Can Cats Get Covid 19 Uk

This is the first case of a domestic cat testing positive for.

Can cats get covid 19 uk. Can animals catch Covid-19. Health Coronavirus Can cats get coronavirus. Pet cat found to have virus in UK.

Two cases of human-to-cat transmission are identified as part of a screening programme of the UKs feline population. In rare cases cats have been seen to catch Covid-19 from infected humans and develop symptoms in most cases these symptoms are mild. However as a precaution you should follow good hygiene routines including washing your hands before and after any contact with your pet its food and bedding.

There is currently no evidence that cats can transmit COVID-19 to humans and so owners should not worry unnecessarily. When I wrote my first article about cats and COVID-19 back in March of 2020 there were no confirmed cases. In a very small percentage of cats the virus mutates and causes a fatal disease called feline infectious peritonitis FIP.

These cats tend to shed the virus in their faeces for a few months and remain healthy. Given the lack of transmission there are currently no plans to vaccinate cats against COVID-19. It was back in April that scientists first realised cats were highly susceptible to Covid-19.

A team studying two house cats with respiratory distress confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 the virus causing COVID-19 in both. However most veterinarians only recommend testing for animals that display these symptoms after being in close. According to the BVA where there have been cases it is likely that the transmission was human to animal and there is no evidence that pets can pass Covid-19 to their owners.

It is rare and they may show only mild clinical signs and recover within a few days. Most cats do not display any sign of being infected with FCoV although some cats get diarrhoea for a few days. There is no evidence to show that dogs can pass Covid-19 back to humans or other animals.