More cats might be COVID-19 positive than first believed

A newly published study looking at cats in Wuhan, where the first known outbreak of COVID-19 began, shows more cats might be contracting the disease than first believed.

Researchers from Huazhong Agricultural University, in the Chinese city, took blood samples from 102 cats between January and March 2020, following the first outbreak. Nasal and anal swabs were also collected.

Their findings show COVID-19 antibodies present in 15 of the blood samples taken from the cats. Of these, 11 cats had neutralising antibodies - proteins that bind so successfully to a virus they block the infection.

None of the cats actually tested positive for COVID-19 or displayed obvious symptoms and, according to the results of return visits, none of these felines have died.

The sample of cats looked at included 46 abandoned from three animal shelters, 41 from five pet hospitals, and 15 cats were from COVID-19 patient families.

The three cats with the highest levels of antibodies were all owned by patients who had been diagnosed with COVID-19, while there were also signs of cats being infected with the virus by other cats from those that were abandoned (four) or based in the pet hospitals (four).

Commenting on the findings, lead author Meilin Jin states that while there is currently no evidence for cat-to-human transmission, precautions should be considered.

"Although the infection in stray cats could not be fully understood, it is reasonable to speculate that these infections are probably due to the contact with SARS-CoV-2 polluted environment, or COVID-19 patients who fed the cats.

"Therefore, measures should be considered to maintain a suitable distance between COVID-19 patients and companion animals such as cats and dogs, and hygiene and quarantine measures should also be established for those high-risk animals."

Do you own a cat? Are you worried about your cat bringing COVID-19 into your house?

8 comments

No I do not own a cat

..... but it seems that humans with covid 19 are giving their cats immunity.

I don't own any pets but have long happy memories of the ones I did have. At my age, it would be selfish to have leave one behind to fret if anything happened to me.

 

Cats carry a lot of diseases and play havoc with the immune system. I have always been allergic to cats.

They are a threat to our wildlife.

 

I could be that there are cats and other animals that are allergic to people too. The filthiest predatory species on this planet are humans and they are the biggest threat to everything besides being in plague proportions.  This pandemic was meant to happen because we never learn from our past mistakes because we place the blame elsewhere.

I agree, Sophie, and I find it interesting that any plan to shoot feral cats are met with howls of derision even though they are responsible, in part, for wiping out native animals. Feral horses, pigs, donkeys, camels, buffalo and dogs are wreaking havoc with our ecology and even though they are all introduced species, bleeding hearts think that they are more important than the native wildlife whose habitat or existence is being destroyed.

so are humans. 

Ditto for humans Sophie!  scum of the earth; totally agree with Thinker

YOU are so right    the THINKER,     also,  it is a way of getting rid of some of the population,   [as do wars]       the planet is over populated,      may be this is another of natures ways of ;thinning us out;   

Recently on a television news report, they showed volunteers visiting homes of various people.   This was a lovely gesture and they stayed 1.5 metres away from each resident.    But but but ..  the volunteer was holding a small dog.  Which unfortunately she let each householder, scratch, tickle and rub the dogs head.  Crikey.  Then the next resident also patted and scratched the same dog.   This is not at all a safe practice.  Strangers should not be patting other pets.

Dogs are being trained to detect the Covid19 virus and they are more reliable than the test kits. Dogs can detect all sorts of human sickness. 

I hate seeing articles like this - so many people will take it as a definite threat and think people's feline friends should be wiped out.  It doesn't take much to spread unnecessary fear - we have plenty of that already.

 

Feral cats are a menace to Australian wildlife.

Much as I love pets ... the damage that introduced pets/animals have done to Australia's unique species is irreparable IMO.

Thinking cats, rabbits, foxes, pigs, cane toads, buffaloes, brumbies, etc etc

and deer in south eastern Aust and through the Snowies. Camels, donkeys, sparrows, starlings, carp and do-gooders.

You forgot to mention humans, the scourge of the earth above all else.

again HUMANS are the worst of all.  Apart from the damgage we do WE introduce the 'pests' who are only trying to make a living just like any other animal

Yes thankfully I do own cats ................ and dogs fortunately.   The only thing that has kept my sanity over this long lock down.   When writing articles like this people need to be mindful there actually are those reading these posts who have no nouse whatsoever, and their first reaction would be to put their pet down, without understanding a little more about the situation.  Obviously in these cases there is not much love for the pet so the actions would require little thinking.   And as a comment to those making mention of the destruction pets can do, maybe check out what we wonderful humans have done to this planet, Yep - we are way more destructive, thoughtless and uncaring souls than any animal I have ever known. 

 

 

No need to get rid of your cats  or eat them- they're referring to feral cats. I hate cats, just don't let them wander into my yard or on goes the sprinkler - full blast!

 

No you wouldn't...you are a member of both Birds Australia and Save the Animals Lucca!!

I do own a cat, and until this is proved, it would be better not to spread this "news" around.  So many cat haters around, who would try and kill every feline in their area.  A well cared for domestic pet should not pose a threat.  Not sure about the ferals though

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