Pet cat becomes first animal in the UK to test positive for COVID-19

The cat is the first confirmed case of an animal infected by COVID-19 in the UK. /Reuters

A pet cat has tested positive for COVID-19 in England, becoming the first confirmed case of an animal infected with the virus in Britain.

The UK government confirmed the news on Monday, with the British environment ministry saying that all available evidence suggested the cat had contracted the virus from its owners, who had both previously tested positive.

Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England, which conducted the investigation, said: "This is the first case of a domestic cat testing positive for COVID-19 in the UK but should not be a cause for alarm."

The ministry has confirmed the cat and the two humans had all subsequently recovered and that there was no further transmission to anyone else in their household.

All evidence suggests the cat was infected by its owners, who had both previously tested positive for the virus. /Reuters

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said cats are the most susceptible animal to the virus and are able to catch it from humans as well as transmit it to other cats.

The UK's chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: "This is a very rare event, with infected animals detected to date only showing mild clinical signs and recovering within a few days."

Both the WHO and the UK government have both said there is no evidence animals can transmit the virus to humans.