Mononucleosis, also known as Epstein-Barr virus (a herpesvirus), can be transmitted through saliva – sharing beverages or eating utensils can make transmission likely, as can kissing.
People suffering from mono may experience symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, fevers, fatigue and sore throats. Some individuals may even develop an enlarged spleen that puts them at risk of rupture in certain cases.
Can Cats Get Mono?
Feline infectious mononucleosis (FIM), while not caused by Epstein-Barr virus as seen in humans, can still occur and is known to spread easily via direct contact with saliva and nasal secretions infected by feline herpesvirus-1 and feline caliciviruses found in cats’ saliva or nasal secretions. FIM symptoms mirror human mono with fever, loss of appetite, swelling lymph nodes and sometimes secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia or sinusitis developing secondary to FIM infection – making this illness particularly dangerous in cats who either lack strong immune systems or are under stress.
While cats can carry the EBV virus, they don’t always display symptoms or experience fatigue. Mononucleosis is an infectious illness spread easily through kissing, sneezing, sharing food or beverages and using personal items like toothbrushes with someone. Sexual contact also contributes to its spread – typically among adolescents and young adults, though anyone at any age may contract this illness.
EBV, commonly known by its acronym EBV, is extremely prevalent among humans, with nearly 90% of Americans aged 35 or older infected with it and many developing symptoms of mononucleosis at some point during their lives. Although usually non-dangerous, mononucleosis may be painful and leave patients feeling exhausted; additionally, this virus could stay active within your body for months or years without ever manifesting as symptoms.
While cats cannot get mono, they are susceptible to other illnesses which resemble it. Feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus infection can compromise immune systems and increase their risk for viral diseases such as rabies, norovirus and Salmonella infection.
As soon as a cat exhibits any symptoms of infectious mononucleosis, such as high fever, swollen lymph nodes, or lack of appetite, it should be brought directly to their veterinarian immediately. Furthermore, sick cats should be isolated from other cats in the household and all surfaces they come into contact with regularly cleaned; including food/water bowls, grooming tools, bedding or any other surfaces used by them (food bowls etc).
Can Cats Get Strep Throat?
Strep throat is an infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria and typically affects children and teenagers, though adults can be susceptible as well. Strep can lead to painful sore throats, swollen lymph nodes in the neck area, fever, headaches, stomachaches and fatigue as well as complications such as pneumonia or heart valve infections if left untreated.
Feline infectious mononucleosis (FIM), not related to Epstein-Barr virus which causes human mono or “the kissing disease”, can result in symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, runny nose, loss of appetite and fever; difficulty breathing can also occur and sinusitis symptoms.
FIM cannot be prevented with vaccines; therefore if your cat displays symptoms of FIM infection, she must visit her veterinarian immediately for treatment with antibiotics and hydration as soon as possible. Even if she seems better before her prescription is complete, complete dosing will ensure full infection resolution without complications arising later.
Feline upper respiratory tract infection (URI) is another contagious illness that can spread among cats. Signs include sneezing with clear or more thick discharge, difficulty breathing when something seems stuck in their throat and difficulty snorting sounds made while breathing, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, fever and vomiting as well as general feeling of being unwell.
Thankfully, most zoonotic diseases spread by animals to humans aren’t caused by viruses but rather parasites or bacteria. Some common examples that cats can transmit include ringworm, pink eye, roundworm larval migration, giardiasis and cat scratch disease caused by Bartonella henselae bacteria. Most of these can be avoided with regular flea prevention medication and practicing good hygiene when handling food, water and objects belonging to your pet – however some such as rabies and parvovirus are fatal; immediate medical attention will need be provided by your veterinarian immediately.
Can Cats Get Feline Infectious Peritonitis?
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a serious viral illness, found in around 10 percent of cats who are infected with feline Enteric Coronavirus (FECV). FIP is caused by a mutant form of FECV and can only spread directly between cats by saliva contact from infected cats – it’s therefore prevalent among multi-cat households, shelters, breeding colonies, and catteries.
Mutated virus variants cause inflammation to multiple organs, including abdomen and lungs. Some affected cats develop the “wet” form of this condition which involves fluid accumulation within body cavities such as abdomen or chest cavity, leading to distended appearances for some felines.
Other cats suffer from FIP in its “dry” form, which involves inflammation in various organs including liver, kidneys, pancreas, central nervous system (CNS), and eyes. While they don’t experience fluid buildup like their wet counterparts do, they may still display signs of the disease such as weight loss, lack of appetite, fever and decreased immunity – though severity varies between cats ranging from quickly progressing over a few days to lasting several weeks to months before death occurs.
An FIP cat cannot spread it to other cats since its mutant virus resides within white blood cells and does not shed into their feces. FIP can typically be diagnosed when clinical signs have been present for at least several days prior to testing of fluid or tissue; until such time as diagnosis can be confirmed by medical examination, isolation should remain the norm for such cats.
Note that FIP differs significantly from Epstein-Barr virus, the source of mono. A cat cannot transmit mono to its owner through kissing; Epstein-Barr virus, however, can spread from dogs and can infect people but rarely inflict its disease directly onto humans.
Steps can be taken to lower the risk of FIP for cats in a facility, including vaccination and removal of all feces from the environment as well as employing effective sanitation and cleaning practices using viral disinfectants, but there is no vaccine available yet that could effectively eliminate large populations of cats from homes or facilities.
Can Cats Get Kissing Disease?
While cats are adorable creatures, they’re less renowned as kissers like canines are. Most felines prefer bonding with humans through petting, playing, and giving head rubs than indulging in kissing sessions. While smooching may be fun, it may also spread viruses such as mononucleosis or the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which may result in sore throats and swollen lymph nodes lasting at least one month and hinder daily tasks for sufferers.
Humans rarely contract EBV from cats. Normally, this virus spreads through bodily fluids like saliva and mucus from the nose and mouth; more often it’s spread when someone kisses or shares drinking glasses/utensils with someone infected; but it may also occur if someone sneezes/coughs near another individual and infected droplets land on them.
Although unlikely, it is possible for some individuals to develop a rash and fever after coming in contact with cat fleas or feces, a phenomenon known as zoonotic infection – something which poses particular threat for immunocompromised people such as those living with HIV.
EBV or mononucleosis cannot be passed from cat to human; however, their symptoms and illnesses could resemble that of mono, so owners should remain alert for signs of sickness in their pet.
Cats can develop upper respiratory infections just like humans can, making it important to keep sick cats away from each other when sick. One effective way of protecting your cat from an upper respiratory infection is regularly cleaning their food and water bowls as well as grooming tools.
Although EBV transmission between cats is highly unlikely, there are other viruses and diseases humans can contract from cats such as ringworm, cat scratch fever and Bartonella henselae that should be monitored. If your cat appears sick it would be wise to visit their veterinarian as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.