More than 36 out of 5000 tests on cats and dogs proved positive for Covid

The Sun Sentinel tells us that one manufacturer providing Covid PCR tests for pets, IDEXX Laboratories, tested over 5,000 specimens from dogs, cats and horses. All of the animals had respiratory health issues. The tests confirmed that more than three dozen cases of Covid in either a dog or cat were positive. It appears that they had caught Covid from their human caregiver. This is a report from Florida and therefore these are Floridian cats.

More than 36 out of 5000 tests on cats and dogs proved positive for Covid. Image: MikeB

What is the interest? This is the first time that I have seen a measured percentage of cats and dogs contracting Covid from a large sample. Unfortunately, the report does not drill down and tell us the percentage for cats and for dogs. 

They have merged the two species. Nonetheless, 'more than 36' might be around 40 so 40/5000 is 0.8%, in percentage terms. That of course is less than 1%. So, we can say on the basis of this skimpy report that less than 1% of cats and dogs get Covid from their human caregiver in Florida. A very low figure.

It may be possible to extrapolate that information to other parts America but it might not be wise to do so. The information is useful because we can date it to January 2022. 

This is a time when the Omicron variant has spread rapidly. It is less severe but more contagious than the previous Delta variant. It is a sort of snapshot at a certain date about a certain variant and its impact on two species of companion animal. That might be useful to some people which is why I am reporting it.

Dancing high filial Savannah cat in the bedroom

There is one overriding impression when I watch this short TikTok video; the athleticism of the F1-F3 Savannah cat. I am guessing that this is either a first or second filial Savannah cat judging by the size. This places them in a rare category because these high filial Savannah cats have a lot of the male serval genes in them. 

Dancing Savannah cat in the bedroom on the bed. Screenshot.

They are quite closely related to the wild cat, the male serval, who is the father or grandfather of these cats. There's a lot of wild cat blood in them. In fact, for this reason, in a lot of the states of the USA you will find that these sorts of domestic cats are forbidden unless you have a licence. 

They are sometimes considered dangerous by the authorities. Some authorities bracket the F1 and F2 Savannah cat with some genuine wild cat species or other exotic pets. 

RELATED: Why is the Savannah cat illegal?

You really have to be a special kind of person to look after an F1-F3 Savannah cat to a high level. They are not for every cat lover. They require a little more input because they are more intelligent. They need stimulating more than the average domestic cat. Because of their value and their impressive stature, you can't let them wander outside. They are likely to be stolen. They are worth about $20,000 (F1) and perhaps more sometimes. It depends upon the filial.

So, you've got to keep them inside and if you do that they want to go outside because they are intelligent and active. And if they've managed to escape then your neighbours, and people further afield, might be concerned because they can mistake an F1 Savannah cat with a genuine wild cat. They call the police. The police turn up and they also mistake the animal for a wild cat of unknown origin and rather than trap or sedate the cat they shoot it. That sort of thing has happened in America.

RELATED: How was Trouble killed?

A famous F1 Savannah cat called Trouble was at one stage the biggest domestic cat in the world as per Guinness World Records. This beautiful feline escaped his full-time captive lifestyle inside the owner's home and was fairly quickly killed on the road in a traffic accident. That terminated the cat's reign as the biggest cat. A horrendous ending. The owner had difficulty discussing it with anybody. I guess she was too shocked and upset.

Freddie Mercury has been reincarnated as a cat because he loved cats so much

I hope this is in good taste. I think it is. Freddie Mercury was one of those guys who loved domestic cats. He really did. If you believe in reincarnation, and a lot of people do, this is him. He returned as a cat. A feline image of Freddie. Reincarnation is also known as rebirth or transmigration. The non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death.

Mostaccioli is the cat's name. She can be seen on her own Instagram account @izanami.and.mostaccioli and has taken the internet by storm by closely resembling the late Queen frontman.

RELATED: Freddie Mercury: his ten cats and Bohemian Rhapsody the film.

Freddie Mercury has been reincarnated as a cat because he loved cats so much. Image in the public domain.

RELATED: Last known photo of Freddie Mercury was with his cat Oscar.

Freddie loved cats and there are many images of him with his cats. I have several pages on this site of Freddie and his cats. One of them is said to be the last photo taken before his early death with his cat Oscar. It is so wonderful that such a high profile person loves cats. It helps cat welfare. Celebrities can change people's minds. If more people loved cats there would be less cat abuse.