COVID-19 and Cats
Tiger tests positive for COVID-19
A tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City has tested positive for the corona virus. It is the first known case of a non-domesticated animal catching the disease. Officials believe the animal, a Malayan tiger named Nadia, was infected by an asymptomatic zoo keeper, as the zoo has been closed to the public since March 16th.
Along with Nadia, two Siberian tigers and three African lions are all exhibiting similar symptoms but have not been tested. Symptoms include a dry cough and a decreased appetite, but none have exhibited other symptoms seen in humans, such as fever or shortness of breath. Nadia was sedated with general anesthesia for her test, and samples were taken from her throat, nasal cavities, and trachea. Aside from their symptoms, the zoo reports that the cats are otherwise alert and interactive with their keepers.
So what risk is posed to domesticated cats?
There is still much that is unknown about human to animal transmission, and if the disease can be passed from animal to animal. However, at this point experts believe that cats cannot pass the virus onto humans. To date, two cats have tested positive for COVID-19, one in Belgium and the other in Hong Kong. Both animals were owned by individuals who also tested positive for the virus. Symptoms present in the cat from Belgium included diarrhea, vomiting, and respiratory issues. This cat tested positive for the virus via a fecal sample.
However, there have not been any cases of cats infecting their owners, or one another. A study completed in at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China found that there is community spread among cat populations; however, the study was done under conditions that did not parallel those of the real world, utilized a small sample size, and has not been peer reviewed. Therefore, any conclusions for the study are not scientifically reliable.
Even though the chance of transmission from you to your cat is low, experts still recommend that people infected with COVID-19 avoid contact with their pets. As a general rule, the CDC recommends that owners wash their hands after interacting with pets and that cat owners and caretakers ensure that their cats maintain proper hygiene. Healthy individuals, however, can still cuddle up with their feline friends without worry as long as they take the proper precautions.
A tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City has tested positive for the corona virus. It is the first known case of a non-domesticated animal catching the disease. Officials believe the animal, a Malayan tiger named Nadia, was infected by an asymptomatic zoo keeper, as the zoo has been closed to the public since March 16th.
Along with Nadia, two Siberian tigers and three African lions are all exhibiting similar symptoms but have not been tested. Symptoms include a dry cough and a decreased appetite, but none have exhibited other symptoms seen in humans, such as fever or shortness of breath. Nadia was sedated with general anesthesia for her test, and samples were taken from her throat, nasal cavities, and trachea. Aside from their symptoms, the zoo reports that the cats are otherwise alert and interactive with their keepers.
So what risk is posed to domesticated cats?
There is still much that is unknown about human to animal transmission, and if the disease can be passed from animal to animal. However, at this point experts believe that cats cannot pass the virus onto humans. To date, two cats have tested positive for COVID-19, one in Belgium and the other in Hong Kong. Both animals were owned by individuals who also tested positive for the virus. Symptoms present in the cat from Belgium included diarrhea, vomiting, and respiratory issues. This cat tested positive for the virus via a fecal sample.
However, there have not been any cases of cats infecting their owners, or one another. A study completed in at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China found that there is community spread among cat populations; however, the study was done under conditions that did not parallel those of the real world, utilized a small sample size, and has not been peer reviewed. Therefore, any conclusions for the study are not scientifically reliable.
Even though the chance of transmission from you to your cat is low, experts still recommend that people infected with COVID-19 avoid contact with their pets. As a general rule, the CDC recommends that owners wash their hands after interacting with pets and that cat owners and caretakers ensure that their cats maintain proper hygiene. Healthy individuals, however, can still cuddle up with their feline friends without worry as long as they take the proper precautions.