Do not chase your cat, do not throw it out the window, and do not hesitate to go behind the block or next to the house and feed the stray cats. The first case of coronavirus was discovered in a cat, but it is not contagious to humans.
As I said in an article published the other day, and Cats can be infected with coronavirus. It is about a feline coronavirus that is not transmitted to humans.
Unfortunately, things are not the same for the COVID-19 coronavirus, which has so far infected 600,000 people worldwide.
In Belgium, on Friday (27/03/2020), an isolated case of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from a patient infected with the coronavirus to his cousin was reported.
"Our colleagues at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liège found that the cat of a person who was infected with COVID-19 picked up the disease from its owner and developed symptoms and a confirmed infection."
The statement was made in a press conference by the spokesperson of the Belgian inter-federal team against the coronavirus, virologist Emmanuel André.
The Federal Health Service of Belgium insisted on a very important aspect. The transmission of COVID-19 was from human to animal and not from animal to human, and for this infection to be possible, constant and close contact between human and cat is needed.
This is not the first case of human-to-animal transmission of COVID-19. About a month ago, in China, a dog was infected with COVID-19 by its owner. And that was an isolated case, and apparently the dog didn't develop symptoms.
How to protect your cat from COVID-19
First of all, if you are confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, it is good to isolate yourself from other family members and try to keep your distance from pets.
It is very important that you do not allow the cat to have access to the door of the entrance to the house, let alone to the shoes that you used to walk outside in. Shoes are known to harbor the most bacteria, viruses and parasites that can affect both your pet's health and yours.
P.S. Don't start making protective masks for cats. The cat will not tolerate the mask, nor will it help protect itself from the coronavirus.
