A malayan tiger from the Bronx Zoo in New York testing positive for coronavirus has prompted concern for the safety of household pets, and led to questions about whether it's possible for animals to pass on the virus on to humans.
Research in China's Harbin Veterinary Research Institute found cats are susceptible to contracting COVID-19, as well as passing it onto other cats in the process - though the cases are extremely rare.
Despite their ability to spread the disease among felines, the World Health Health Organisation says there is still no evidence that animals can pass on the virus to humans.
Cats also suffer from feline coronavirus (FCoV), a common viral infection in cats. It exists in two forms: the first causes mild gastrointestinal disease and the second causes a highly fatal disease known as Feline Infectious Peritonitis.
Professor Gilles Guillemin specialises in Neuroscience at Macquarie University, and says there's a distinct genetic difference between SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus, and feline coronavirus.
"This means that as long as the correct test was run on a feline, it should be easy to differentiate between the two types of viruses," he said.
Thousands of tests on animals are negative
Before people start worrying about their favourite feline, the incidence of transmission is very low.
Professor Jacqui Norris specialises in veterinary science at The University of Sydney, and says the small number of animals that have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, are not involved in the spread of infection in humans.
“Globally, there have been two cats and two dogs that have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2,” she said.
“These pets were living with infected human owners and the timing of the positive result demonstrates human-to-animal transfer. Virus culture on these pets was negative, meaning that an active virus was not present.”
Prof Norris says this is on the back of thousands of negative tests in cats, dogs and horses performed by US based in active COVID-19 areas across North America, South Korea and Europe.
Some animals are more susceptible than others
Prof Guillemin says animals experience COVID-19 the same way humans do, however he says the virus replicates poorly in dogs, pigs, chickens and ducks but affects other animals much worse.
"Ferrets are highly susceptible to infection from COVID-19, which they suggest makes the animals a suitable model for testing potential vaccines and drugs,” he said.
Several labs have already started working on ferrets in their COVID-19 research, they have also been used in models in influenza studies.
Prof Guillemin says coronaviruses have a high rate of mutation, and there is still a possibility for mutation in animals that could create a second novel coronavirus outbreak.
To ensure there’s not a second novel coronavirus outbreak, Prof Norris says social distancing needs to be taken seriously.
“That includes all household members, humans and pets,” she said.
“Despite the absence of any evidence to support the transmission from animals to humans, it’s a smart measure to isolate your whole family.
“If a member of the household becomes sick with COVID-19, they should be isolated from all members of the household, pets included.”
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at
