A kitten has had to be put down after it fell seriously ill with pneumonia thought to have been triggered by Covid caught from its owner.

The four-month-old Ragdoll cat initially suffered with shortness of breath before its condition deteriorated. Experts found Sars-CoV-2 in its lungs.

Professor Margaret Hosie said that more research was needed but advised people with coronavirus not to cuddle their cats or sleep with them.

In a second case in the UK, researchers at the University of Glasgow found human-to-cat transmission in a six-year-old female Siamese.

The cat had a runny nose and conjunctivitis but made a full recovery.

The preliminary research shows that cats can display the same mild or severe respiratory symptoms as humans.

Prof Hosie said: ‘These two cases of human-to-animal transmission, found in the feline population in the UK, demonstrate why it is important we improve our understanding of animal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

‘Given the ability of the coronavirus to infect companion animals, it will be important to monitor for human-to-cat, cat-to-cat and cat-to-human transmission.’

Her team’s findings were published in Veterinary Record and have implications for cat owners across the country.

Prof Hosie added: ‘Although the ongoing pandemic is driven by human-to-human transmission, concerns have been raised that other species might have the potential to play a role by becoming a new reservoir for the virus.

‘Cats often live very closely with their owners, licking their hands or faces, sometimes sleeping on or in their beds.

‘There could also be risks associated with washing the cats’ food and water bowls and cleaning out litter boxes.’

‘Currently, animal-to-human transmission represents a relatively low risk to public health in areas where human-to-human transmission remains high.

‘However, as human cases decrease, the prospect of transmission among animals becomes increasingly important as a potential source of SARS-CoV-2 reintroduction to humans.

‘It is therefore important to improve our understanding of whether exposed animals could play any role in transmission.’

In July Buddy, a German shepherd from New York, died after becoming the first dog to test positive in the US. It also had cancer – making the cause of death unclear.

The first dog in the world to catch coronavirus was a 17-year-old Pomeranian. It also died – having returned home to its Covid-19 infected owner.

The biggest cat to fall victim is Nadia, a four-year-old Malayan tiger at New York’s Bronx Zoo. She made a full recovery.

There is no evidence that animals transmit it to humans, with research suggesting they do not ‘shed’ enough virus to be infectious.

Public Health England has urged pet owners to wash their hands before and after contact with animals.

The British Veterinary Association advises infected people to restrict contact with animals.

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