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Covid

Tiger tests positive

73 replies

HuntIdeas · 06/04/2020 08:12

A tiger in New York zoo has tested positive for Coronavirus and 6 other big cats are showing symptoms - www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52177586

What will happen if pet cats start catching / transmitting the virus? Will we have to lock them in / out of the house?

OP posts:
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TiddyTid · 06/04/2020 09:20

I hope this doesn't lead to people abandoning their pets.

Looks like we can pass it on. Whether it's a two way street needs to be established.

Guess we need to treat our pets the same way as us. Lock down, keep away from other people, etc.

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SimonJT · 06/04/2020 09:21

Cats do get Feline coronavirus, that’s why litter tray cleaners are tested to ensure they can remove it. So not surprising surely?

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bellinisurge · 06/04/2020 09:26

I have an indoor cat so not a problem for us. I was reluctant to pet a cat I saw on my travels for this kind of reason.
Wash your hands after petting your cat.

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OntheWaves40 · 06/04/2020 09:41

This is worrying, I live in an area where there’s lots of cats including my own. I’m now wondering if I should keep mine in

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frankie001 · 06/04/2020 09:44

I blame Carole Baskin.

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Rinoachicken · 06/04/2020 09:46

@frankie001 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

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Stet · 06/04/2020 09:49

@frankie001 I think you mean Carol Fucking Baskin

Tiger tests positive
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Danceswithwarthogs · 06/04/2020 09:51

All evidence so far is that cats catch it from close proximity to infected humans, unless your cat going into other people’s houses or snuggling up to a lot of strangers eg in public places, their risk is really low. (Unless they get it off you of course). No known cases of transmission in the other direction (cat>human) although the cat’s fur could act as a fomite in the same way as a door handle could.

Feline coronavirus is something different entirely (but an antiviral cleaner you use to clean litter tray with would probably be good for disinfection of other things such as shoes)

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TheoriginalLEM · 06/04/2020 09:54

This is terrible news. Because now people will start abandoning pets or wanting them pts.

There is absolutely no evidence that we can get coronavirus from pets.

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Scruffyoak · 06/04/2020 09:55

I really hope people dont abandon pets.

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cerealnamechange · 06/04/2020 09:57

I'm on a rabbit owner page on Facebook and people are already abandoning rabbits. One rescue reported that they had had people trying to buy all the rabbits at once, they suspect to eat 😮

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middleager · 06/04/2020 09:58

I'm currently ill so trying to keep my two moggies away as a precautionary measure, but easier said than done.

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VivaLeBeaver · 06/04/2020 09:59

My cat is an unsocial bastard so i have no worries about her mixing closely enough with other cats or people for this to be a problem. 😀

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Tonyaster · 06/04/2020 10:01

I thought they had proven that dogs can't catch it (carry it in their fur, yes but not actually catch it)

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OldUnit · 06/04/2020 10:02
Wink
Tiger tests positive
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Makeitgoaway · 06/04/2020 10:03

I did wonder what this means for the assurances that pet's aren't a risk. Do people need to keep their cats in? Should dog walking, rather than being a priority if there is tighter lockdown, be banned altogether?

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Danceswithwarthogs · 06/04/2020 10:05

No evidence pets are a risk to people (any more than 5g masts)

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Tonyaster · 06/04/2020 10:05

Dogs cats and rabbits aren't the same. Possibly cats can catch it but dogs cant.

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iVampire · 06/04/2020 10:06

I’m not sure it’s proved one way of the other about dogs - one did test positive, then they said it was contamination, then that it was infection, then it all went quiet without it really being settled

I saw on the news that CV can live for up to 72 hours in hard surfaces - is there any consensus on how long on soft (furry) ones?

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Danceswithwarthogs · 06/04/2020 10:08

Much bigger risk of harm from dogs cooped up closely with children not able to exercise/express normal behaviour.

( Although probably best not to let them off the lead if they’re likely to run up to a random stranger and pick up virus on their coat)

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Makeitgoaway · 06/04/2020 10:10

There are all sorts of risks to children already from being out of school, away from safeguarding protocols and stuck at home but those are apparently an acceptable risk to get this thing under control .

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Danceswithwarthogs · 06/04/2020 10:11

More info on wsava.org (veterinary version of WHO)

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CaroleFuckinBaskin · 06/04/2020 10:12

Hey all you cool cats and kittens!

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Danceswithwarthogs · 06/04/2020 10:13

If you’re a million times more likely to catch it from another person than a dog, you’d be better banning anyone leaving the house

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chocolate26 · 06/04/2020 10:13

Even if dogs could catch it I wouldn't give mine away or abandon them! They need me as much as I need them.

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