Within the last 72 hours the USDA has issued a report confirming that two cats from New York State have tested positive for the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
One cat was from a COVID-19 positive household, the other cat was likely infected by an asymptomatic (not displaying symptoms) household member.
Both cats are exhibiting mild upper respiratory signs which is consistent with most of the Coronaviruses that can infect cats. Presently, dogs are not considered susceptible to the COVID-19 virus.
Infectious disease specialists in the field of Veterinary Medicine have agreed that cats infected with COVID-19 are highly unlikely to re-infect their human counterparts. The current thinking is that within the infected COVID-19 cats, this Coronavirus does not replicate (reproduce) in sufficient numbers (viral load) to re-infect humans.
The USDA suggests a focus on common sense guidance:
- If you are infected, limit contact with people and pets.
- If your pet is exposed, keep it in the house with you.
- If your pet is exposed and is sick, please call your pet’s veterinarian to see if it actually needs to be seen at the clinic. Most upper respiratory tract infections in cats are self-limiting, which means they resolve on their own.
