Kissing your cat on the face is a common way for cat owners to show affection. However, there are some risks and considerations to keep in mind before smooching your feline friend.
Quick Answers
Should you kiss your cat on the face? Here are some quick answers:
- It’s generally not recommended by vets due to risk of spreading bacteria or viruses between cats and humans.
- Some cats enjoy kisses and affections while others dislike it or may bite or scratch.
- Safer alternatives include petting, brushing, or kissing the top of the head.
- Watch your cat’s body language to see if they like kisses or not.
- Never kiss stray cats or cats with unknown health histories.
Risk of Illness Transmission
One of the main concerns with kissing cats on the mouth or nose is the potential to spread illnesses between cats and humans. Here are some diseases that can be transmitted:
- Cat scratch disease: A bacterial infection passed through cat bites and scratches. Can cause swollen lymph nodes.
- Ringworm: A fungal infection that causes ring-shaped rashes on the skin.
- Toxoplasmosis: A parasite infection that can be passed through contact with contaminated feces. Often mild but can be dangerous for pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
- Rabies: A very rare but potentially fatal viral infection passed through saliva and bites. More common in stray cats.
- Dental infections: Bacteria from dental plaque and gingivitis can be passed through saliva.
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV): A cat version of HIV passed through saliva and bites. Can weaken immune system.
- Feline leukemia virus (FeLV): A viral infection passed through saliva and close contact. Can weaken immune system.
While the risk of contracting any of these from a kiss is low, it’s best to avoid mouth-to-mouth contact as a precaution.
Cat Discomfort or Aggression
Another consideration is that not all cats enjoy kisses and affection on their faces. Here are some signs your cat may not like kisses:
- Moving or turning their head away
- Squirming, trying to escape, or running away
- Flattened ears
- Swishing tail
- Hissing, growling, or biting
Cats have different personalities and preferences. While some cats love snuggling and kisses, others prefer less handling and affection. Pay attention to your cat’s reactions so you don’t cross boundaries and anger them.
Safer Alternatives for Showing Affection
If you want to show your cat some love without the risks of kissing, here are some safer options:
- Petting or stroking: Most cats enjoy being gently pet, especially around the cheeks, chin, and base of the tail.
- Brushing: Regular brushing removes loose hair and distributes natural oils for a healthy coat while bonding.
- Talking softly: Cats recognize and respond to the loving tone of a human’s voice.
- Treats: Giving occasional treats shows your cat you care for them.
- Playing: Interactive play with wands, balls, and toys provides exercise and stimulation.
- Providing a clean litterbox, fresh food and water. Nothing says “I love you” like meeting your cat’s basic needs!
You can also stick to kissing the top of your cat’s head as a safer compromise if they dislike face kisses.
When Kissing Cats Can Be Okay
While there are some risks to kissing cats, there are also some circumstances where it may be acceptable if you understand and accept the risks:
- Kissing your own healthy cat that lives indoors only and is up-to-date on vet care.
- Your cat clearly enjoys and seeks out kisses and affections.
- You avoid kissing them directly on the nose and mouth.
- You don’t have any contagious illnesses yourself.
- Not letting them lick inside your mouth.
Overall it’s best to keep cat kisses limited. But for some cats that crave affection, an occasional smooch may not pose too much risk.
When to Avoid Kissing Cats
Here are some circumstances where you should absolutely avoid kissing cats:
- Stray cats or cats with an unknown health history.
- Cats that are prone to scratching, biting, or aggression.
- Cats with dental disease or gingivitis.
- Kittens under 1 year that haven’t finished vaccination series.
- Cats frequently exposed to the outdoors or other cats.
- If you or the cat has any signs of illness.
- If you are immunocompromised or pregnant.
Children under 5 years old should also avoid kissing cats to limit risk of illness. And anyone with cat allergies should also avoid too much direct contact.
Precautions for Cat Owners
If you choose to occasionally kiss your cat, some basic precautions include:
- Washing your hands before and after handling cats.
- Not touching your mouth or face after petting cats until you wash up.
- Monitoring your cat’s health and watching for any signs of illness.
- Keeping cats indoors and limiting contact with outdoor/stray cats.
- Staying up to date on your own vaccinations, especially tetanus.
- Seeing your doctor if you develop any unusual illness after contact with cats.
While it’s rare, some illnesses like rabies can be very dangerous if not treated promptly. So always contact your doctor if you feel sick after interacting with any animal.
Conclusion
Kissing cats can certainly pose some health risks, but modest amounts of affectionate nuzzling are unlikely to cause problems in most cases. To stay safe, stick to lower risk activities like petting and consider your cat’s individual personality. Avoid kissing strays or cats with unknown backgrounds. Monitor your own health as well and see a doctor if you develop any concerning symptoms after handling cats. With some common sense precautions, it’s still possible to shower your feline friend with love while minimizing the chances of swapping germs!