Cat with coronavirus: Cat coronavirus explained and if you can catch coronavirus from pet cats

The infection was confirmed following tests at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha) laboratory in Weybridge, Surrey, on July 22.

Can I catch coronavirus from my cat?

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest cat to human transmission is possible.

This is the first time a cat has tested positive for coronavirus in the UK.

Initial investigations suggest the infection was given to the cat by humans, not the other way around.

The case was first diagnosed as feline herpes, which is a common cat respiratory infection, before being tested for Covid-19.

There have been a small number of confirmed cases in pets in other countries in Europe, North America and Asia.

There is no cause for alarm, said Public Health England, and there are still no reported cases of a cat or dog giving coronavirus to a human in the UK.

What should I do to prevent giving coronavirus to my cat?

General advice remains the same. Always regularly wash your hands, including before and after contact with animals.

Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England (PHE), said: "This is the first case of a domestic cat testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK but should not be a cause for alarm.

"The investigation into this case suggests that the infection was spread from humans to animal, and not the other way round.

"At this time, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the disease to humans.

"In line with the general advice on fighting coronavirus, you should wash your hands regularly, including before and after contact with animals."

A private vet initially diagnosed the pet with feline herpes virus, a common cat respiratory infection, but the sample was also tested for Covid-19 part of a research programme.

Do cats recover from coronavirus?

The case has been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health in line with international agreements.The UK's chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: "Tests conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed that the virus responsible for Covid-19 has been detected in a pet cat in England.

"This is a very rare event, with infected animals detected to date only showing mild clinical signs and recovering within a few days.

"There is no evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans.

"We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update our guidance to pet owners should the situation change."

A team of scientists at the University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research are behind the programme to screen hundreds of samples for Covid-19 infections in the UK cat population.

Researchers at the CVR have now completed a full genome sequencing of the virus found in the infected cat.

Professor Margaret Hosie, who works on the project, said: "There have been sporadic reports of cats from Covid-19 households in Hong Kong, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and the US that tested positive for (coronavirus) and were presumed to be infected from their owners, but this is the first report of an infected cat in the UK.

"All available evidence suggests that the cat was infected from its owners, who had previously tested positive.

"The cat and its owners have since made a full recovery and there was no transmission of the virus to other animals or people in the household."

Professor William Weir of the University of Glasgow's School of Veterinary Medicine, said: "The factors that govern why one species is susceptible to the Covid-19 virus while others are more resistant are currently unknown, but will likely reveal more about how this virus spreads and causes disease.

"At present, there is no evidence that cats, dogs or other domestic animals play any role in the epidemiology of human infections with (Covid-19)."

He said cats and dogs with reported infections usually recover and there has been no evidence of transmission occurring between cats or dogs.

A message from the Editor: Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890. We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds. Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe. For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you

Laura Collins