Her new sweater doesn’t smell of me I could pee on that She’s gone out for the day and left her laptop on the counter I could pee on that Her new boyfriend just pushed my head away I could pee on him She’s ignoring me ignoring her I could pee everywhere She’s making up for it by putting me on her lap I could pee on this I could pee on this
This was gruesome—fighting over a ham sandwich with one of the tiny cats of Rome, he leaped on my arm and half hung on to the food and half hung on to my shirt and coat. I tore it apart and let him have his portion, I think I lifted him down, sandwich and all, on the sidewalk and sat with my own sandwich beside him, maybe I petted his bony head and felt him shiver. I have told this story over and over; some things root in the mind; his boldness, of course, was frightening and unexpected—his stubbornness—though hunger drove him mad. It was the breaking of boundaries, the sudden invasion, but not only that it was the sharing of food and the sharing of space; he didn’t run into an alley or into a cellar, he sat beside me, eating, and I didn’t run into a trattoria, say, shaking, with food on my lips and blood on my cheek, sobbing; but not only that, I had gone there to eat and wait for someone. I had maybe an hour before she would come and I was full of hope and excitement. I have resisted for years interpreting this, but now I think I was given a clue, or I was giving myself a clue, across the street from the glass sandwich shop. That was my last night with her, the next day I would leave on the train for Paris and she would meet her husband. Thirty-five years ago I ate my sandwich and moaned in her arms, we were dying together; we never met again although she was pregnant when I left her—I have a daughter or son somewhere, darling grandchildren in Norwich, Connecticut, or Canton, Ohio. Every five years I think about her again and plan on looking her up. The last time I was sitting in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and heard that her husband was teaching at Princeton, if she was still married, or still alive, and tried calling. I went that far. We lived in Florence and Rome. We rowed in the bay of Naples and floated, naked, on the boards. I started to think of her again today. I still am horrified by the cat’s hunger. I still am puzzled by the connection. This is another insane devotion, there must be hundreds, although it isn’t just that, there is no pain, and the thought is fleeting and sweet. I think it’s my own dumb boyhood, walking around with Slavic cheeks and burning stupid eyes. I think I gave the cat half of my sandwich to buy my life, I think I broke it in half as a decent sacrifice. It was this I bought, the red coleus, the split rocking chair, the silk lampshade. Happiness. I watched him with pleasure. I bought memory. I could have lost it. How crazy it sounds. His face twisted with cunning. The wind blowing through his hair. His jaw working.
knowledge about COVID-19 (coronavirus) keeps changing, as scientists, medical professionals, and other experts continue to figure out and update their information about this new disease. Our responsibilities are to comply with coronavirus guidelines, and be constantly attentive to new information, as the experts discover it,
Should I worry about CODIV-19 and my cat
Yet another thing I worried about with this awful disease, was my cats, especially after hearing about a dog in Hong Kong getting infected. I researched, and posted my cats and coronavirus, on March 15
Yesterday, April 5, news was released about an infected tiger in The Bronx Zoo, the flagship park of the Wildlife Conservation Society. The WCS said the four-year old Malaysian tiger, Nadia, tested positive for COVID-19.
Only Nadia was tested, but Nadia’s sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions, also had a dry cough, and the zoo is assuming they are also infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Turns out, a zoo caretaker had COVID-19, before his or her symptoms presented, and likely infected the cats. The infected cats have a decreased appetite, but otherwise, are doing well. The WCS described the cats as, “bright, alert and interactive with their keepers.” Vets at the zoo are tending and monitoring the sick cats. Happily, they’re all expected to recover, according to the WCS.
The infected cats are housed with other cats, who show no symptoms. Nor do the cats throughout the zoo, including snow leopards, cheetahs, a puma, serval, and a clouded leopard. That’s a really good thing, since it’s unknown how COVID-19 exposure could effect big cats, especially since different species may react differently to this new disease. Measures are now in place at the zoo for staff to prevent further exposure to the other cats, the WCS said.
Can my cat get sick?
On March 27, a domestic cat in Belgium was infected with COVID-19, caused by the new coronavirus, according to the government’s FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment. It’s the first human-to-cat transmission.
“About a week after its owner got sick with COVID-19, after returning from a trip to Northern Italy, the cat developed coronavirus symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting and respiratory issues, Domestic cats seem to have a receptor protein on the outsides of respiratory cells, similar to the human counterpart involved in SARS-CoV-2 infections. Called ACE2, this receptor protein is what allows the virus to break into these cells and multiply. The feline ACE2 protein resembles the human ACE2 homologue, which is most likely the cellular receptor which is being used by SARS-CoV-2 for cell entry.”
Steven Van Gucht, virologist and federal spokesperson for the coronavirus epidemic in Belgium
Translated: I think it means, because domestic cats have a protein outside of their respiratory cells, similar to ours, they may be susceptible to human coronavirus. If you are sick, or think you might be infected, take care with your cat. Wear a mask when replenishing fresh water, preparing cat food, even cleaning kitty litter. Remember, when you pet your cat, as fastidious groomers, they may lick contamination into their little bodies. Precaution is good, over-precautious is best. Just my advice.
Meanwhile, there continues to be NO evidence of cat to human transmission, as stated in research papers by two different scientists, who did significant investigation on COVID-19, the coronavirus.
One of the authors is Hualan Chen, of Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences. The scientist described how SARA-CoV-2 was transmitted between cats in their respiratory droplets. Another authority, published in medrXiv, found that of 102 cats tested in Wuhan, nearly 15% had antibodies to the virus, suggesting they contracted the virus from humans or other cats. Again, both experts stated NO evidence has been found that cats can transmit the virus to humans.
Be safe. Practice all hygienic recommendations, for yourself, your cats and other family members, friends, community and our country.
Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) is a common viral infection in cats. It generally causes an asymptomatic infection, but can give some cats mild diarrhea. FCoV should not be confused with the coronavirus pandemic causing havoc around the world. The feline version Is only transmitted between cats; people can not be infected. It is unrelated to the current human coronavirus.
The current spread of COVID-19 is a result of human to human transmission. To date, there is no evidence that companion animals can spread the disease. Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals which may compromise their welfare.
The predominant route of transmission of COVID-19 appears to be from human to human.
As for the reported dog in Hong Kong infected with coronavirus:
A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that a pet dog had tested a weak positive to COVID-19 virus. All indications result in, contamination between dogs or cats and people, are non-existent. The lone dog seemed to have gotten it from it’s owner. But the dog has no symptoms, but was quarantined anyway. it’s recommended to practice the same hygiene as between humans, and apply it to our cats when we interact with them: wash our hands, don’t sneeze or cough on them. Common sense stuff, really.
The important thing is to be prepared. When stocking up on food, toiletries and medications, make sure that likewise, prepare for your cats. Have enough cat food, kitty litter, and medications if your cat requires them, for at least two weeks, or more.
The World Health Organization has said that there is no evidence that companion animals or pets such as cats and dogs have been infected or could spread the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.
my cat and coronavirus infection
To conclude, cats are apparently neither capable of giving or getting coronavirus. But, as always, take care of your cats. ??
Everyone is excited about Super Bowl 54, taking place on Sunday, February 2, 2020. But some of us are more excited about the 2nd annual Cat Bowl, and Kitten Bowl VII.
The 2nd annual Cat Bowl will be aired on Saturday, February 1, at 11 pm (and Sunday, February 2, at 4 pm) ET
Kitten Bowl VII will be aired on Sunday, February 2, at 2 pm ET
