Pet owners who come down with symptoms are being warned to stay away from their animals for fear they might also become infected. The researchers began studying when several pets were reported to have respiratory symptoms at the time when their owner was suffering from coronavirus. Out of the 17 cats, 18 dogs and one ferret, all cats were tested and none of them bar one cat were currently infectious, but some showed signs of having been infected. Prof Bienzle said: "All cats with an indeterminate PCR or positive antibody results were reported to have had respiratory and/or other illness by their owners around the time of the owner's COVID-19 infection. "Two (20%) of dogs had positive IgG antibody results, indicating past infection, and one of these was reported to have had an episode of respiratory disease.

Source: Daily Mirror September 17, 2020 22:01 UTC