Swabs taken from a broad sample of 2,309 cats in the United Kingdom between April 2020 and February 2022 were analyzed by virologists and veterinarians from the University of Glasgow. The researchers found 3.2 percent of all the samples were positive for Covid antibodies, with the highest levels of infection occurring at the end of 2021 and at the start of 2022, with one in 20 cats testing positive.
While concerning, experts say cats do not shed much virus and are only infectious for a couple of days, making it much harder for them to infect someone than for a person.
Source: The Telegraph via AVMA SmartBrief, November 21, 2022. Link.
The selective pressure on the virus that comes from zoonotic jumps may cause viral mutations to occur. This is part of the reason why we believe SARS-CoV-2 research at the human-animal interface is so vital.” – Grace Tyson, study author
INSIGHTS: Animal health pros should note the inset titled Covid’s effect on cats along with Tyson’s comments about possible clinical manifestations.