Northampton-born feline charity founder: ‘You can’t catch coronavirus from your cat’

A woman who works with cats everyday is assuring pet owners that coronavirus cannot be transmitted from cats to humans.

Barbara Read, who is from Weedon, Northampton moved to London years ago and has since set up cat-focused charity, Feline Friends.As the COVID-19 outbreak worsens, there have been claims that humans can catch the virus from cats, but Barbara heavily disputes that.

The charity founder and rescue worker said: “Cats can get coronavirus but it is a feline coronavirus that is not dangerous to humans.

“The coronavirus that cats get is called FCoV, which is totally species specific.

“It is a feline cat flu that we can’t get from them, just as they can’t get the human flu from us.

“And cats shouldn’t be able to get coronavirus from us, which will be the same with dogs and rabbits too.

"If FCoV was transmissible, people like me who handle thousands of cats, would have got it.

“Most illnesses that pets get are not transmittable to humans, other than ringworm and fleas, but they are not life threatening.”

Barbara, who attended Northampton School for Girls, is concerned to see a rise in stray cats during the pandemic.

She added: “People are giving up animals now, which is a tragedy.

“We’re one of the only cat charities that is still operational and we have taken in more than 50 cats in two-and-a-half weeks. We’re only a small rescue but that is a similar number as Battersea.

“It’s a national problem and vets have been directed to only treat emergencies, which means we can’t get cats neutered.

“More stray cats and not being able to neuter will mean all the work we have done will be un-done.”

Barbara is urging cat-lovers to not give up their feline friends during these unprecedented times, over 'irrational fears'.

She reiterated that humans cannot catch coronavirus from cats and they are not harmful, but animals lovers should take extra precautions.

Barbara added: "It is important that pet owners was their hands before and after stroking or cuddling pets and that for now they resist stroking other people’s pets as their coats could pick up the virus just as our skin and clothes and any other surface can."

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