Hi, a BBC news article today advised pet owners (specifically cats) to keep them inside during the lockdown over the fear they could spread the virus through other people touching their fur etc. Is anyone doing this? We have two cats who take themselves in and out whenever they like so keeping them inside feels a bit over the top.
I cant keep mine in but neither are stranger friendly (unlike our mutual friend Basil!) and they would run a mile before allowing a stranger to touch them…
Royal College of Veterinary posted up saying BBC has it wrong. Their website is now down through the sheer volume of people looking at it. Twitter has their statement though.
Basically cats can go out unless you have or are showing symptoms of Covoid19. Pets, like many many things have a surface which the virus can stick to. So, if touched by a sufferer they “may” spread it.
Edit: BBC now updated site with full advice.
The BBC headline and article misses out the fact that the BVA advice only really covers cats in houses where you’re fully in isolation because of an actual covid infection. For most people in “normal” lockdown there’s no need: https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/bva-statement-on-cats-and-covid-19/
@Foresthillnick Agreed, same with ours, friendly in the end but not for a casual stroke. Very much unlike Bazil!
@James_Todd thanks. It did seem very vague but this is much clearer.
I think mine would literally scratch through a wall if we kept him in.
I guess a good rule for people might just be not to stroke other people’s pets which should alleviate what already appears to be minimal danger.
There is one thing to consider. While vets are considered an essential service, many have stopped offering routine treatments like booster vaccinations. If you’re cat is past due their booster, you may wish to consider keeping them in for their own health.
I have made the decision to keep my cat indoors now, she doesn’t go out too often anyway only probably about half hour a day and even then she just strolls around mine and my neighbours garden who have 2 cats that are her friends. She is not happy with me and she is mainly a house cat.
Cats that are allowed outdoors are definitely a danger to humans, as they incubate the parasite toxoplasma gondii . That parasite can’t complete its life cycle other than in the feline gut. As Covid-19 has been found in faeces I would think that if a cat is infected or carrying Covid-19 then they can spread that to humans too. All courtesy of their humans letting the little darlings shit in other people’s gardens. Naturally if Coronaviruses are in their faeces, they’re going to bring the viruses home to their owners along with their usual present of toxoplasmosis, via their paws.
I would imagine intestinal juices would eat through the fatty protective layer killing the virus. *
*This is pure speculation on my part.