Yes, there have been cases reported of cats being infected with COVID-19 but cats appear to be far less susceptible to the virus than humans. There are also no reports of cats dying as a result of getting infected and the number of infected cats is so low there’s no cause for alarm.
How can I tell if my cat has COVID?
The easiest way to check if your cat has COVID is to look for COVID’s symptoms. Cats suffer from the same symptoms a human with COVID would:
- Respiratory problems
- Fatigue
- Body pain
If your cat happens to have COVID, it’ll be similar to it having the flu. Keep in mind that even though the risk of your cat getting infected is very low, your cat could have COVID even without any of these symptoms.
Can you test your cat for COVID?
There are PCR tests for cats, but they are not available to the general public. If you suspect your cat has COVID, the best you can do is assume that is true and act accordingly. Keep in mind that if your cat has COVID, you should all isolate.
If your cat is showing COVID symptoms, isolate yourself and your pets. That is the safest option right now. Other than that, there’s not much you can do. Pets aren’t being tested right now, and there’s no sign that’ll change soon enough.
How can I protect my cat from getting COVID?
There are PCR tests for cats, but they are not available to the general public. If you suspect your cat has COVID, the best you can do is assume that is true and act accordingly. Keep in mind that if your cat has COVID, you should all isolate.
If your cat is showing COVID symptoms, isolate yourself and your pets. That is the safest option right now. Other than that, there’s not much you can do. Pets aren’t being tested right now, and there’s no sign that’ll change soon enough.
Can cats get COVID from their owner?
Cats can get COVID from their owners. Because of that, if you have any COVID symptoms, it’d be best if you isolated yourself from your pets (and other people). If you’re living with someone who has COVID, isolate your pets from that person.
Even though cats are less susceptible to COVID than humans, there are reports of human-to-cat transmissions. Fortunately, no cat-to-human transmission has been registered so far. If your cat is feeling unwell, you can treat it with no fear!
Can cats get infected with COVID from another cat?
Cat-to-cat COVID transmission is a possibility, but a low one. There’s reason to believe it’s hard for a cat to get COVID – and it’s twice as hard for a cat to pass it on to another cat. Nevertheless, it’s a possibility.
Since cat-to-cat COVID infections are possible, you should isolate your cats if one of them shows COVID symptoms and the other doesn’t. You should do so knowing there’s little possibility of this scenario from happening – but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Can cats die from getting COVID?
There are no reports of cats dying from COVID. So far, it’s safe to say COVID isn’t lethal for cats. The reported cases show cats suffering from respiratory symptoms for a couple of days and then making a full recovery.
Up until this point, the worst-case scenario for a cat suffering from COVID is a couple of days feeling sick and then going back to normal.
Is there a COVID vaccine for cats?
There are no COVID vaccines for cats being developed so far. Since COVID is considered non-lethal for cats, there’s no reason to believe a vaccine will be developed anytime soon.
If you believe your cat is having a bad time because of COVID, the best you can do is provide a fresh supply of fresh water, cat treats (if your cat can’t handle solid food, try cat-friendly baby food), and cuddles. Your cat will fully recover in a couple of days.