Ask a Vet: Can I catch a virus from my cat? (washingtonpost.com) Ask a Vet: Can I catch a virus from my cat? By Jane Sykes 2026062210010900 My cat recently died because it had FIV, which I was told was like AIDS in people. Can cats spread viruses to humans? Cats are very susceptible to viral infections, but with the exception of rabies, cat viruses generally don't infect humans.