Thoughts on BBC news article - keep cats in doors during outbreak

[exlibris]

Hi all,
I've just read this article from the BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52204534
Basically it says how the coronavirus can jump species, as we know (has done with those tigers at Bronx zoo), and humans who have the virus can infect their pets. As far as I'm aware to no ill effect to the cats/dogs, and from what the article seems to say our pets can't pass it back to humans. However, they're still recommending not letting our feline friends out....bloomin' typical considering I was JUST introducing our two to the garden.
What does everyone think? Cats will approach anyone for a stroke - they don't care about social distancing. Plus we all know how some have 'second homes' on the sly. My worst fears would be nutters deciding that cats could be carriers and start harming them (just look at those idiots attacking 5G towers). But you can over think these things and worry over nothing....

[fjm]

I think it would be impossible with my two, so I am not even going to try. We have several acres of shared gardens and beyond are open fields, so it is very nearly as safe as anywhere can be. I considered the remote possibility of a neighbour coughing over one of them, then me stroking and touching my face without first washing my hands, and decided the risk was too small to worry about. I think it is one of those case-by-case situations - if I was surrounded by idiots encouraging the cats in to keep them company while they self-isolated I might feel differently!

Of course, if I get it myself things get a bit more complicated - might be better to shut them out, rather than in...

[Mollycat]

Mine are indoor ... sorry is ... so for me it's academic, but I have been thinking about it among lots of other thoughts.

I have met one person who won't let anyone touch her dog for precisely the reason given by fjm. The rest of the doggy community seems unfazed and two couples with pups of 9 months and 5 months are more concerned with socialising theirs than any human viruses. As a precaution though I always gel my hands before, but funnily enough not after, touching other people's dogs.

My personal view is that my pets' lives are disrupted enough as it is and looking back on my outdoor/indoor cats no certainly three of them I could never have kept in. Henry especially, he was the one that would have had to be pts if he had ever got any lifetime infectious disease, rather than imprison him, he was the ultimate social outdoor cat with cat friends and several feeding stations and beds!

The point about people harming them is a concern though. We had a particularly unpleasant case locally earlier this year, enough to make me think for the first time in my life about their safety outdoors, especially as nobody has been caught as yet.

[booktigger]

I saw that, and advising we dont hug them - Lucy gave me no option this morning when after having a wee, she decided sitting on my shoulder (I was still lying in bed) was the best place to clean herself! not only would keeping her in be risking bloodshed and my sanity, but she doesn't go near people she knows, much less strangers but none of the neighbours go near her as she has a tendency to hit them!

[Ruth B]

It sounds like the BBC is over emphasising things again, This is doing the rounds now on Facebook,

As for my three, Tiggy is very unlikely to go out of the garden any more, but did enjoy lying on the table in the sunshine this morning, Freyja won't let anyone near her, sometimes not even us, so she is highly unlikely to pass it on to anyone even via her fur. Saturn is the problem (no surprise there) we don't know but wouldn't be at all surprised if he had more that us as a feeding station, and would tear the walls down if we tried to keep him in for more than a few hours, we managed it over night after he had his teeth removed but that was it. He is also still doing his bit to bring home 'essential supplies' i think it was another small rat this morning, the tail didn't seem furry enough to be a large mouse. So life carries on as normal here (or close to it). While I agree with washing your hands before and after handling your pets, cats don't always give you the option, Tiggy having just made the point by jumping on my desk, rubbing against the monitor screen, walking over the keyboard and insisting on fuss by forcing her head under my hands while i'm trying to type this.

For me the best advice is when you are out getting essentials or for exercise, try and avoid petting any animals, that way you can't get it from them and you can't pass it on should you have and be symptom free.

On a different note, even cats can self distance.

[alanc]

Its at times like these that I am glad Tilly does not socialize with other humans. She is unlikely to be within sneezing distance of anyone other than me. All the same, I am keeping her in as much as possible. Fortunately, now she is getting old, she is quite happy sleeping in the sun on my bed most of the day.
Next doors Tay is a bit of a worry, though. He likes to be cuddled by all and sundry.
Don't think we have any nutters round here who will start assaulting the cats.

[Mollycat]

** IMPORTANT **

The BBC misquoted advice.
Here is a link to the statement from International Cat Care: https://icatcare.org/covid-19-dont-star ... s-indoors/

Incidentally Angie Hibbert one of 8 names on the list was in charge of Molly's care at Langford for radioiodine!

[exlibris]

I'm glad I brought this up - it's been very insightful. Glad the original has been updated now, but it's already being misquoted everywhere though, even 'Have I Got News For You' are getting their jokes wrong

[Romasia1]

Dr Almendros added that it would be sensible to keep cats indoors - where it is safe and possible to do so - during the outbreak.