A CAT CORONAVIRUS IS NOW SPREADING ACROSS EUROPE. SHOULD WE BE WORRIED?

You may have heard reports of a cat in the UK being infected with a new coronavirus strain that has been responsible for thousands of cat deaths in Cyprus.

Depending on who you believe, the number of deaths reported to this new virus ranges from about 8,000, to higher than 300,000. In other words, it could be a real cause for concern.

We are all too aware of the threat a new coronavirus strain can pose to humans. This is no different for other species, with this new cat coronavirus strain appearing to be both deadly and highly infectious. So, are we on the brink of the feline equivalent of the COVID-19 global pandemic?

What exactly is this new strain?

Based on a study which is yet to be peer-reviewed, it looks as though an existing cat coronavirus has recombined with a dog coronavirus, in much the same way as the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged from a ‘recombination event’, to create a completely new coronavirus.

The recombination has led to a mutation to the cat coronavirus spike protein which has not only made the virus more infectious but potentially able to cause more severe illness – a double whammy.

This new virus, which has been called F-CoV-23, is able to cause a severe disease called Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). The symptoms include lethargy, diarrhoea, fever, a swollen abdomen, weight loss and inflammation. If a cat gets FIP without treatment it is almost always fatal.

Despite this dire news for our cats, it’s important to be clear that this virus is distinct from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and there is no evidence that it can be transmitted or cause disease in humans.

The good news is that this disease seems to respond well to treatment, although treatments are expensive. There is an existing antiviral drug called GS-441524 which seems to be safe and effective.

In addition, human COVID-19 antivirals such as Remdesivir and Molnupiravir also seem to work in cats, although it is not currently legal for veterinarians to use these human drugs in cats in the UK.

Should UK cat owners be worried?

While recognising this is a potentially serious situation, there is probably no need for panic right now.

Thus far, there is no confirmation that this virus is present in the UK beyond the single cat that was infected, and which is being treated. However, there are recent unconfirmed reports of numerous other cats with links to Cyprus that possibly have the disease, which is concerning.

As we know all too well though, when it comes to the spread of a coronavirus through a population, things can change quickly. And once things get going, it can be very difficult to turn things around.

We don’t know what may happen in the weeks to follow, but there is a real potential for this disease to spread beyond Cyprus into the UK and other countries.

If you want to understand how difficult it may be to bring this disease under control once it starts to spread, think about how challenging it was to get humans to follow rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and then add cats into the equation.

What is next for the new variant?

So, where we sit right now is in the monitor and be alert phase. It’s possible that there are unusual drivers spreading this disease amongst the cats in Cyprus, with their large and genetically distinct feral cat population. It is also possible that this disease may not pose the same sort of threat to cat populations in the UK and other countries that don’t have the same number and density of feral cats.

However, this is not something you want to rely on, and this is definitely a time to implement the precautionary principle. Supporting this approach, there are now reports that the virus is circulating in Greece and Lebanon. Given these latest developments, the call to ban the importing of cats from countries where this virus is circulating does not seem to be unreasonable.

As a cat owner in the UK, if your cat has not recently been to Cyprus or been in contact with a cat from Cyprus your index of suspicion that your cat has FIP should it become unwell should be quite low at the moment. But watch this space closely. Once again we may be waiting on vaccines to save us from this deadly disease.