Two cats in New York are reported to have been infected with the novel coronavirus. Both had mild respiratory symptoms and are expected to make a full recovery.
"These are the first pets in the United States to test positive," the US Department of Agriculture said Wednesday in a joint statement with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is no evidence that cats, dogs, or other pets are spreading coronavirus in the United States.
“There is no justification in taking measures against companion animals that may compromise their welfare,” they said.
Translation:
Don't abandon or crate your pets because you fear they will get you sick with COVID-19.
The two cats were tested after they showed respiratory symptoms, according to the agencies, and they join the ranks of a lion and a tiger in New York who were previously confirmed to be infected.
A veterinarian tested the first house cat after it showed mild respiratory signs, but none of the humans in its household were confirmed to have the virus.
It's possible, officials said, that the cat was infected by somebody outside the home.
Someone inside the house, with mild or no symptoms, could have also transmitted the virus.
The second cat, in a separate area of New York, was also tested after it showed signs of respiratory illness. The owner of that cat tested positive for Covid-19 before the cat became ill, but another cat in the household has shown no signs of illness.
Read more:
Two cats in New York are first pets known to have coronavirus in the US
