Spin-Off...Can cats catch human illnesses?

I was reading the post about what cats can pass to humans, but I am wondering, If I have a cold, can I pass that to my kitten? I've been sick the past few days, and I'm concerned because I don't want her to get sick, considering we are flying in less than a week. Is it common for cats to get sick from humans?? TIA

Cats cannot contract viruses (such as colds) from humans, but they can contract bacteria-related illnesses (such as food poisoning from salmonella or E. coli). It's hard to explain, but basically, some things are species-specific, and some things are not. If you catch a cold, you can snuggle up to your kitty for comfort all you want, but if you improperly prepare chicken or beef and then feed some to both yourself and your cat, you can both come down with some pretty nasty cases of food-poisoning.

(See? A year and a half working at a lab where they test food-borne zoonoses -- diseases past on to humans through animals -- pays off!)

Thanks for the response! I asked the tech at the vets today, and she said the same thing. I am very relieved

Yeah, I was happy to learn this last year when I came down with viral pink eye (ugh, the bane of my existance! I'm so prone and get really sick with it).... all I wanted was my Ollie to cuddle with and sleep off the pink eye and I was so worried he'd get it... I got the ok and was much happier! Thank God they can't get our colds too... in the middle of PA, and going to school with 44,000 people, it's quite easy to get a cold! And kitty purrs are the best medicine to me!