Any worries living with a cat in lockdown as pet cats can come and go as they please.

I don't have a cat. But I'm not going to freak out if I see a cat from a distance; will just take the usual precautions of hand washing, changing shoes when I come in etc. How are self isolating people supposed to now get hold of litter trays/litter etc. And, if they can't do you advocate euthanasia of all non house cats?

I don't like or keep cats but my neighbour happily told me, from 6 feet away, she lets her cat out early morning so no one sees. Her reason was it won't use a litter tray and has to go but she didn't know where she does. I do she "goes" in my garden and I said so. All I got back was a shrug. I really dont want cat poo in my garden, especially now.

Cats are classed as wild animals. They have freedom to roam as they wish.

Labaik if you let your cat roam right now, it won't be welcome where it goes. Some people will lash out. Others will be affected by feeling unable to use their gardens. You put your cat at risk if you let it out now. You also limit what small amount of space people have that they can feel safe in.

I know I’m in the tiny minority, But if you wouldn’t like a dog roam around, I really don’t think a house cat is any different. Keep your pets inside.

notanan; I don't understand what you're expecting cat owners to do. I take it you don't have a cat yourself or understand how much pets can mean to people, especially now when people are in self isolation and lonely.

All sounds a bit 16th century to me.

Thanks suziewoozie, that clarifies things beautifully.

I know people are very worried at the moment by things that they would normally take in their stride, but I do think that we need to try not to overreact.

And, as a precaution, for pet owners who have Covid-19 or who are self-isolating we are recommending that you keep your cat indoors if possible, during that time.

This makes no sense. Either its safe for cats to roam around multiple properties where people are in varying states of isolation/infection or it's not.

Aside from the injury risk to the cats, it's not fair to cause people to be afraid of their own gardens when its the only place they've previously not been afraid to go.

This is relevant

www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/bva-statement-on-cats-and-covid-19/

I do hope that non cat owners don't start turning on any cats they see now.

People act primitively not logically when theyre in a heightened state of fear.

If someone has gone to huge lengths to keep their houshold isolated and safe, then a potential covid carrying animal breaches that sanctity, they may lash out first think later.

I freaked out when someone [pre lockdown] stroked my dog when we were out walking even though the dog was on a lead and we were stood 6 feet apart so I understand the OP's concern. I think this was mentioned in a Q&A on facebook the other day but that was before the news broke about the infected tigers. I don't think [it said] the virus lives particularly well on fur. People tend not to stroke other peoples cats when they're out roaming. It's very difficult to keep a cat in the house when it's been used to freedom; I used to have house cats that had an outside pen but they spent most of their lives trying to escape out of windows/through the front door. And a cat that isn't used to using a litter tray might start messing in the house. I do hope that non cat owners don't start turning on any cats they see now. If you do use wipes on her they need to be special pet ones. Maybe, when she's on your lap cover your lap with a towel or something that can be washed. Don't let her lick you. etc etc . If you do get a litter tray for her be careful about the faeces as the virus is transmitted via faeces. Disinfect any surfaces she climbs onto. Other than that, don't know what to say as advice about this virus seems to change by the hour. Thankfully my dog has come into season so isn't going for walks anyway but I was getting a bit paranoid about what she might bring in on her paws.

Or set the dog on it?

I think they will cause fear to non cat owners.
People see protecting and isolating their bubbles of space as life and death right now. It is not unreasonable for people to fear cats that come into their properties. We do know they can carry CV just not much more.
If you let your cat out now, at best you will be driving people inside. At worst they will react out of fear and throw/wave/hit things to get your cat to leave.

Spot on soda

Ah! Ha! Think I have disentangled your sentence and thought process. You think that cats wandering present a danger to ‘non cat owners’?

I heard something about this today. No evidence either way as to whether or not our cats can transmit CV. However they are a surface like any other and care should be taken after stroking them, hand washing etc. Don't let them near your face or lick you. All common sense things really.

We're fortunate to live in a rural area so the contact our cats have with other people and other cats is relatively limited. What's more, most of the cats here that I've observed have been practising social distancing for years, both with each other and with humans.

It's sensible to bear in mind that pets could spread it, but I can't see that it's necessary to be OTT about it. Let common sense prevail!

Perhaps if you punctuated your reply it would make sense.,

Also some people will react out of fear right now. Letting your cat roam buts them at increased risk of injury if people throw things etc at them to keep them out of their gardens

In fact that’s what I said but more succinctly

No you said nothing at all about the impact of wandering cats right now on non cat owners

In fact that’s what I said but more succinctly ?

I've sneezed over my cat so many times and she's never had cold symptoms herself. In fact, she seems to want to get closer to me and my face whenever I'm ill.

Yes dear. As a biologist I know all this.