To learn more, Canadian researchers swabbed the noses, throats and rectums of 17 cats, 18 dogs and one ferret. To determine current infection, the animals were tested within two weeks of a confirmed coronavirus infection or COVID-19 symptoms in their owners.
Blood samples also were taken from eight cats and 10 dogs whose owners were outside the two-week window of infectiousness. This was to determine recent or past infection.
All of the tests for current infection were negative, but coronavirus antibodies were found in the blood of all eight cats, indicating past infection.
Owners reported that all eight cats had respiratory and/or other illnesses around the time of their own infection.
