Cat owners "should not worry" about catching coronavirus from their pets, but current evidence suggests cats may be able to catch Covid-19 from other cats and also spread the illness - if they are living in homes with confirmed cases of Covid-19.
The initial statement from the British Veterinary Association suggested all cats should be kept indoors, this has since been updated.
Whilst research is still being carried out, there is evidence cats may be susceptible to the virus through respiratory air droplets.
Experts say there has not been a single case of pets passing the virus on to a human, but they could catch it from other animals.
Owners, they say, should take precautions to help prevent the spread and keep their cats indoors.
To help prevent the risk of animals carrying the virus from owners’ hands in their fur, British Veterinary Association (BVA) president Daniella Dos Santos initially said: "Practise good hand hygiene, try and keep cats indoors.
"Avoid unnecessary contact with your pets, such a hugging or allowing them to lick your face, and do not touch other people's dogs when on walks."
She and the BVA later released an updated statement (below) clarifying that she meant that only cats from infected households should be kept indoors.
One scientist who is researching the virus in pets, Dr Angel Almendros, said: "Treat pets like other people in your household. So if you're feeling sick, it's better not to interact with them."
Edinburgh Live recently reported a case of a tiger testing positive for the virus at a zoo in New York.
The zoo became concerned for a four-year-old female Malayan tiger after it developed a dry cough and loss of appetite.
It has also been confirmed that six other tigers and lions at the same zoo are now also showing symptoms.
In a statement, WCS confirmed the news, saying: "Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for COVID-19.
"She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover."
British Veterinary Association (BVA) president Daniella Dos Santos later clarified her advice, saying that her comments about keeping cats indoors "will have caused worry and upset amongst cat owners."
She added that "we are not advising that all cats are kept indoors, only cats from infected households or where their owners are self-isolating, and only if the cat is happy to be kept indoors."
You can read the BVA's revised statement below:
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