This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
Published on April 23, 2020, two cats in the United States have tested positive for the coronavirus, sparking concerns about the spread of the virus through pets.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the two cats, from different parts of the state, showed only mild symptoms and are expected to be fine. The cats were tested after their owners showed symptoms of a respiratory infection, and the test results were confirmed at a national veterinary lab.
While the news may raise concerns, experts say there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading the virus in the United States. Karen Terio, the chief of the Zoological Pathology Program at University of Illinois's veterinary college, noted that hundreds of thousands of people have tested positive in the United States, as opposed to two cats.
Dr. Terio said that while the tests and earlier experiments did show that cats appear to be somewhat susceptible to the virus, 'If this was going to be a serious problem for cats, we would have seen greater numbers.' The direction of infection, she said, 'is not going to be cat to human, it's going to be us to our pets.'
For now, the CDC recommends keeping cats indoors to prevent them from contact with other animals or people. They also recommend isolating from pets as much as possible if you become sick, treating them as you would a human being in your family.
Other animals, such as dogs, are less susceptible to infection with the virus, according to research. While there is some evidence that they may have low-level infections, they haven't shown any symptoms. The American Veterinary Medical Association has the same advice, which did not change with the new announcement.
