Cats and COVID

[Anonymous]

COVID is visiting my home right now and I’m concerned for my 18 yr old cat.

We mask during the day but not at night and she sleeps near my head.

Can cats get COVID? I heard they can.

Anything I can do to help my cat survive this, if she gets it?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I had no one to take care of my cat for me when I had covid. He didn’t catch it from me. He is 12 so not quite as old as your cat and he doesn’t sleep next to my head, but he did lounge with me on the sofa, get in my face asking for pets & cuddles, etc. I think your cat will be fine. Can you lock him out of your bedroom at night, just to be safe? (I know - most cats will just keep you awake yowling at the door if you do this!)
I have also heard cats can get it but haven’t heard any firsthand accounts of it actually happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had no one to take care of my cat for me when I had covid. He didn’t catch it from me. He is 12 so not quite as old as your cat and he doesn’t sleep next to my head, but he did lounge with me on the sofa, get in my face asking for pets & cuddles, etc. I think your cat will be fine. Can you lock him out of your bedroom at night, just to be safe? (I know - most cats will just keep you awake yowling at the door if you do this!)
I have also heard cats can get it but haven’t heard any firsthand accounts of it actually happening.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

We just had Covid run through our house and my 15 year old cat seems ok. I heard they can get it but not much about it. I think your cat will probably be ok.

[Anonymous]

Yes cats can get Covid. I’m not sure how easy it is for them to catch it or how severe it is for them. I would contact your vet to see if there are preventive steps you can take. Or if there is any reasons to be concerned.

[Anonymous]

I had the first wave of COVID. My perfectly healthy 12 year old cat died of respiratory failure. I was sick for about 9 days, 2 weeks later he started showing signs (realized in hindsight) within 5 days we had to put him down. So yes, house cats can die from COVID.

[Anonymous]

I just wouldn’t let the cat sleep with you right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had the first wave of COVID. My perfectly healthy 12 year old cat died of respiratory failure. I was sick for about 9 days, 2 weeks later he started showing signs (realized in hindsight) within 5 days we had to put him down. So yes, house cats can die from COVID.

Same things happened to us. We had COVID February 2020 and our 17 year old cat died of respiratory failure. Good luck, OP. I hope everyone in your house recovers/stays healthy.

[Anonymous]

DD, late teen, had Covid in 2020, and our 17-and 15-year old cats didn’t get it. Neither did I!

[Anonymous]

My (male Maine Coon) just got Covid from me. He sleeps with me.

This is my 3rd Covid infection (OG, Omicron=I, latest variant 5/22) and I was most symptomatic this time. Cough, snot etc.

This is the only time of the 3 that either Maine Coon seems to have been sick, that I can tell. Cat had sudden onset congestion, new snoring, and just generally loud breathing. Otherwise happy. Lasted about 5 days.

[Anonymous]

Our doctor said treat pets like they are humans and you have a cold; don't sleep in the same room, don't feed them from your plate, don't spend prolonged amount of time right next to each other, etc. All four in my family had it and cat and dog were both okay. Ours are young though (cat is 2 and dog is 6).