items, but they do not pose a risk to humans. Similarly, humans cannot transmit their colds to cats. Vaccines are available to help protect cats from common feline viruses that cause these respiratory infections.