Cat owners who are self-quarantining should keep their felines inside to stop them from spreading the coronavirus, a veterinary group advised.
The British Veterinary Association said Wednesday the animals can “act as fomites” by transporting the disease on their fur “in the same way it is on other surfaces, such as tables and doorknobs.”
“As a precaution, for pet owners who have COVID-19 or who are self-isolating we are recommending that you keep your cat indoors if possible, during that time,” the group said, adding that there is no need to panic because there is “no evidence that animals can pass the disease to humans.”
The group acknowledged that some cats are better left outdoors due to “stress-related medical reasons.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association encouraged people with the coronavirus to restrict contact with pets but said there’s little evidence to show that they can spread the illness to other animals or people.
There have been a few known incidents in which animals have contracted the disease, including a tiger at the Bronx Zoo, a cat in Belgium, and a dog in Hong Kong.
