Can You Give Your Pet the Flu? What the CDC’s Study Reveals.
If you’ve ever curled up with your pet while battling the flu, you might have wondered—can they catch it from you? According to a recent CDC study, the answer isn’t as far-fetched as you might think.
While human influenza viruses typically don’t jump to pets, some cases suggest that transmission between species is possible, raising concerns for both animal and human health.
The CDC’s research highlights instances where cats and dogs have tested positive for influenza strains closely related to human flu viruses.
In some cases, pets likely contracted the virus from their owners through close contact, similar to how humans spread it to one another. Symptoms in infected pets—such as coughing, sneezing, fever, and lethargy—mirror those in humans, though severe cases remain rare.
More alarming, however, is the growing concern over bird flu (H5N1), which has been found in a variety of mammals, including domestic cats.
While bird flu typically spreads among poultry and wild birds, recent studies indicate that infected animals, including pets, could act as potential hosts, increasing the risk of future mutations that might make the virus more transmissible to humans.
So, should pet owners be worried? For now, experts suggest basic precautions—washing hands before handling pets when sick, avoiding face-to-face contact, and keeping an eye out for unusual symptoms.
While the risk of human-to-pet flu transmission remains low, the evolving nature of viruses means it’s something scientists are watching closely.