Can Cats Carry Hantavirus—And Can They Give It to Humans?

With all the recent concerns about hantavirus, you may be wondering about how it may affect your cat. Can they catch it? Can they pass it to humans…or vice versa?

Here’s the short answer: cats can be exposed to hantavirus, but rarely become sick, and there is no evidence of cats transmitting it to people.

In fact, human-to-human hantavirus transmission isn’t common either, in spite of all the news about the handful of cases on the cruise ship MV Hondius. These infections involved an uncommon strain called the Andes virus, and people who were in a confined setting (the ship). Any real hantavirus risk comes from infected rodents and their droppings.

And actually, that is where your cat might come into the picture. Especially cats that are allowed to roam outdoors.

Hantavirus and Cats: Key Takeaways

Can cats get hantavirus? → Can be exposed, rarely get sick

Can cats spread hantavirus to humans? → No evidence of this

Can cats indirectly increase exposure? → Yes, if they bring home infected rodents

The biggest risk to humans? → Rodent urine and droppings, also saliva and nesting material

What is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus, as its name implies, is a viral disease. Its main carriers are rodents. Human to human transmission is uncommon, and confined to certain lesser known strains, such as the one infecting the people on the cruise ship MV Hondius. Hantavirus can lead to serious and possibly fatal complications, such as HPS (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome). But the virus itself is not the kind that lends itself to a pandemic type human-to-human spread.

Cats and Hantavirus

The biggest danger with cats and hantavirus is that they can bring home infected prey.

How cats become exposed

• By hunting mice and other rodents
• Carrying around this prey in their mouths
• Outdoor exposure to rodent nests and droppings

Most cats show few or no symptoms after being exposed

• Cats may carry hantavirus, but they’re what is known as dead-end hosts. They don’t seem to transmit the virus.
• Even when infected, they rarely show any signs of disease

Can Cats Pass Hantavirus to Humans?

Current evidence says no. But don’t get too comfortable yet.

What we know so far

• Direct cat to human hantavirus transmission doesn’t happen.
• Humans aren’t exposed to hantavirus through cat saliva, fur, litter boxes or scratches.

The indirect risk involving hantavirus and cats

If your cat catches an infected rodent and brings it to you, and you handle the rodent, it puts you at risk. Or maybe they don’t bring it to you directly and just leave it (or parts of it) in the garage, the garden or another place where you come into contact with it. That is also a risk.

How You Could Actually Catch Hantavirus

Humans usually become infected by:

• Sweeping rodent droppings
• Cleaning garages, sheds, and other areas rodents may nest
• Breathing contaminated dust
• Eating contaminated food
• Handling nesting material
• Through rodent bites, although this is rare

For more about humans and hantavirus, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Are Outdoor Cats More Likely to Encounter Hantavirus?

Absolutely! Most outdoor cats hunts, and those who spend the majority of time outdoors are usually pretty good at it. Rodents are easy prey for cats, so if there is hantavirus in your area, it is quite possible for them to encounter it.

Indoor-outdoor cats are less likely to encounter hantavirus, but it’s still possible. Especially if they are allowed to roam free outside. Leashed cats are less likely to be able to catch prey (although it has happened!).

Indoor-only cats are the least likely to encounter it, although it’s possible if your home becomes infested by rodents. We had roof rats in our house at one point, and I even found them a couple of times. Fortunately, my human and her then-boyfriend were able to get rid of them.

What’s more likely

Hantavirus may not be a risk for cats, but there are lots of other prey-driven diseases that can make your cat sick. And if your neighbors put out poison and your cat catches something that has consumed it, it can poison your cat too. This alone is a good enough reason to keep your cat indoors.

For more about cats and rodent-borne illnesses, from The Spruce Pets.

How to Protect Your Cat — and Yourself

Protect your cat:

• Store your cat’s food in rodent-proof containers
• If you give them outdoor time, make it supervised
• Routine wellness care is also important

Protect yourself:

• Never vacuum dry droppings – this can spread, not get rid of virus
• Disinfect first
• Wear gloves and a mask when cleaning
• CDC prevention emphasizes wet disinfection rather than sweeping contaminated rodent waste.

Here is more information about this from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When to Call Your Veterinarian

Even though hantavirus isn’t a big risk for your cat, rodent exposure can lead to many other serious illnesses. So if your cat is showing these signs, bring them to your vet right away:

• Lethargy
• Breathing difficulty
• Fever
• Sudden appetite loss after hunting rodents

If exposure really has made them ill, fast treatment is crucial.

I will be honest, I think all the attention paid to the hantavirus is overblown. It’s not something that lends itself to widespread transmission. In a few months there will probably be some other transmittable disease capturing the headlines. Hopefully one that does not affect cats!

If there’s anything I’d like you to take away from this, it’s that it’s better to keep your cat inside and away from outside prey. It may not give your cat hantavirus, but there are other diseases out there that are far more dangerous to them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hantavirus and Cats

Can I pass hantavirus to my cat?

This is extremely unlikely, and infected cats generally do not become ill.

Is hantavirus common in house cats?

No. Even if they are exposed, they are not likely to get ill or spread the disease

Can cats spread hantavirus through scratches?

No, although it’s possible to spread other diseases, such as Bartonellosis (cat scratch disease). And if the scratch is deep, it can become infected without proper care.

Can cats get sick after eating mice?

Yes, but not from hantavirus. They can get toxoplasmosis, tapeworm, salmonella and leptospirosis, among other things. And if they eat poisoned prey, it can also poison them.