Can cats actually get kennel cough, and can they catch it from dogs?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on

  Bordetella bronchiseptica, the pathogen that causes kennel cough, is something that cats can contract. It has been found that dogs with kennel cough were a risk for transmitting the disease to cats in the same house / shelter. While it is not as common in cats as it is in dogs, it is still an infection that can be transmitted to cats. There is a vaccination for this in cats but this condition is primarily a disease of very young kittens and not something we see in adult cats often. It is rather uncommon in adult cats and pet cats in general. For these reasons, it is not recommended to routinely vaccinate cats for this disease. The vaccination should be considered in young cats at high risk of exposure in very large, multiple cat environments such as shelters / rescues. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns!

  

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  Answered By Catherine Stecyk

  Veterinarian

  Published on April 3rd, 2019

  Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that your dog has kennel cough. The chances of Sylvestor getting a cough from your dog are almost zero. Cats and dogs have very few to no diseases that they can catch from each other. Kennel cough in dogs is complex of diseases that are species specific to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

  

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  Answered By Stacey Anstaett, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on October 1st, 2018

  The bacteria Bordatella, which is most often implicated in kennel cough, can cause disease in cats. So there is a risk to your cats, though as long as the cats are adults and are in good overall health, I don't think you need to be overly concerned. Bordatella can cause upper respiratory signs in cats (sneezing, coughing, runny eyes, etc). While it can be spread from dogs to cats, the frequency in which this occurs in a home setting has been established. (Again, the symptoms are different, cats don't develop the honking cough we so often see in dogs). If your cats start to show symptoms such as runny eyes or nose, decreased appetite, cough, or any change in their breathing, take them to your vet, and be sure to let your vet know that your dog has recently been diagnosed with kennel cough. While it may be ideal to separate the dog from the cats, I understand it may not be practical, and likely wouldn't occur in my house either. Additionally, the cats have already been exposed if they've been around the dog up until now. Keep in mind it will likely be about 5-10 days after exposure for symptoms to occur. Bordatella in cats is generally responsive to antibiotics, and the prognosis should they become affected is quite good with adequate care. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful