THIS week's PDSA column answers an important question that most pet owners have been wondering about.

I’ve heard that pets can catch Covid-19, is this true?

THERE have been a very small number of pets (around 15 in total) across the world that have tested positive for SARS-Cov-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19), including a recent case of a cat testing positive in the UK. 

This cat had had close contact with their owners who had also tested positive for Covid-19. From the small number of cases of Covid-19 in pets, it is thought that some pets can show some symptoms if they are infected, but these are mild and usually improve after a few days. 

There is no evidence that pets can transmit the virus to humans. However, we’d recommend taking a few extra precautions such as washing your hands thoroughly after stroking, feeding or cleaning up after your pet just to be on the safe side. 

But you shouldn’t worry that your pet is a risk to you, the current pandemic is due to human to human transmission of the virus.
Is it safe to stroke other people’s pets?

Although we don’t have any evidence to suggest that pets can spread Covid-19 directly, it’s possible that a pet could have the virus on their fur if they come into contact with someone with Covid-19, just like anything else we touch. 

The virus is most commonly passed from person to person through coughing and sneezing but there is evidence that it can live on surfaces for some time. The length of time depends on the type of material, temperature and other factors. 

As this could include a pet’s fur or supplies, we recommend avoiding touching other people’s pets where possible.

If you are caring for someone else’s pets at this time, we would recommend sticking to good hygiene practices, such as regularly washing your hands with soap and hot water, especially after handling or feeding their pets.