Can people share the Coronavirus With Pets?

Please find below advice from iCatCare on Pets and Coronavirus

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been a small number of scientific reports from different countries of cats and dogs becoming infected with coronavirus. Most recently there has been one case of a cat in the UK. In this case, as with most of the others, the owners have tested positive and transmission was from the owners to their pets and not the other way around; people were sick, and some days later their pets showed signs of illness, in the case of cats, these seem to be respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. It seems likely from what we know so far that dogs and cats are not infected easily with this virus, and there is no evidence that they play a role in the spread of the virus. Pets can occasionally become infected but are not infectious to people.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) states:

Now that SARS-CoV-2 infections are widely distributed in the human population, there is a possibility for certain animal species to become infected through close contact with infected humans. Cats (domestic and large cats), mink, and dogs have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the field setting, following contact with humans known or suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. In the field setting cats have shown clinical signs of disease including respiratory and gastro-intestinal signs. Although several animal species have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, these infections are not a driver of the COVID-19 pandemic; the pandemic is driven by human to human transmission.’

Therefore, there is no need to consider rehoming pets or abandoning them during this pandemic because of worries about the disease being able to spread between people and pets. Human outbreaks are driven by person to person contact.

Advice for cat owners

In general, owners should adopt good hygiene practices (including handwashing before and after being around or handling animals, their food, or supplies, as well as avoiding kissing them) and to maintain a clean and hygienic household environment. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses which can be killed by nearly all common disinfectants – we should be relieved that no special disinfection chemical or process is required and that this virus doesn’t survive well in soap and alcohol. Hence, hand washing, as we have been advised, is very important. Wiping and cleaning surfaces removes the virus from the environment. These are great weapons in our fight against the infection in general.

If you do have COVID-19, then it is sensible to restrict contact with pets and have another member of the household care for the animals. If you need to look after your pet, maintain good hygiene practices and wear a face mask if possible.

Can the virus be passed on pets’ coats?

There has also been discussion about what are called ‘fomites’ – simply put, these are objects or materials which are likely to carry infection, such as clothes, utensils, and furniture. When people sneeze or cough on these objects or transfer virus onto their hands and then touch things, the virus can remain there to be touched by another person who can then transfer it to their mouth, or nose. In this context, could cats and dogs be considered as fomites?

Smooth (non-porous) surfaces (eg, countertops, doorknobs) transmit viruses better than porous materials (eg, paper money, pet fur), because porous, and especially fibrous, materials absorb and trap the virus, making it harder to pick it up through simple touch. Under laboratory conditions, the coronavirus seems to be able to survive on smooth surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours, but less time on surfaces such as cardboard (24 hours). The amount of virus decreases quickly over time on each of those surfaces, so that risk of infection from touching them will probably decrease over time as well.

No research has been done about whether it can be passed on animal’s coats, but because dog and cat hair is porous and fibrous, it is very unlikely that you would contract COVID-19 by stroking or playing with your pets. However, it’s always a good idea to wash your hands before and after interacting with them.

Some sources are recommending keeping cats indoors because we are not 100% sure whether the virus can be transmitted on the coat, and that would certainly totally remove any risk. This is to protect others (in case you are positive for the virus) if they touch your cat, and yourself, should people transfer the virus to your cat. However, most cats don’t want to be touched by other people. Keeping a cat inside which is used to access outside could be very stressful for the cat and hence also for owners. Once again common sense should prevail. If you live somewhere with very few other people around, then there is a very limited risk, if you are in a densely populated area and you have a very friendly cat, you might consider it. If you have a cat which is known to visit other people, ask them not to let the cat in or to touch it (you can put a paper collar on it with a message). Don’t interact with cats that are not your own. If you test positive and your cats go out, avoid close contact with it.

Visiting your vet

The COVID-19 outbreak has affected veterinary services around the world, as it has other services or businesses. Veterinary clinics are subject to strict control measures according to the government or professional body of the country they are in. This included closing to all but emergency cases and cancelling routine procedures such as neutering or vaccination during lockdown. These services are opening up again gradually depending on the country and the level of infection.

International Cat Care’s veterinary division has a forum on which vets from all over the world discuss these matters and there is a great deal of anxiety in terms of keeping a service going, what can and cannot be done and how to continue to remain open to treat animals, as well as how to protect staff and visiting clients in the clinic. If your pet is unwell or you need veterinary advice or need routine medicine, call your veterinary clinic to discuss your concerns before visiting.

The clinic is likely to have precautions in place at the clinic to protect both you and the staff, such as asking you to wash the cat carrier, to wait in your car before your appointment rather than in the waiting room, and to wash or disinfect hands before and after visiting.

They may be able to offer you a telephone or video consultation to avoid you having to visit the surgery. Have all the information ready when you phone so they can triage your call effectively e.g. how long your cat has been unwell, when they were last vaccinated or wormed for example.

When your cat is unwell it can be a very stressful time. Vets and nurses will be aware of this and try to make the process as straightforward as possible, but bear with them – these are not usual times and you may need to wait longer to be seen, or accept that the clinic may not be able to see your cat unless in an emergency. Be reassured that veterinary professionals want to do their best for their clients and pets and the situation is changing rapidly.

If neutering your kitten has to be delayed, don’t let it go outside as female cats could easily become pregnant around the age of 4 to 6 months. Homing organisations are having to close their doors and a surge of unwanted kittens when they reopen will not help them or the cats. Likewise, if a kitten has not had its initial vaccinations, don’t let it go outside as it will not be protected from cat diseases such as cat flu and enteritis.

Adult cats which have been vaccinated regularly are likely to have a longer duration of immunity and therefore short delays are unlikely to cause an increased risk of disease, however, take your veterinary professional’s advice if you are concerned. These are difficult times and veterinary clinics must follow government and professional body guidance.

If you are having trouble seeing your veterinarian, please do not treat your cat at home, for example using human medications. These can make cats severely unwell, paracetamol, for example, is highly toxic to cats.

Helping your cat at home

Changes in routine can be unsettling for all of us, including our cats, so if you are working from home or self-isolating try to keep routines similar. With more family members at home, ensure cats have places to hide and rest away from the extra noise and easily accessible litter trays and other resources such as food and water. See https://icatcare.org/advice/making-your-home-cat-friendly/ for more information on keeping your home cat-friendly in these difficult times. International Cat Care will be providing more information in an upcoming webinar on all these things.

Being prepared

It is sensible to prepare for self-isolation or hospitalisation, by talking to family about care of your pet and thinking forward about what your pet might need (food, medicines).
For more detailed information on COVID-19 see the World Health Organisation (WHO) website. The AVMA also provides information for pet owners: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19/covid-19-faqs-pet-owners