Cats may be catching Covid at far higher rates than thought

Chinese researchers have found that cats may be catching the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) at far higher rates than thought before, which could mean they have unique ways of fighting off the virus.

Researchers from Huazhong Agricultural University, in the Chinese city, took blood samples from 102 cats. Nasal and anal swabs were also collected.

The study, published in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections, shows Covid-19 antibodies present in 15 of the blood samples taken from the cats.

Of these, 11 cats had neutralizing antibodies – proteins that bind so successfully to a virus they block the infection.

None of the cats actually tested positive for Covid-19 or displayed obvious symptoms and, according to the results of return visits, none of these felines have died, the study said.

The sample of cats looked at included 46 abandoned from three animal shelters, 41 from five pet hospitals, and 15 cats were from Covid-19 patient families.

The three cats with the highest levels of antibodies were all owned by patients who had been diagnosed with Covid-19, whilst there were also signs of cats being infected with the virus by other cats from those that were abandoned or based in the pet hospitals.

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