The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, raised concerns about its potential to jump the species barrier and infect domestic animals. Pet owners, particularly those with cats, have been eager to understand the risks their companions face from the virus circulating widely in the human population. Understanding this human-to-animal interaction is important for maintaining both public and animal health.
Documented Cases of Feline Infection
Cats are susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2, a fact confirmed by numerous documented cases globally. The virus typically transmits to cats after close, prolonged contact with an infected human in the household. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) acknowledge that this human-to-animal transmission, often called reverse zoonosis, can occur. Although cats can contract the virus, the number of confirmed feline cases remains low compared to the scale of human infections. This suggests that while transmission is possible, it is not a widespread or highly efficient event in the natural home environment.
Recognizing Symptoms in Your Cat
When cats become infected with SARS-CoV-2, they usually experience only mild or entirely asymptomatic illness. Symptoms often affect the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems. Owners might notice signs such as sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose. Gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported in some infected felines. In most instances, the cat’s symptoms resolve on their own without requiring specialized veterinary intervention.
Serious illness in pets is rare, and most animals recover fully with simple supportive care, like rest and good nutrition. Owners should monitor for lethargy or a reduced appetite. If any signs of illness appear, the owner should contact their veterinarian. Avoid taking the pet to the clinic without calling ahead first, which allows the staff to prepare for examination.
Preventing Human-to-Cat Transmission
Because the primary route of infection for cats is contact with an infected human, people diagnosed with COVID-19 need to take specific steps to protect their pets. If isolation from the cat is not possible, strict hygiene practices are essential, requiring thorough handwashing before and after any interaction with the cat or handling its supplies.
If you are infected, you should implement measures to minimize exposure:
- Have another member of the household take over the pet’s care, including feeding, playing, and cleaning the litter box.
- Wear a well-fitting face mask when in the same room as the cat.
- Avoid direct contact, such as cuddling, kissing, sharing food, or sleeping in the same bed with the cat.
- Keeping the cat indoors during the period of human illness also limits the pet’s contact with other people and animals outside the home.
Understanding Cat-to-Human Risk
The concern regarding an infected cat passing the virus back to a human is understandable, but the current scientific consensus suggests this risk is very low. Health organizations have stated that there is no evidence that companion animals play a significant role in spreading the virus to people. There has been one documented case suggesting a cat-to-human transfer, where a veterinarian was infected after an infected cat sneezed in their face. However, this isolated incident does not change the overall assessment that the incidence of cat-to-human transmission is uncommon. Standard hygiene, such as washing hands after handling pets and avoiding close contact with any animal that appears ill, remains the best defense.