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Cats caught same COVID-19 variants as humans
Image: woman holding cat
Human-to-cat transmission of COVID-19 is relatively frequent.
Study finds that variants followed same timeline in both species.

A new study has revealed that the dominant COVID-19 variant in domestic cats followed the same timeline of emerging variants as the human population in the UK.

Scientists from the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CRV) found that patterns of immunity to different variants in cats reflected the emergence of variants such as Alpha and Delta in humans, indicating multiple human-to-cat transmissions of SARS-CoV-2 over a prolonged period of time.

It is still not known whether some variants are more transmissible from humans to cats than others, or how likely to is that infected cats will develop symptoms.

The findings are based on residual blood samples taken from 2,309 cats across the UK from April 2020 to February 2022.

Grace Tyson, lead author of the study, said: “Our findings suggest that there has been continued human-to-cat transmissions of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is important that we continue to monitor SARS-CoV-2 infections in pet cats that are in close contact with their COVID-19 positive owners, as it will be important to monitor changes in transmissibility of emerging variants in cats as well as humans.”

Margaret Hosie, professor of comparative virology at CRV, added: “Currently, our recommendation is that if cats regularly going outside, then they should still be allowed outdoor access if their owners have COVID-19. This decreases the risk of the cats becoming infected from their owners.

“Since human-to-cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs relatively frequently in COVID-19 positive households, the results of this study demonstrate the importance of monitoring coronavirus infections in pet cats that are in close contact with their positive owners, adopting a ‘one health’ strategy.”

The study, 'Rising SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Patterns of Cross-Variant Antibody Neutralization in UK Domestic Cats,' has been published in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

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RCVS renewal fees increase by four per cent

News Story 1
 The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has announced a four per cent increase to its annual renewal fees.

RCVS treasurer Tshidi Gardiner said that the council had tried to keep the fees to a minimum, while increasing the fees in line with inflation. It is a two per cent lower increase than in 2024.

Fee notices will be sent to veterinary surgeons within the first two weeks of March, who will have until 1 April to pay for their annual renewal.

Veterinary surgeons who do not pay their fee before 1 May will incur a higher fee of £36. Non-payment by 1 June could mean they are removed from the RCVS register.

The veterinary nurse annual renewal period, taking place in autumn, will see the same percentage increase. 

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Wales licenses Bluetongue vaccines for voluntary use

The Welsh government has approved three Bluetongue vaccines for emergency use in Wales.

From 1 March an online general licence will become available for the vaccines' use. They will then be obtainable on prescription and can be sold by veterinary practices.

After appropriate guidance, livestock keepers will be permitted to administer the vaccines themselves. The vaccines must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon and detailed vaccination records must be kept for five years.

The decision comes as Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) continues to spread across England. The three vaccines are already licensed for use in England.

Richard Irvine, CVO for Wales, said: "This decision to licence these vaccines was informed by our recent risk assessment indicating that Wales is now at high risk of experiencing an incursion of Bluetongue this year.

"Our primary aim is to keep Bluetongue out of Wales through biosecurity, vigilance and safe sourcing of livestock."