Two cats become first pets in the US to test positive for coronavirus, USDA says

Two cats that live in separate areas of New York have tested positive for the coronavirus, the United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.

The cats are the first pets in the U.S. to test positive for the coronavirus. There are more than 839,000 confirmed cases of the virus among humans in the U.S. as of April 22, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 45,000 in the U.S. have died.

Both of the cats have “mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery,” the USDA said. Routine coronavirus testing of animals is still not recommended, the federal organization said.

The first cat was tested by a veterinarian after it showed mild respiratory symptoms, according to the USDA. No one in the household had confirmed cases of the virus, which leads the USDA to believe the cat contracted the virus by a mildly ill or asymptomatic person in the household or by an infected person outside the home.

The owner of the second cat tested positive for coronavirus and samples from the cat were taken after it also showed signs of illness, according to the USDA.

“Public health officials are still learning about SARS-CoV-2, but there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading the virus in the United States,” the USDA said in a release. “Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals that may compromise their welfare. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals, including pets, could be affected.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended people not allow their pets to interact with humans outside of their home, to keep cats indoors when possible, keeping dogs on a leash and 6 feet apart from other people and animals and to avoid dog parks.

If you have coronavirus or suspect you have it, you should restrict contact with pets just as you would other people, according to the CDC.

“If you must care for your pet or be around animals who are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them,” the CDC said.

The first case of an animal testing positive for coronavirus in the United States was a tiger at a zoo in New York City. The tiger likely became sick after being exposed to a zoo employee who had the virus, officials said.

This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Two cats become first pets in the US to test positive for coronavirus, USDA says."