Cats Can Get COVID-19, So Why Isn't There A Vaccine Available?

• Author: Mary Singleton
• Posted: 2024-08-12

The outbreak of COVID-19 has been one of the most significant events in recent memory. The entire world was shook to its core and the response everyday people, institutions, and governments had to the pandemic changed everything irrevocably.

However, while there's been a lot of discussion regarding how COVID-19 affects people, there's been almost a complete absence of news and updates about how the disease affects pets, such as cats. In particular, there haven't been many developments in the realm of pet vaccines.

So, why haven't cat vaccinations become available? Well, it's a little complicated.

How Does COVID-19 Affect Cats?

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, affects more than just humans. It has the ability to affect a variety of different animals and, in fact, might have its origins in animal to human transmission.

Not all animals are affected by the virus, but cats can become infected with it. They tend to experience symptoms similar to those found in people, but to a much less extreme degree. In people, COVID-19 can cause symptoms like pneumonia, lack of circulation, trouble breathing, and chest pain. Many of these symptoms can be life-threatening, especially in individuals who are already in poor health. In cats, there are a similar set of respiratory symptoms, since it's a virus that primarily affects the respiratory system, but in a slightly different fashion. Mild respiratory symptoms, like irregular breathing, are common, but the virus doesn't always affect the lungs and seems to primarily focus around the upper respiratory tract near the throat, causing sore throats and mild gastrointestinal issues .

Beyond just symptoms, there's some differences in the spread of the virus as well. It's much less common for the virus to be transmitted to cats in the first place and while it's theoretically possible for cats to spread it to humans, there have been no reported cases of this occurring.

Updates on Vaccines

A lot of resources have obviously gone towards developing vaccines for human use, which takes priority, but it's not the only factor impacting a lack of vaccine developments for animals.

Animals don't appear to be much of a disease vector, at least not in terms of animal to human transmission, and most animals are generally not affected by COVID, at least not in any severe sort of way. This means that developing a vaccine for cats isn't really necessary for the most part and can probably be overlooked since it's not super important.

This isn't to say animal vaccinations aren't a thing at all, because they are. A drug development company, Zoetis, has created experimental vaccines based on already established COVID vaccine research to be given to animals. Several thousand doses have been given to zoo animals and are intended to be distributed to mink farms, since minks pose the most substantial risk for animal to human transmission of COVID. However, vaccines for everyday pets, like cats and dogs, aren't going to be in the works anytime soon.

Should You Be Concerned About COVID-19 Infection?

COVID-19 is a big deal, but it's largely something you don't need to be concerned about when it comes to your cat.

If you're looking to be extra cautious though, engage in quarantine procedures you normally would in the case of people. If your cat shows signs of COVID-19 or has been diagnosed with it, then place it a segregated part of your home for a two week period and keep any other pets you have away from the infected cat to prevent the further spread of infection. Also, make sure to not have your cat in physical contact with animals that don't normally reside in your home to prevent them from getting the infection in the first place.

If you have any questions about pet quarantine procedures or if your cat makes a turn for the worse, then be sure to call your local veterinarian for advice.

Being Cautious

COVID-19 isn't something to be taken lightly as it's caused a rather untold amount of destruction within a relatively short period of time. You should always be cautious of it to avoid contracting it or spreading it to other people. When it comes to your cat, it's important not to be too worried though, as it's unlikely to present any major problems. Vaccines for your pets might seem like a good idea, but they're mostly unnecessary.