Two months after officials announced that two cats in New York had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a detailed paper on what occurred — with some important information for other pet owners.
The report, published Monday, reveals that the two domestic cats carried the virus — one for eight days and the other 10 days. The first cat, a 4-year-old male domestic shorthair had symptoms “characterized by sneezing, clear ocular discharge, and mild lethargy.” The second cat, a 5-year-old female Devon Rex, “developed respiratory illness including sneezing, coughing, watery nasal and ocular discharge, loss of appetite, and lethargy.”
The domestic shorthair cat, located in Nassau County, New York, lived in a home with five people, three of whom showed symptoms of COVID-19 (but none of whom were tested). Another cat living in the same home showed no symptoms of the virus and was therefore not tested. The Devon Rex, which was located in Orange County, New York in a single-family home where the owner tested positive for the coronavirus.
Both cats — the two first reported pets to test positive for the virus — made a full recovery, and no transmission from the cats (to either other animals or humans) was reported. The CDC notes that, as a result, pets contracting the virus is likely an extremely rare occurrence. But adds that it doesn’t mean pet owners should ignore this aspect of the pandemic.
“Although there is currently no evidence that animals play a substantial role in spreading COVID-19, CDC advises persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to restrict contact with animals during their illness and to monitor any animals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and separate them from other persons and animals at home. “The CDC says that pets that test positive “should be monitored and separated from persons or other animals until they recover.”
The CDC released guidance earlier this year concerning COVID-19 and animals stating that owners should look out for symptoms of coronavirus in their pets, including fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, sneezing and discharge from the nose or eyes. It also recommends that those who are in home isolation due to symptoms of COVID-19 limit interactions with pets as much as possible.
Best Friends Animal Society, a no-kill animal rescue and advocacy organization, has created an expanded list of recommendations in its pet preparedness plan. The guide breaks down how to handle pets in a variety of scenarios. For those who believe they may have COVID-19, and live in a place with other people, Best Friends recommends designating a healthy person to “assume full responsibility for caring for your pet” until you are well. “Have the healthy member of your household wash and clean any pet bowls, leashes, crates, bedding and toys, and keep those items separate from the part of the house in which you are staying,” Best Friends writes.
If you are experiencing symptoms and live alone, the organization recommends choosing “an emergency pet caregiver” (like a friend or family member) who can take care of your pet until symptoms disappear. “Ideally, this person should take your pet to their home to avoid them having to routinely visit your home and risk exposure,” the plan reads. “Prepare your pets’ essential items (food, bowls, leashes, etc.) and place them near your door so the caregiver can easily grab them when they come to pick up your pet.”
Finally, for those without someone available to care for the pet, Best Friends recommends taking them to a local vet or another facility that can care for the animal until you are well.
Although more details on how COVID-19 presents in cats may seem alarming, Dr. Erin Katribe, medical director of Best Friends Animal Society, tells Yahoo Life in a statement that pet owners shouldn’t panic, but rather should stay informed. “There is no reason to panic about your pet giving you COVID-19 as there have been no reported cases of it spreading from pet to person,” Katribe said in a statement. “Instead, it is important to practice social distancing and create a plan for the continued maintenance of the pets in your care if you’re unable to leave the house, too sick to function at home, or become hospitalized.”
Source: Aol News
