The University of Glasgow has been conducting an ongoing investigation of Covid-19 infections in companion animals.

Their latest data shows a surprising number of Covid infections in cats. A report in the Telegraph says that over 350,000 cats in the UK have caught Covid over the course of the pandemic.

Cats are known to be susceptible to coronaviruses, and this study suggests that Covid infection is no exception.

The researchers found an overall Covid infection rate of 3.2% in UK pet cats. At the height of the pandemic, 1 in 20 pet cats tested positive.

The researchers note that their methods tested for Covid antibodies in cats, so it is likely that the infection rate is higher if cats that did not mount a strong immune response are factored in.

The article says that while cats can catch Covid from humans, there has only been one documented case of the disease passing to humans from an infected cat. Cats usually shed less virus than humans and are only infectious for a few days.

Covid can be serious in some cats. The researchers report:

“The actual pathology of Covid in cats is not as well characterized as in humans but we know of some quite severe cases of fever and respiratory illness in cats as well as some complications such as cardiac problems. In some cases, these clinical manifestations can be fatal or lead to euthanasia of the cat. We do not yet know the long-term effects of Covid in cats.”

Click HERE for more information on the University of Glasgow’s companion animal Covid study. For Covid and pets information in the US, you can check the CDC’s website HERE.