Is my cat at risk of catching COVID-19 from me? What's the truth?

Question

I asked a few days ago if my cats could be infected with COVID-19 if I'd get it. I lost a kitten 3 years ago to FIP, so this is a HUGE concern for me. I was told that they wouldn't catch it...NOW, it's being said that it's possible!!! I don't want to lose another cat over misinformation. Are my cats at risk???

Anna M., DVM · Accepted Answer

We are still learning about COVID-19, but the short answer is no, there is no current indication that pets catch this virus and become sick from it. It has been isolated from an asymptomatic dog, but they're still not sure if the dog was truly infected (allowing the virus to replicate) or if the dog was simply carrying the virus much as a table could have the virus on it if someone sneezed nearby. So, while we cannot answer with 100% certainty since this is still a new virus and we're still learning, the current answer is no. I am not worried about my own pets or my patients catching the human coronavirus. Dogs and cats carry their own strains of coronavirus that are very different from COVID-19.

Is my cat at risk of catching COVID-19 from me? What's the truth?

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