April 22, 2020

From a press release by the United State Department of Agriculture:

“The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) today announced the first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in two pet cats. These are the first pets in the United States to test positive for SARS-CoV-2.”

Key takeaways from the article:

• The cats live in two separate areas of New York state.
• No individuals in the household for one of the cats were confirmed to be ill with COVID-19.
• The virus may have been transmitted to this cat by mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected person outside its home.
• At this time, routine testing of animals is not recommended

Until we know more, CDC recommends the following:

• Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household.
• Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people.
• Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals.
• Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather.

Read the full release at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/news/sa_by_date/sa-2020/sars-cov-2-animals