A recent study conducted in four European countries analyzed 2,160 blood samples from domestic cats for the coronavirus. The results showed that around four percent of the samples were positive, indicating that the cats may have contracted the virus from their owners. The study was conducted by German and Dutch researchers who examined blood samples from cats in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. The researchers found that four percent of the cats had been infected with the virus during the spring and summer of 2020.
The study, led by Dr. Alber Osterhaus from the Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover (TiHo), was published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal in December 2020. The researchers found that cats may have developed antibodies against the virus that are similar to those found in humans. The study also revealed that the percentage of positive samples was highest in Spain at 6.4 percent and lowest in the UK at 3.3 percent. In Germany, 4.2 percent of the samples contained specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
However, some experts have criticized the study for not ruling out other sources of infection for the cats. According to Heidi Parker, a veterinarian at the American Veterinary Medical Association, the study does not provide conclusive evidence that cats can only be infected by humans. Despite this, the researchers recommend that veterinarians test cats for the virus using PCR tests and that cat owners follow hygiene and distancing guidelines when interacting with their pets.
In conclusion, the study suggests that cats can contract the coronavirus from their owners, but there is no evidence that they can transmit the virus to humans. The findings highlight the importance of taking precautions when interacting with pets during the pandemic.
