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.