The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories today announced the first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections in two pet cats. The animals are the first pets in the United States to test positive for the disease. The cats lived in two separate areas of the state. Both showed mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery.  

According to the USDA, in one of the NY cases, a veterinarian tested the first cat after it showed mild respiratory signs. No individuals in the household were confirmed to be ill with COVID-19. It’s believed the virus may have been transmitted to this cat by mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected person outside its home.

The full USDA press release can be found at this link.