Important: Due to the coronavirus crisis, we have had to make changes to our current services. To keep up to date, click here
There have been a very small number of reports in the media suggesting transmission of COVID-19 from people to cats may be possible. This includes a recent case in the UK where the virus responsible for COVID-19 was detected in a pet cat.
Currently the evidence is limited and the number of cats involved is extremely low, implying transmission from humans to cats is extremely rare. Therefore, it is important that owners should not worry unnecessarily.
As a precaution, it is advised that owners should:
Those infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) should be particularly mindful by minimising contact.
There is currently no evidence that cats can transmit COVID-19 to humans and so owners should not worry unnecessarily.
However, as it is known that the virus can survive on surfaces such as door handles, it may be possible, despite the lack of evidence, for the virus to survive in a similar way on a cat’s fur.
You may want to wipe your cat down with a damp cloth if they are coming into contact with someone else that is healthy and not from your household. Do not use any disinfectant wipes or disinfectants (such as Dettol) on your cat. These contain ingredients and chemicals toxic to cats if ingested.
It is important to note that Feline Coronavirus (FCov) is not associated with the current coronavirus epidemic.
It is a common, contagious virus that can be found in the faeces of cats. It is more common in multi-cat households and does not affect other animals or people. To find out more about Feline Coronavirus, read our essential guide below.
Find out more about Feline Coronavirus (FCov)If you’ve been diagnosed with, are suspected of having or are displaying characteristic symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), it is advisable to minimise the amount of time your cat spends outdoors unsupervised. If possible, keep your cat indoors if they are happy to be kept indoors. Ensuring your cat continues to get daily activity is important for their wellbeing. Try the following:
If you’re currently well but in the vulnerable category set out by government – e.g: over the age of 70, have an underlying health condition or are in precautionary self-isolation, we’d recommend the same measures as for those with suspected coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you’re currently well and not in the vulnerable category there is no reason to restrict your cat’s outdoor access. However, don’t forget to maintain good hygiene, washing your hands with soap and hot water after handling your cat. Try to keep close interactions with your cat, such as petting, to a minimum if you can.
Currently most vets are mainly doing urgent or emergency treatments as they try and return to offering full veterinary services. Vet practices that are now beginning to neuter cats are unlikely to be doing so at a normal capacity, due to lower levels of staff and the need to maintain social distancing.
Any pregnancy in a cat always has an associated risk of complications and as access to veterinary care is limited at the moment, we’d advise that you avoid your cat getting pregnant (or for male cats, making another cat pregnant).
For this reason, if you have a male and female cat in your household and they are not neutered, you should keep them separated. Remember: this also applies to cats that are related, e.g brother and sister.
Find out more about neutering during the coronavirus crisisWe’d advise against proactive breeding of cats during this time – for example, if you’re breeding kittens for commercial sale or for show. Most vets have limited capacity to do anything other than urgent treatment and access to routine treatment for mother cats and their kittens may not be readily available.
If you are selling kittens ‘virtually’ online, it is important to ensure that you follow current government advice on entering other households and maintaining social distancing as well as following good hygiene practices.
Government advice in England and links to advice in Wales, Scotland and NI can be found here:
UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household-from-4-july
Wales: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-regulations-guidance#section-46356
Find out more about buying a kitten online during COVID-19If your cat is already pregnant, or becomes pregnant with kittens by accident, we’d advise you to call your vet for advice on what services they can offer at this time. Unfortunately, Cats Protection is only able to take a small number of cats as emergency cases at the moment. We’d recommend you do everything you can to protect against accidental litters being born at this time.
For more information on your cat’s pregnancy and birth, click here
Read our advice on what to do if your cat is pregnantKeeping a cat that usually goes outdoors confined indoors can be stressful and frustrating for the cat. It’s important to ensure your cat continues to get daily activity to help both their mental and physical wellbeing. The following tips will allow them to adjust to their temporary indoor life.
If you think your cat needs veterinary care you should call the practice for further advice in the first instance. Do not take your pet to the surgery unless your vet instructs you to. Currently, most vets are doing urgent or emergency treatments as they try and return to offering full veterinary services.
If you are self-isolating you will not be able to go to the vet with your cat for emergency treatment. Phone the vet for advice and if the vet agrees to treat your cat, you'll need to arrange for someone else to transport your cat to the vet for you. In this case, we’d recommend the following tips:
In England, it is now permissible for individuals to visit other households within certain limits and while feeding a cat in another household is not specifically referred to, government advice states that you should ensure you remain socially distanced from anyone who is not in your household. We’d advise maintaining good hygiene levels, washing your hands before and after you have been in contact with the cat.
View the government guidance below.
UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household-from-4-july
Wales: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-regulations-guidance#section-46356
If you’re going on holiday, either abroad or in the UK, you’ll need to think about the following:
Because of the possibility of COVID-19 transferring from an infected person (whether or not they have symptoms) to the fur of a cat, and because so little is known about how long the virus might survive, we’d advise against taking someone else’s cat into your home. We would also advise against going into their home to look after the cat.
If they are unwell and unable to look after their cat then you could contact the Local Authority who have a duty of care to provide emergency care in these situations.
Read the government adviceBecause of the possibility of COVID-19 transferring from an infected person to the fur of a cat and because so little is known about how long the virus might survive on the fur we advise against stroking or picking up strange cats (eg in the street).
If a paper collar needs to be fitted to a stray cat, it’s important to minimise contact with the cat as much as possible and maintain good hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and hot water before and after handling the cat.
We also advise against allowing other people’s cats, stray or ‘community cats’ into your house. We know that some cats do like to live in several households and ‘visit’ but not allowing them in during the current crisis will minimise any risks of cats helping to spread COVID-19.
People who feed stray or feral colonies can drive or walk to do so. If taking public transport check government guidelines with regard to wearing a face covering. Take care to avoid contact with the cats. Ensure good hygiene, particularly washing your hands with soap and water.
Information on permitted travel in Wales, NI and Scotland can be found here:
https://gov.wales/coronavirus-regulations-guidance#section-46356
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-regulations-guidance-travel
We have recently started to trap, neuter and return (TNR) feral cats again in England and Wales, and are just starting in Scotland and Northern Ireland. For the time being TNR will only take place at sites or with colonies of cats we are familiar with and where TNR activities have previously taken place. All TNR work will be subject to an initial risk assessment and care will be taken to follow national and local government COVID-19 restrictions.
Unfortunately, in most instances we are currently unable to lend traps to members of the public for TNR purposes, but this will be constantly reviewed and is subject to change. Paper collars can, however, be fitted to suspected stray cats where possible, to determine if they are owned.
Information is correct as of 12 August 2020. For up to date information on coronavirus, visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus
