Yes, cats can get certain types of flu from humans, but it is uncommon, and most typical human colds do not make cats sick in the same way they affect people. The bigger everyday risk for your cat is “cat flu,” which is caused by feline viruses, not by human seasonal flu.

What “flu from humans” really means

  • Human-to-cat flu spread is called reverse zoonosis and has been documented mainly with some influenza A strains like H1N1.
  • Routine human colds (like common cold viruses) generally do not infect cats, even if they show similar symptoms when they get their own respiratory infections.

How a sick human can infect a cat

  • Flu viruses spread mostly through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or very close face-to-face contact. A cat can inhale or get these droplets in the eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Close, prolonged contact in the same household (sharing pillows, being sneezed or coughed on at close range) increases the chance, though overall risk remains low.

Signs your cat might have flu-like illness

If your cat is exposed to your flu and then shows any of these, a vet visit is wise:

  • Lethargy and hiding more than usual.
  • Fever, sneezing, coughing, runny nose or eyes, or noisy/difficult breathing.
  • Reduced appetite or not drinking well for more than a day.

Most documented human-to-cat flu cases have been mild to moderate, with no deaths reported in recent research on seasonal influenza A in cats.

Protecting your cat when you’re sick

  • Keep some distance: Avoid breathing right in your cat’s face, kissing their face, or letting them sniff used tissues when you have the flu.
  • Practice hygiene: Wash hands before feeding, petting, or medicating your cat, and regularly clean bedding and common surfaces.
  • Flu shots: Research groups recommend vaccination for people and, where available and advised by a vet, for susceptible cats to reduce risk of influenza transmission.
  • Watch and act: If your cat seems unwell after you’ve had flu, contact a vet and mention that you were recently sick with influenza.

Can cats give flu back to humans?

  • Cat-to-human flu transmission appears to be very rare, with only isolated cases reported (mostly involving avian influenza strains).
  • Health agencies consider the overall human health risk from cat influenza low, though people at higher risk of serious flu complications are advised to avoid close contact with sick pets.

TL;DR: Cats usually don’t catch your ordinary cold, but they can occasionally catch certain human flu strains (like some influenza A viruses) if they live in very close contact with a sick person. The risk is low, but using basic hygiene and giving your cat space when you’re ill is a simple way to keep them safer.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.