Cats & Covid-19: Can my cat get Covid from me?

Recently, a good friend (and fellow talking cat owner) asked me if her cat could have given her partner his case of Covid-19. I did a deep dive into the research and found that while there have to date been zero reported cases of transmission from cats to humans, there are a few cases of covid transmission from human to feline. So what does this mean for us?

First of all, companion animals such as dogs, cats and ferrets are all susceptible to the Covid-19 virus. As a cat owner, you may already been familiar with the Feline Coronavirus (very different from the Covid Coronavirus), which is generally asymptomatic but is also associated with Feline infectious peritonitis. The feline coronavirus is not zoonotic, meaning it can not be passed between species - but Covid-19 is a different story.

If you become infected with Covid-19, you should do your best to isolate from your pet(s) as much as possible. Wear a mask when around your cat, keep your hands washed and clean and limit pats, snuggles and co-sleeping. Kisses are off limits until you have negative test results. If your cat does become infected, signs to watch for are:

• Anorexia or decreased appetite

• Coughing

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Shallow breathing

If you OR your pet are infected, please do NOT:

• rehome your cat

• relinquish your cat

• attempt to “disinfect” your cat

It’s important to remember that Covid-19 is a largely human disease, and the main route of transmission is human to human. Masking up and keeping your hands clean are wonderful ways to keep both yourself and your pet safe!