Can you catch COVID from your cat or dog?
No.
Well. Whilst we cannot say it is impossible to catch the coronavirus (COVID-19) from a cat or dog, research suggests this is extremely unlikely. There are currently no reported cases of people catching the coronavirus from animals.
“We are not a risk to you, honest guv’nor'”
But. When talking about a virus, the words ‘catch’ or ‘get’ are vague. A more precise question is, ‘can my cat or dog become infected with SARS-CoV-2?’
The answer to that is yes. There is evidence from real-world cases as well as laboratory experiments that both cats and dogs can become infected with coronavirus. It usually does not make them that unwell.
So that a positive woof or miaow. And cat and dog cuddling and stroking is fine.
