Can cats get the coronavirus? While there have been symptoms that cats can contract COVID-19 in rare cases (including a tiger at the Bronx Zoo), there are no symptoms that cats can transmit the virus to their owners. Here’s what we know so far.
A 4-year-old tiger tested positive for coronavirus at the Bronx Zoo on April 5, PIX 11 reported. Her sister Blue, two Amur tigers and 3 African lions also have symptoms, in addition to coughing. All big cats appear to be doing well, despite mild symptoms of the virus. Natasha Daly of National Geographic said on Twitter that a total of seven lions and tigers had symptoms.
– Natasha Daly (@natashaldaly) April 5, 2020
The tiger virus is genetically indistinguishable from human strains of COVID-19, Scientific American reported.
The news renewed doubts about whether domestic cats can also contract the coronavirus. Currently, it turns out that this is possible in rare circumstances. But experts don’t think other people can get the virus from cats.
A Belgian domestic cat tested positive for coronavirus in late March, Fox Five Atlanta reported. The cat had symptoms such as shortness of breath, vomiting and diarrhea after its owner tested positive the week before. The cat’s fecal samples contained high levels of SARS. CoV-2 genetic material, Science News reported. However, things get a bit confusing from this point on. The owner collected and sent the samples to the lab and the vet did not notice the cat. The cat made a full recovery within nine days. However, you still want the effects of a blood test to detect antibodies.
It’s also unclear if the cat’s symptoms actually come from SARS-CoV-2, as cats can have respiratory symptoms for many reasons. However, they may be related.
Science News reported that SARS-CoV-2 uses ACE2 to enter cells, and cats and humans have very similar ACE2 proteins. This is why cats are more likely to contract the virus than dogs. But it’s still weird.
In April, Chinese researchers said cats could become inflamed with COVID-19 and transmit it to other cats, Nature reported. However, this study gave cats very high doses of SARS-CoV-2 that are analogous to actual doses. The inflamed cats showed symptoms.
Meanwhile, Idexx Labs analyzed 4000 dogs, cats and horses in the US. It was in the U. S. from Feb. 14 to March 12, and none tested positive, Science News reported. Testing continues. And Newsweek noted that with so many other people inflamed around the world, we would likely have more cases of cats with health problems if transmission of the virus to pets were common.
Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Caddy told CNN that “there is no evidence that a cat, or small, can transmit the virus to humans. “
Ken Smith, a professor of puppy pathology, told CNN, “There is no evidence that cats with natural inflammation can contract the virus in sufficient numbers to infect other cats or people. “
So it turns out that the biggest threat is that inflamed humans transmit the virus to their cats, not that cats transmit the virus to humans.
Dr. Scott Miller, a veterinarian from the United Kingdom, proved it.
– Scott Miller (@drscottym) April 7, 2020
He wrote on Twitter to a reader: “Most likely, they (cats) CANNOT transmit it, only as a surface for the virus among inflamed owners, which is highly unlikely. Be careful with your tweets, as it will alarm many. “Puppy owners are already worried despite their clever intentions.
He then spoke in more detail, explaining that there is no explanation for why cats can transmit the virus to humans.
Our veterinarian explains to @drscottym the facts of those animal titles with coronavirus. pic. twitter. com/ifba3Ba7yT
– This morning (@thismorning) April 7, 2020
The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) has also noted that the threat of transmitting the virus by touching a puppy that another person has touched is very low.
The AVMA wrote: “Transmission is also possible by touching an infected surface or object (i. e. , a fomite) and then touching your mouth, nose or, in all likelihood, eyes, but appears to be a secondary route. Smooth (non-porous) surfaces (e. g. countertops, door handles) transmit viruses larger than porous fabrics (e. g. paper money, animal skins). . . Currently, there is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread to other people through the skin or fur of pets.
The British Veterinary Association also addressed the factor by writing: “According to the OIE, the existing spread of Covid-19 is the result of human-to-human transmission and, to date, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the disease. . . Recent reports of animals testing positive for Covid-19 are remote cases and are thought to be the result of human-to-human transmission. These cases are under investigation.
The AVMA also noted that transmission of the virus to pets is very rare and there is no animal-to-human transmission.
While two dogs (Hong Kong) and two cats (one in Belgium and one in Hong Kong) living with other people diagnosed with COVID-19 have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, other dogs and cats also live with other people swollen other people remain unswollen. New study articles have been published almost daily on open access sites describing initial findings suggesting that some pets can be experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2 and can transmit the virus to other animals in an environment. experimental or surging virus-specific immune reaction following exposure to SARS-CoV-2. However, care must be taken not to over-interpret the effects described in such articles, some of which would possibly report insights from a very small number of animals or provide only initial effects, and not to extrapolate those effects to the SARS-CoV perspective. -two. infect herbal or transmitted through pets kept as pets. To date, the CDC has not obtained any reports of pets becoming ill with COVID-19 in the United States. Infectious disease experts and several domestic and foreign human and animal fitness organizations continue to agree that, at this level, there is no evidence that significant other animals transmit COVID-19 to humans in herbal situations. humans.
The CDC agrees, writing, “We have no evidence that pets, by adding pets, can transmit COVID-19 to others or that they can simply be a source of infection in the United States. “
If you don’t have COVID-19, you can interact with your pets as you would. If you have the virus, the AVMA recommends restricting contact with pets as you would with people, if possible. pets if you have health problems and wash your hands before and after touching them.
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