My stray cat is sick. Could his illness be contagious to my dogs?

If Oscar is a dog then it is very, very unlikely that he could contract a respiratory infection from Sylvester. Most upper respiratory infections in cats are caused by feline herpesvirus or calicivirus which are not contagious to dogs, however occasionally there are some bacteria that might be contagious to dogs. Ask your vet if you are concerned.

Well it depends what the cat was sick with. I'm going to assume the cat was sick with an upper respiratory infection and there isn't anything I would be particularly worried about here. There aren't many contagious diseases we worry about crossing between dogs and cats. I would recommend watching for general signs of disease (lethargy, poor appetite, nasal discharge, coughing/sneezing, vomiting, and diarrhea) in the next week or two just to be safe, but there isn't anything you need to do at this point and a very low likelihood of anything coming from this encounter.

Based on the history, I am suspicious of an infectious cause and that Micah has given it to the other animals. Its extremely unusual for cats to get infections from dogs but its not impossible. There are many different organisms (bacteria and viruses) that cause respiratory infections and its possible that the antibiotic was ineffective for this particular infection or that it is a virus that needs to run its course. I would recommend another trip to the vet to have her checked out again to be on the safe side. Make sure Micah is drinking plenty of water and she is getting rest as this is good for her immune system. A fatty acid supplement will also help decrease inflammation in her nose and this may help relieve some symptoms as well.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Some illnesses can be transmitted from one cat to another from your hands or clothing. I recommend washing hands and possibly leaving shoes away from your cats if the stray sneezed on or near them. Basic good hygiene will help prevent disease transmission to your kitties. If you are able please take the stray into the vet as soon as you are able as it sounds like she may have a significant respiratory infection. Be sure that she is tested for feline leukemia and FIV before you ever let her near your cats to be safe.

He could have an upper respiratory infection, dental problem, or other medical issue. It is impossible to know the cause without doing an examination. If he has an upper respiratory infection, it could be contagious to the other outside cats. Make sure you wash your hands and change clothing after handling him before touching your indoor cats. If possible, catch him and take him to a vet for an examine and treatment.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to say exactly what the cause of the sneezing and coughing, decreased eating/drinking may be without examining her first. However, it could be an upper respiratory infection (which can be contagious to other cats), due to dental disease or another oral health issue, feline asthma, or certain heart conditions. I would recommend Pickels's see her veterinarian soon for an exam to determine a diagnosis so she can get the proper treated. Her veterinarian may want to take chest x-rays to get a better view of the heart and lungs or suggest other diagnostics as needed. I hope this helps!

I can't think of any respiratory diseases that would readily pass from you to your cat. It would be more likely that Toews has a feline upper respiratory infection caused by something like the feline herpesvirus or calicivirus if his eyes are red and watery. An allergy would also be possible. If Toews's eyes seem very red, if he is squinting, or if the discharge gets worse I would recommend having him examined by your vet.