The first confirmed case of coronavirus in a pet cat has
been confirmed in the UK. The cat caught the virus via their owners after they
had tested positive. The entire household, including the cat have all gone on
to recover fully. There is no need for cat owners to panic or for anyone to get
concerned. Here’s what you need to know.
Cats Don’t
Pass the Virus to Humans
All research has shown that it is not possible for cats to
pass on the virus to humans. There’s no need to distance yourself or your
family from your pet over concerns that the cat may have picked up the virus
outside the home and may pass it to your family. There is absolutely no
evidence that shows that cats or any other domestic pets can transmit the virus
to humans.
According to Professor James Woods the head of veterinary
medicine at University of Cambridge, only a small number of animals that have
been in contact with infected humans have gone on to become infected. The data
that has been collected does show that humans can pass the virus to cats but not
the other way round. This is thought to be down to the size of the cats. The exhale a much smaller amount of breath
compared to humans and they only produce a very low level of the virus.
Protecting
Your Pet from Covid-19
The advice remains the same as it has throughout the
lockdown period regarding reducing the risk of passing coronavirus to cats.
- Wash your hands frequently including before and
after any contact with your pets.
- If you think you may have been exposed to the
virus avoid close contact with your pets.
- Avoid contact with your pets if you have tested
positive.
The updated advice to those with confirmed or suspected
Covid -19 is to keep the cats indoors if they are happy to be restricted to
indoor life. If the cat is likely to suffer from extreme stress related medical
reasons the cat shouldn’t be forced to remain in the home.
Cats may carry the virus on the fur, in a similar way that
the virus can be found on doorknobs and other surfaces. Therefore, it is
imperative to continue with the frequent hand washing.
The coronavirus pandemic is not being driven by animal to
human transmission, it is human to human. There is no need to banish your cats
from the home. Wash your hands and follow the advice above to keep your pets as
safe as possible.
Talk to us if you would like to discuss the cat containment
options that provide cats with safe and secure outdoor access without free
reign to roam. `
