Pet charity Cats Protection has issued advice after a cat in Europe reportedly became the first feline to test positive for Covid-19.
A cat from the city of Liège in Belgium is believed to have caught coronavirus from its owner, who had tested positive for Covid-19.
The animal is said to have developed symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties about a week after its owner started to show signs of the virus.
Covid-19 was subsequently detected in its faeces and vomit.
It's thought this is first case of human-to-cat transmission, which luckily remains very rare.
Cats Protection is now urging people to wash their hands with soap and water thoroughly after touching a cat. It also advises people with coronavirus to minimise contact with their pets.
Watch: How to wash your hands - official NHS advice to protect yourself from infection
A spokesperson for the charity said: "We have recently been made aware of a report from Belgium that a cat owned by a woman with coronavirus (Covid-19) developed symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties and that coronavirus was detected in the cat’s faeces and vomit.
"Luckily the symptoms were transitory.
"This might be the first possible case of human-to-cat transmission and if so, is extremely rare.
"There is no evidence that cats can transmit COVID-19 to humans and so owners should not worry unnecessarily.
"As a precaution, it is advised that owners should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling their cat and that people who are infected with Covid-19 should be particularly careful by minimising contact with their pet and washing their hands before and after handling."
According to the Mirror, the first dog to catch the illness died about two weeks ago after being cleared of the virus.
The 17-year-old Pomeranian from Hong Kong, which had been cleared of Covid-19 after initial suspicions of the infection were proven unfounded despite a 'weak positive' diagnosis, passed away on Wednesday, just two days after returning home.
