A Montreal-Area Cat Tested Positive For COVID-19 & It Had To Isolate

Le pauvre petit chat :(
A Montreal-Area Cat Tested Positive For COVID-19 & It Had To Isolate
David Des Rochers | Dreamstime
Senior Editor

Researchers at the Université de Montréal, led by Dr. Cécile Aenishaenslin of the faculty of veterinary medicine, have diagnosed the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in a cat in Quebec, according to a press release from the university.

"It's a cat from the greater Montreal area that was likely contaminated by its owners," Dr. Aenishaenslin said in an interview with the school's newsroom. "It was isolated as is done with people who have tested positive for coronavirus."

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The cat's diagnosis was first reported on February 25.

Dr. Aenishaenslin and her team are out to "study the risk of infection in cats in Quebec and Western Canada," the university says. 

"Our study has two main objectives: to determine the frequency of infection in cats exposed to an infected human and to identify the risk factors for cats," the veterinarian added.

"Many questions remain. Do infected animals have sufficient viral load to transmit the disease to humans in their care? Is the virus found in felines different from that present in their owners?"

This article's cover image is used for illustrative purposes only.

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  • Thomas MacDonald
  • Thomas MacDonald

    Senior Editor

    Thomas MacDonald was the Senior Editor of MTL Blog. He received a B.A. with honours from McGill University in 2018 and worked as a Writer and Associate Editor before entering his current role. He is proud to lead the MTL Blog team and to provide its readers with the information they need to make the most of their city.

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