Can cats get COVID-19? Yes, cats can become infected with SARS-CoV-2, usually after close contact with an infected person. Most infected cats have no symptoms or only mild illness, severe disease is extremely rare, and the CDC says the risk of cats spreading COVID-19 to people is low.
That answer applies to SARS-CoV-2, not feline coronavirus, which is a different group of viruses. If a cat becomes sick after exposure, contact a veterinarian before visiting a clinic and explain the household COVID-19 exposure.
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Key takeaways
- Cats can catch SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, most often after close contact with an infected person.
- Most infected cats have no symptoms or only mild illness, while serious illness in pets is extremely rare according to the CDC.
- The CDC says the risk of pets spreading COVID-19 to people is low, although cat-to-cat transmission has occurred in controlled experiments.
- A person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should avoid cuddling, kissing, bed-sharing, and food-sharing with a cat where possible.
- Human at-home COVID-19 tests, masks, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and household disinfectants should not be used on cats.
How can cats get COVID-19?
Cats usually become infected with SARS-CoV-2 through close contact with a person who has COVID-19. The virus can spread from people to animals during close contact, but infection in cats is uncommon compared with human-to-human COVID-19 transmission.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s pet guidance says, “The virus that causes COVID-19 can spread from people to animals during close contact.” Cats, dogs, ferrets, and Syrian hamsters are among the pets that may become infected.
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Can cats transmit COVID-19 to humans?
Cats can become infected, but the risk of a cat spreading COVID-19 to a person is considered low. The CDC states, “The risk of pets spreading COVID-19 to people is low.” The strongest evidence instead points to infected people transmitting the virus to susceptible pets during close household contact.
Researchers have demonstrated cat-to-cat transmission in controlled laboratory experiments. In one 2020 study, infected cats transmitted virus to other cats while remaining clinically asymptomatic. Laboratory findings establish that transmission is biologically possible; they do not show that ordinary household cats are a major source of human COVID-19 infection.
| Transmission question | What the evidence shows | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Can a person transmit SARS-CoV-2 to a cat? | Yes, especially during close contact. | Reduce close contact when you are infected. |
| Can one cat transmit SARS-CoV-2 to another cat? | Yes, in controlled experimental studies. | Do not assume experimental results mean household cats commonly spread the virus. |
| Can a cat transmit SARS-CoV-2 to a person? | Possible in theory, but the CDC considers the risk of pets spreading COVID-19 to people low. | Focus on managing human-to-cat exposure and ordinary hygiene. |
What do household studies show?
Natural household surveillance supports the possibility of human-to-cat infection but should not be generalized to every cat. A Texas study published in 2021 tested 76 cats and dogs living in households with at least one SARS-CoV-2-infected person. According to the Texas household surveillance study authors (2021), 17 pets from 25.6% of 39 households met the national case definition for animal infection; three of the 17 cats were positive by RT-PCR and sequencing. The sample was deliberately high-risk because every household included an infected owner.
The Texas household surveillance study does not mean that 25.6% of all households with cats will experience infection. The figure describes 39 selected households with known human COVID-19 exposure, and the cat result describes three confirmed cats among 17 infected pets in that study.
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What are the symptoms of COVID-19 in cats?
Possible COVID-19 symptoms in cats include fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, lethargy, sneezing, runny nose, eye discharge, vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms alone cannot diagnose SARS-CoV-2 because the same signs occur with many other feline illnesses.
| Observed sign | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sneezing, runny nose, eye discharge, mild cough, vomiting, or diarrhea | Call your veterinarian for advice, particularly if someone in the household has COVID-19. |
| Lethargy, poor drinking, or possible dehydration | Seek prompt veterinary advice; these signs can have causes unrelated to COVID-19. |
| Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, severe weakness, or worsening illness | Contact a veterinarian promptly for urgent guidance before taking the cat to a clinic. |
Most infected pets that become ill have mild disease and recover. The CDC describes serious illness in pets as extremely rare. Breathing difficulty or deterioration requires veterinary attention regardless of whether SARS-CoV-2 is suspected.
Should I isolate my cat if I have COVID-19?
If you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19, reduce close contact with your cat while you are ill. Do not cuddle, kiss, share food, or sleep in the same bed with the cat where possible. Wash your hands before and after interacting with the cat, and ask another healthy household member to handle feeding and routine care if that is practical.
Do not abandon, surrender, or routinely remove a cat from the home solely because a person has COVID-19. Keep the cat indoors and follow veterinary instructions if a veterinarian recommends temporary home isolation after suspected or confirmed animal infection.
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Call the veterinary clinic before bringing the cat in if the cat develops symptoms and someone in the household has COVID-19. Explain the exposure in advance. The clinic may arrange a different visit process, and some veterinarians may offer a veterinary telemedicine consultation or another remote-care arrangement.
Isolation duration is case-specific. Archived CDC guidance described returning to normal activities after at least 72 hours without symptoms and at least 14 days since the last positive test, or after negative follow-up tests. Those figures should not be treated as a universal current rule for every cat; follow the veterinarian’s current advice.
Can I use a human COVID-19 test on my cat?
No. Do not use a human at-home COVID-19 test on a cat. A consumer test is not a substitute for veterinary assessment, and a result may be invalid or misleading in an animal. Cornell’s veterinary diagnostic guidance found no scientific basis for widespread domestic-animal testing and describes testing as appropriate only in limited veterinary and public-health circumstances.
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Should I put a mask on my cat or disinfect its fur?
No. Do not put a mask on a cat. The CDC specifically warns, “Do not put masks on pets; masks could harm your pet.” A mask can interfere with breathing, cause distress, or create another safety problem without providing a proven household benefit.
Do not wipe or bathe a cat with disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, hand sanitizer, counter-cleaning wipes, or industrial surface cleaners. The CDC says there is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spreads to people from a pet’s skin, fur, or hair. Reduce exposure through distance and handwashing rather than chemicals applied to the animal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is feline coronavirus the same as COVID-19?
No. Feline coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 are different viruses. Feline coronavirus is common in cats and generally causes no symptoms or mild diarrhea; some feline coronavirus infections can be associated with feline infectious peritonitis, or FIP. SARS-CoV-2 is the distinct virus associated with COVID-19 in people and occasional infection in animals.
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What should I do if my cat was exposed?
- Limit close contact. If you are infected, avoid kissing, cuddling, bed-sharing, and food-sharing with the cat while you are ill.
- Use ordinary hygiene. Wash your hands before and after caring for the cat, and avoid sharing utensils or food.
- Watch for illness. Monitor breathing, energy, appetite, drinking, nasal or eye discharge, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Call before a clinic visit. Tell the veterinarian that a household member has suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
- Get urgent advice for breathing problems. Difficulty breathing, marked lethargy, dehydration, or worsening symptoms should not wait for a home COVID-19 test.
The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that people with COVID-19 may spread SARS-CoV-2 to certain pets, while very few pets have been confirmed infected and even fewer appear to have become clinically ill. The AVMA guidance for caring for pets with SARS-CoV-2 supports contacting a veterinary professional rather than trying to diagnose or treat the cat at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my cat catch COVID-19 from me?
Yes. Cats can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 after close contact with an infected person, but most infected cats have no symptoms or only mild illness. Call a veterinarian if your cat becomes ill, especially if someone in the household has COVID-19.
Can I use a human COVID-19 test on my cat?
No. A human at-home COVID-19 test is not validated as a diagnostic test for cats and may produce a misleading result. Veterinary testing should be considered only when a veterinarian and relevant public-health professionals advise it.
Should I put a mask on my cat or disinfect its fur?
No. Do not put a mask on a cat or apply disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, hand sanitizer, or cleaning wipes to its fur. These measures can harm cats, and the CDC says there is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spreads to people from a pet’s fur, skin, or hair.
Is feline coronavirus the same as COVID-19?
No. Feline coronavirus is a separate group of viruses from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Feline coronavirus is common in cats and can be associated with intestinal illness or, in some cases, feline infectious peritonitis.
The Bottom Line
Yes, cats can get COVID-19 after close contact with an infected person, but most infected cats have no symptoms or only mild illness, and the risk of cats spreading COVID-19 to people is low. Limit close contact while ill, never use human tests, masks, or disinfectants on a cat, and call a veterinarian before a visit if symptoms develop.
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