Dogs unlikely to contract Covid-19, while cats are more susceptible, study finds

Although SARS-CoV-2 is thought to have originated in bats, it's still unclear which animals that most often come in close contact with humans are most susceptible to the virus behind Covid-19. In a new study, scientists found that SARS-CoV-2 does not replicate well, and is therefore unlikely to be transmitted through certain animals, including dogs, pigs, chickens, and ducks. Cats and ferrets, however, were susceptible to Covid-19 infection. The scientists also found that when uninfected cats were placed in the same cage as an infected cat, the virus seemed to have been transmitted to the uninfected cat, suggesting these animals are susceptible to airborne infection. It's unclear whether this susceptibility will lead to human transmission, but given that cats are common pets, the researchers suggest that monitoring Covid-19 infection in these animals may be a way to further control the infection in people.