Coronavirus: Cats from infected homes 'should be kept inside'

Pet owners with Covid-19 or who are self isolating should keep their cat indoors during the coronavirus pandemic, the British Vets Association has said.

The BVA issued a statement to clarify their position on the issue after reports of cats becoming infected.

Only a small number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in animals and the association say it is likely to have been passed on from humans.

Cats can show clinical signs of the disease while dogs do not show symptoms.

However, the association stress that there is no evidence to show that animals that can pass the virus on to humans.

‘As a precaution to pet owners with Covid-19 or who are self isolating we are recommending that you keep your cat indoors if possible during that time.’
British Vets Association

The BVA said: “We are not advising that all cats are kept indoors, only cats from infected households or where their owners are self-isolating and only if the cat is happy to kept indoors.

“Some cats cannot be kept indoors for stress related medical reasons.

“Animals can also act as fomites, as the virus could be on their fur the same way it is on other surfaces such as tables or doorknobs.

“That is why our main advice to pet owners continues to be to practice good hand hygiene.

“As a precaution to pet owners with Covid-19 or who are self isolating we are recommending that you keep your cat indoors if possible during that time.

“It is very important that people don’t panic about their pets. Their is no evidence that animals can pass the virus on to humans.”