The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is driven by the exchange of resistant bacteria and resistance genes among humans, animals, and the environment. This research explored the occurrence and characteristics of resistant Escherichia coli in domestic cats by examining isolates from both their feces and drinking water sources. A total of 104 samples were analyzed (52 fecal and 52 water samples). E. coli was recovered from every fecal sample and from 23 of the water samples (44.2%). All isolates remained fully sensitive to amikacin and imipenem, whereas resistance to clindamycin was most frequent. The predominant multidrug resistance patterns involved β-lactam antibiotics combined with other classes, including aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, macrolides, and occasionally carbapenems. Resistance to quinolones showed very strong mutual correlations (r > 0.8, p < 0.01), while azithromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole displayed a moderate association (r = 0.5253, p < 0.01). No carbapenemase-encoding genes were found. Among ESBL genes, blaTEM was the most common, followed by blaSHV and blaCTX-M. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that phylogroup B2 was the most prevalent, particularly in isolates from feces. Resistant E. coli, especially strains belonging to phylogroup B2 and carrying the blaTEM gene, are present in both the intestinal tract of pet cats and their drinking water, suggesting that household cats and their immediate environment may serve as reservoirs for antimicrobial resistance.
