How can a mouse infect a cat? - briefly
A mouse can transmit disease to a cat via bites, scratches, or by contaminating food, water, or the environment with pathogens. Common agents include bacterial infections (e.g., Salmonella), viral agents (e.g., hantavirus), and parasites such as Toxoplasma or roundworms.
How can a mouse infect a cat? - in detail
Rodents serve as reservoirs for a range of pathogens that can be transferred to felines through several routes.
Direct predation is the most common pathway. When a cat catches and consumes a mouse, it is exposed to gastrointestinal bacteria such as Salmonella spp., Yersinia spp., and Campylobacter spp. These organisms survive in the rodent’s intestinal tract and can colonize the cat’s stomach and intestines, producing diarrhea, fever, or septicemia. The infectious dose for many of these bacteria is low, so even a single contaminated meal may be sufficient.
Ectoparasites that infest mice—particularly fleas (Ctenocephalides spp.) and mites—act as mechanical or biological vectors. Fleas feeding on an infected rodent acquire pathogens like Rickettsia spp. or Bartonella spp. When the same flea later bites a cat, it inoculates the feline bloodstream. Mites can transmit Sarcoptes scabiei, causing dermatological disease.
Protozoan parasites also move from rodents to cats. Toxoplasma gondii forms tissue cysts in mouse muscles; ingestion of these cysts by a cat leads to systemic infection, potentially causing ocular lesions, encephalitis, or reproductive failure. Neospora caninum and Giardia spp. follow similar transmission patterns.
Viruses with rodent reservoirs include hantaviruses and arenaviruses. Although feline infection is rare, exposure through contaminated rodent secretions or excreta can result in respiratory or renal disease in susceptible cats.
Environmental contamination provides an indirect route. Mouse urine, feces, and saliva can contaminate household surfaces, food bowls, or bedding. Cats that groom themselves after contact with these materials may ingest pathogens. Parasite eggs (e.g., Trichuris spp.) and resistant bacterial spores persist in the environment, increasing infection risk.
Preventive measures focus on limiting rodent access, controlling ectoparasite populations, and maintaining strict hygiene. Regular flea and mite treatments for cats, proper storage of pet food, and prompt removal of rodent droppings reduce the likelihood of transmission.