# Heads Up, Cat People. Kitty Can Catch CoV-2. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [April 9, 2020, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402 "2020-04-09T05:04:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/21 "2020-04-09T16:29:07Z")
Can a cat transmit back to humans? > **[Keep your cat indoors if you're self-isolating to limit spread of...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/health/coronavirus-cats-bva-advice-gbr-scli-intl-wellness/index.html)** > > Cat owners who are self-isolating or have Covid-19 symptoms should consider keeping their pets indoors to stop them carrying the virus on their fur, a veterinary body has advised. Currently they’re saying not directly. But if a cat is petted by someone with the virus, and then soon after, you pet the cat, you’ve been exposed even if you didn’t have contact with a sick person. So, another good reason to keep your cat indoors. Don’t pet stray cats that are outside now, either. ---
**Author:** ![lilihob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9adbd/32.png) [@lilihob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilihob)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/22 "2020-04-09T20:30:34Z")
I was just thinking about this. What if cat coronavirus is the cow pox to human corvid 19’s smallpox? Some people get the super mild version of corona, and no one knows why. How did these people build up the tolerance to corona? Can cats infect us? We know that the big cats were infected by humans. I can’t find any reports of cat caused infection. If they can infect us, with which version? The mild, or the deadly version? Or does it just depends on the human reaction, and the strain doesn’t matter? If you catch it from your cat, which is a big if, is it as bad or worse, than catching it from another human? I think that I’m worried for the cats. We humans have a nasty tendency to act out when scared. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/23 "2020-04-09T22:13:10Z")
Is that the study in which they inserted very large amounts of the virus far up into the cats’ nasal passages, and said in the study that this wasn’t at all a realistic scenario outside of the lab? I can’t find a link in the OP article. [From the CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html): > [@](#): > > At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19 to people [. . .] > > CDC has not received any reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19 in the United States. > > CDC is aware of a very small number of pets outside the United States reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 after close contact with people with COVID-19. To date, there is no evidence that pets can spread the virus to other animals or people. There are cats all over the place, many of them living in close quarters with humans. There is covid-19 all over the place. Any such transmission actually causing illness must be, at least, extraordinarily rare. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/24 "2020-04-09T22:50:10Z")
As the Reuters article points out, this study was published only yesterday. So perhaps not the same one as mentioned by the CDC. Whatever was revealed in the study was enough for the WHO to take a closer look. I think the likelihood of transmission from cat to human is quite low, considering this virus is primarily transmitted through breathing it in from an infected source or touching a contaminated object. Unless you are regularly smooching on feral cats who are somehow tame enough to contract the virus through another infected human, you probably won’t become infected via cat transmission. I suppose an infected cat that grooms itself could end up a vector of transmission. Probably a good idea to wash hands after petting the family moggie. Far more likely a tame cat could catch it from an infected owner. Owner pets cat, cat licks fur… As is hopefully obvious, IANAD or medical provider of any kind, so take these musings with the weight they deserve (very little if any). I wasn’t aware of the tiger story before posting this thread. Poor tiger. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/25 "2020-04-09T22:57:42Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Don’t pet stray cats that are outside now, either. Who pets stray cats? :dubious: Cats _really_ make it clear when they don’t want to be handled, and in my experience feral cats are nervous and don’t want to be handled. Disease or not, I prefer not to be scratched. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/26 "2020-04-09T23:22:02Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I think the likelihood of transmission from cat to human is quite low, considering this virus is primarily transmitted through breathing it in from an infected source or touching a contaminated object. […] > > Far more likely a tame cat could catch it from an infected owner. Owner pets cat, cat licks fur… Cat licks fur, owner pets cat, owner goes to the restroom and doesn’t wash hands before touching their mucous membrane. Cat sneezes on owner, first thing in the morning, owner pushes cat off bed and goes back to sleep. Cat licks fur, sheds fur, owner kicks up light fur particles into the air and gets some in mouth, spits out. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/27 "2020-04-09T23:48:24Z")
I guess I should stop putting their faces in my mouth, then. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/28 "2020-04-09T23:51:29Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Who pets stray cats? :dubious: Depends how you define “stray” I guess. Genuine ferals generally won’t let anyone close. But there are a few friendly indoor/outdoor pet cats in my area. I don’t think it is a great idea myself, what with cars and predators about, but some people persist in letting them roam a bit. Haven’t seen him around in awhile, but I used to take the time to pet this one hyper-friendly orange cat that hung out in my town’s tiny( and partially residential )“downtown” area if I saw him when I was picking up a pizza or something. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/29 "2020-04-10T00:00:13Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Istanbul, too. It’s one of my favorite things about Istanbul. I seem to recall you wandering around the Alhambra for an extended period of time with a cat in your arms :). ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/30 "2020-04-10T01:31:10Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I guess I should stop putting their faces in my mouth, then. Oh, I don’t know… there’s an element of symmetric poetic justice in there that I really like. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/31 "2020-04-10T01:58:22Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Who pets stray cats? :dubious: Cats _really_ make it clear when they don’t want to be handled, and in my experience feral cats are nervous and don’t want to be handled. > Disease or not, I prefer not to be scratched. > [@Tamerlane](#): > > Depends how you define “stray” I guess. Genuine ferals generally won’t let anyone close. > > But there are a few friendly indoor/outdoor pet cats in my area. I don’t think it is a great idea myself, what with cars and predators about, but some people persist in letting them roam a bit. Haven’t seen him around in awhile, but I used to take the time to pet this one hyper-friendly orange cat that hung out in my town’s tiny( and partially residential )“downtown” area if I saw him when I was picking up a pizza or something. We have one kitty in our neighborhood that doesn’t seem to belong to anyone, but is really friendly. She will sometimes run up to you if she wants pettins ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/32 "2020-04-10T06:33:11Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Cat licks fur, owner pets cat, owner goes to the restroom and doesn’t wash hands before touching their mucous membrane. > > Cat sneezes on owner, first thing in the morning, owner pushes cat off bed and goes back to sleep. > > Cat licks fur, sheds fur, owner kicks up light fur particles into the air and gets some in mouth, spits out. Aha, you forgot one! Cat licks fur, cat pukes, owner cleans it up with a “here we go again” look on her face. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/33 "2020-04-10T17:19:52Z")
Fark headline this morning: “WHO determines dogs not susceptible to COVID-19. All dogs under quarantine can now go outside. In other words, WHO let the dogs out” ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/34 "2020-04-10T17:35:23Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Who pets stray cats? :dubious: Cats _really_ make it clear when they don’t want to be handled, and in my experience feral cats are nervous and don’t want to be handled. > Disease or not, I prefer not to be scratched. In the US, there’s a big, glow-in-the-dark line between feral and pet cats. It’s just different in other countries. The cats that belong to, say, a street, shelter on porches of the homes on the street, eat table scraps put out for them by the owners, who know them by sight, and will allow anyone who puts food out for them to pet them. Some of them are friendly with just about anyone. In fact, in Jerusalem, and some of the other tourist places, like Tsfat, I think the cats have learned to go up to people and solicit petting in hopes of getting fed. They are especially apt to come up to people exiting eateries. For “strays,” the cats I saw in Israel were healthy, with thick fur, and not scrawny, like true feral cats in the US. I doubt they live as long as housecats in the US, but true ferals here have a life expectancy of about 2.5 years. A lot of them are predated by things like coyotes, and others starve. I’ll bet the cats in Israel live longer than 2.5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/35 "2020-04-10T18:08:52Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Aha, you forgot one! > > Cat licks fur, cat pukes, owner cleans it up with a “here we go again” look on her face. > ~VOW I suspect that your average person is pretty careful to not get their cat’s puke on themselves, when they pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/36 "2020-04-10T18:35:40Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I suspect that your average person is pretty careful to not get their cat’s puke on themselves, when they pick it up. You wish. I can’t count the number of times I’ve made the early trip down the hallway to the kitchen for that first infusion of caffeine. There’s a certain curdling scream that everyone recognizes as “Mom stepped in a pile of cat puke again.” Another version of that scream has an edge of desperation to it. The household recognizes the variation as “Mom stepped into a pile of WARM cat puke again!” ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402/37 "2020-04-10T19:12:08Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > You wish. > > I can’t count the number of times I’ve made the early trip down the hallway to the kitchen for that first infusion of caffeine. > > There’s a certain curdling scream that everyone recognizes as “Mom stepped in a pile of cat puke again.” > > Another version of that scream has an edge of desperation to it. The household recognizes the variation as “Mom stepped into a pile of WARM cat puke again!” > ~VOW The disease can’t get through your skin, in general.\* \*\* It needs to get into your nose, mouth, eyes, anus, vagina, or penis hole. The penis head might be susceptible, I’m not sure. - Skin which is dry enough to crack might have some openings in the cracks. If you’re like that, on your feet, then avoid cat puke and buy moisturizer. \*\* Likewise, sores would generally be susceptible. Thinner skin, like that on your penis, might have micro-tears that a disease can get into. Basically, it’s still better to keep the disease off your skin. But it’s a hard path for entry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heads-up-cat-people-kitty-can-catch-cov-2/851402.md?page=1)