It has been announced that a cat from somewhere in England tested positive at a laboratory in Weybridge, Surrey last Wednesday. The cat came from a household containing people who had tested positive for COVID-19.
Officials say that this is a ‘very rare’ event and that there is no evidence to suggest the coronavirus is circulating between animals or spreading from animals to humans. However, in line with general public health guidance on coronavirus, you should wash your hands before and after being around or handling animals or their food.
Thankfully, the cat has since made a full recovery.
The virus that causes COVID-19 has been confirmed in one cat in England from a household containing people who had tested positive for COVID-19. This is a very rare event and the animal has made a full recovery. There is no evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans.
If your animal needs vet treatment
If your animal needs treatment, phone the vet to arrange the best way to meet their needs.
Advice in respect of dogs
If you have symptoms of coronavirus you should self-isolate at home for 7 days, or 14 days as a household or support bubble. You should arrange a test to find out if you have coronavirus.
If your dog cannot exercise at home, you should ask someone outside of your household or suuport bubble to walk your dog for you.
When walking your dog in areas used by other people, you should consider putting your dog on a lead to ensure you can stay 2 metres away from others.
You should wash your hands before and after handling your dog.
You may walk a dog for someone who is unable to leave their house because they are self-isolating or being shielded. You should wash your hands before and after handling the dog and keep 2 metres away from other people and animals, including when handing over the dog to the owner.
Advice in respect of Cats
You should wash your hands before and after any contact with your cat.
Advice in respect of horses, livestock and other animals
If you have symptoms of coronavirus you should self-isolate at home for 7 days, or 14 as a household or support bubble. You should arrange a test to find out if you have coronavirus.
If you have a horse that you don’t keep at home (for example, you keep it in livery, a stables or on private land), you should not visit it whilst you are self-isolating. You should contact your yard manager or vet to make suitable animal welfare arrangements.
If you have livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, or any other types of livestock, you should arrange for someone else who is not self-isolating to care for your animals. Where this is not possible, you should ensure the basic needs of your animals are met.
You should wash your hands before and after handling your animals and stay 2 metres away from other people.
If you’re too unwell to care for your animals and there is no one to help, you should call your local authority.
You should stay 2 metres away from others. You should wash your hands before and after contact with any animals.
If your horse needs attention from a farrier you should phone the farrier for advice to best meet your horse’s needs. You and the farrier should stay 2 metres apart and wash your hands before and after contact with the horse.
The World Organisation for Animal Health have been informed of the confirmed case.
So, if there’s no evidence to prove that the virus was transmitted from humans to this cat, where did it come from? Were the owners feeding it bat soup from China?
Oh my Goodness. This is worrying. Should I put the cat out when the Grandchildren come to tea?
Does anyone make masks for cats.
Is there loose fur infectious.
Should they be caged until the virus has completely gone as my cat roams the streets mixing with other cats.
A real worry for pet owners. Hope dogs stay free of it.
Bert won’t have them in the house. The smell, the mess, the fleas.
I have to go to their house to vist the Grandchildren now.
Or you could put your tin foil hat on .
1 cat has tested positive ,in a feline population of how many millions now vets will be getting even more money by people because they think their beloved furball is looking peaky yea ok
1 cat! Never should of mentioned it .now itll just scaremonger .all those…some on here too…are now going too go overboard with our poor animals.already get mistreated by cruel owners .but hey take families too crowded places n beaches no worries there huh.redic
Oh… old bean….go gas yourself idiot comment!
So should all idjeet comments eminating from a stupid humans humans arse, and their keyboard! “just saying”!
You are a sick individual
I keep telling my cat not to associate with ginger toms – but she doesn’t take any notice!
Just the flu….
I’m sure this also happened in an episode of the simpsons with a PLANDEMIC. You really couldn’t make this bullshit up!