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PubMed This is a summary of 21 peer-reviewed journal articles Updated
Infectious Disease

Can You Catch Sporotrichosis From a Cat?

At a Glance

Yes, you can catch sporotrichosis from an infected cat. The fungus is highly contagious and spreads to humans through scratches, bites, or direct contact with the cat's sores and bodily fluids. Pet owners must use puncture-resistant gloves, isolate the cat, and practice strict hygiene.

In this answer

2 sections

01

How is Sporotrichosis Transmitted from Cats?

02

Strict Safety Precautions for Pet Owners

Yes, you can catch sporotrichosis from an infected cat. In fact, cats are the primary source of human infection for a specific, highly contagious type of sporotrichosis caused by the fungus Sporothrix brasiliensis [1][2][3].

While taking care of your sick pet is important, protecting yourself and your family is critical. Because cats carry a very high amount of the fungus in their wounds and saliva [4][5], transmission happens easily through direct contact, scratches, or bites [1][2].

How is Sporotrichosis Transmitted from Cats?

Unlike other forms of sporotrichosis that are usually caught from plants or soil, the S. brasiliensis strain has adapted to spread rapidly between animals and humans (zoonotic transmission) [6][7][3]. The fungus is highly concentrated in the oozing sores and nasal discharge of infected cats [4][8].

You can be infected if:

  • You are scratched or bitten by an infected cat [1][2].
  • You touch the cat’s skin sores, nasal discharge, or bodily fluids with bare hands, especially if you have microscopic cuts on your own skin [1][4].

In humans, the infection usually starts as a small, painless bump at the site of the scratch or contact, which later becomes an open sore. This can spread up the arm along the lymph nodes (lymphocutaneous spread) [3][9]. While human sporotrichosis is highly treatable with proper medical care, people with weakened immune systems are at risk for more severe, widespread disease, making strict prevention critical [10][9].

Strict Safety Precautions for Pet Owners

Treating an infected cat requires a long-term commitment, often involving months of daily antifungal medications like itraconazole [11][12]. Until your veterinarian confirms the cat is fully cured, you must take the following precautions:

  • Wear the Right Gloves: Always wear thick, puncture-resistant gloves when handling the cat, changing bandages, or giving oral medication to prevent bites and scratches [12][13]. You can use standard disposable exam gloves for gentle petting or cleaning their litter box, but never touch their wounds with bare hands [14].
  • Prevent Scratches and Bites: Use low-stress handling techniques. Wrapping the cat securely in a thick towel (the “burrito” method) can prevent injuries when giving pills or cleaning wounds [12]. If your cat is fearful or aggressive, ask your vet about mild sedatives to make treatment safer [12][15].
  • Isolate Your Cat: Keep the infected cat strictly indoors and isolated in a dedicated room [12][16][17]. This prevents them from spreading the fungus to other pets, humans, or the outdoor environment, as the fungus can shed and survive in the surroundings [18][19]. Wash any exposed textiles and bedding on hot or repeated mechanical wash cycles to help clear the environment [20].
  • Practice Good Hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after leaving the isolation room, even if you wore gloves. Wash the cat’s bedding and food bowls separately from your own dishes and laundry.
  • Keep Up with Veterinary Care: Do not stop giving the medication just because the sores have healed. A cat is only considered safe and non-infectious when a vet confirms both a clinical cure (all skin lesions are completely gone) and a mycological cure (lab tests or cultures show no remaining fungus) [21][12][4].

If you notice any unusual bumps, redness, or slow-healing sores on your own skin while caring for your cat, contact a doctor immediately and mention that you have been exposed to feline sporotrichosis.

Common questions in this guide

How do humans catch sporotrichosis from cats?
Humans usually catch the infection when they are scratched or bitten by an infected cat. You can also get it by touching the cat's oozing sores, nasal discharge, or bodily fluids, especially if you have tiny cuts on your bare hands.
What are the symptoms of sporotrichosis in humans?
In humans, the infection typically starts as a small, painless bump at the site of a scratch or bite. This bump eventually turns into an open sore and can spread up the arm along the lymph nodes.
How can I protect myself while caring for a cat with sporotrichosis?
Always wear thick, puncture-resistant gloves when handling your cat or giving medication. Keep the infected cat isolated in a dedicated room away from other pets and vulnerable family members, and practice strict handwashing.
When is a cat with sporotrichosis no longer contagious?
A cat is only safe and non-infectious when a veterinarian confirms both a clinical cure, where all skin sores are gone, and a mycological cure, where lab tests show no remaining fungus. Do not stop medication just because the sores look healed.
What should I do if my infected cat scratches me?
Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water right away. Contact your doctor immediately and inform them that you have been exposed to feline sporotrichosis so you can be properly evaluated.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Curated prompts to bring to your next appointment.

  1. 1.What is the safest method or tool for administering daily oral medication to my cat without risking a bite?
  2. 2.Should I use a specific type of household disinfectant or cleaning routine for the room where my cat is isolating?
  3. 3.How often should we re-check my cat's lesions to monitor their progress toward a mycological cure?
  4. 4.If my cat becomes too aggressive to pill safely, are there alternative treatments or mild sedatives we can use to reduce the risk of injury?
  5. 5.If I accidentally get scratched by my cat during treatment, what immediate first-aid steps should I take before calling my own physician?

Questions For You

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Related questions

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References

References (21)
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    Sporotrichosis: hyperendemic by zoonotic transmission, with atypical presentations, hypersensitivity reactions and greater severity.

    Schechtman RC, Falcão EMM, Carard M, et al.

    Anais brasileiros de dermatologia 2022; (97(1)):1-13 doi:10.1016/j.abd.2021.07.003.

    PMID: 34893422
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    Sporotrichosis in Children: Case series and Narrative Review.

    Queiroz-Telles F, Bonifaz A, Cognialli R, et al.

    Current fungal infection reports 2022; (16(2)):33-46 doi:10.1007/s12281-022-00429-x.

    PMID: 35284035
  3. 3

    A lateral flow assay for the immunodiagnosis of human cat-transmitted sporotrichosis.

    Cognialli R, Bloss K, Weiss I, et al.

    Mycoses 2022; (65(10)):926-934 doi:10.1111/myc.13516.

    PMID: 35943444
  4. 4

    First case report of feline sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis in the state of Ceará - Brazil.

    Aguiar BA, Borges IL, Silva BWL, et al.

    Medical mycology case reports 2023; (40()):12-15 doi:10.1016/j.mmcr.2023.02.005.

    PMID: 36915619
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    Feline sporotrichosis: Characterization of cutaneous and extracutaneous lesions using different diagnostic methods.

    Santos AF, Azevedo MI, Amaral CI, et al.

    Veterinary pathology 2024; (61(2)):221-231 doi:10.1177/03009858231189448.

    PMID: 37515437
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    Sporothrix brasiliensis produces the highest levels of oxidative stress in a murine model among the species of the Sporothrix schenckii complex.

    Mario DN, Schaffer LF, Peroza LR, et al.

    Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 2017; (50(4)):554-557 doi:10.1590/0037-8682-0171-2016.

    PMID: 28954081
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    A One Health Approach to Combatting Sporothrix brasiliensis: Narrative Review of an Emerging Zoonotic Fungal Pathogen in South America.

    Rossow JA, Queiroz-Telles F, Caceres DH, et al.

    Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) 2020; (6(4)) doi:10.3390/jof6040247.

    PMID: 33114609
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    Emerging Cases of Cat-Transmitted Sporotrichosis Driven by Sporothrix brasiliensis in Northeast Brazil.

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    Mycopathologia 2024; (189(4)):66 doi:10.1007/s11046-024-00873-y.

    PMID: 39003373
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    Palate ulcer, uvular destruction and nasal septal perforation caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis in an HIV-infected patient.

    Eyer-Silva WA, de Azevedo MCVM, da Silva GAR, et al.

    Medical mycology case reports 2019; (23()):16-19 doi:10.1016/j.mmcr.2018.11.001.

    PMID: 30479942
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    Chronic Meningitis and Hydrocephalus due to Sporothrix brasiliensis in Immunocompetent Adults: A Challenging Entity.

    Mialski R, de Almeida JN, da Silva LH, et al.

    Open forum infectious diseases 2018; (5(5)):ofy081 doi:10.1093/ofid/ofy081.

    PMID: 29977951
  11. 11

    Association of itraconazole and potassium iodide in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis: a prospective study.

    Reis ÉG, Schubach TM, Pereira SA, et al.

    Medical mycology 2016; (54(7)):684-90 doi:10.1093/mmy/myw027.

    PMID: 27207412
  12. 12

    Guideline for the management of feline sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis and literature revision.

    Gremião IDF, Martins da Silva da Rocha E, Montenegro H, et al.

    Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology] 2021; (52(1)):107-124 doi:10.1007/s42770-020-00365-3.

    PMID: 32990922
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    Human sporotrichosis outbreak caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis in a veterinary hospital in Southern Brazil.

    Xavier JRB, Waller SB, Osório LDG, et al.

    Journal de mycologie medicale 2021; (31(3)):101163 doi:10.1016/j.mycmed.2021.101163.

    PMID: 34157511
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    Sporotrichosis Cluster in Domestic Cats and Veterinary Technician, Kansas, USA, 2022.

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    Zoonotic sporotrichosis: Systematic review and clinical aspects of feline and canine cases.

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    Therapeutic efficacy of isavuconazole and potassium iodide in a cat with refractory sporotrichosis.

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    Different clinical manifestations of ocular sporotrichosis in the same patient: an alert to ophthalmologists in nonendemic areas.

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  19. 19

    Beyond Domestic Cats: Environmental Detection of Sporothrix brasiliensis DNA in a Hyperendemic Area of Sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

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  20. 20

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This page provides educational information about the zoonotic transmission of sporotrichosis. Always consult your physician for human health concerns and a veterinarian for your cat's treatment and care.

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