There have been a "small number of cases" of coronavirus in cats. (Envato)

Queer people around the world have breathed a sigh of relief after a vet association dispelled rumours that our cats could give us coronavirus.

The completely true stereotype that LGBT+ people and cats are made for one another may originate from the frequency of cat imagery in lesbian culture and history.

But cat-owners were left “worried and upset” after the British Veterinary Association (BVA), in response to questions from the BBC, suggested that all felines should be on lockdown to stop them spreading coronavirus.

The association’s website even crashed as panicked cat lovers scrambled for answers (we can only assume that at least half of these people were LGBT+).

Luckily on Wednesday, April 8, the BVA clarified its position on lockdown for cats.

It said that while the cats of people who are self-isolating because of coronavirus symptoms should be kept indoors, this is because the virus could spread between the animals. There is no evidence to suggest that feline fur babies can give COVID-19 to their humans.

BVA president Daniella Dos Santos said in a statement: “It’s incredibly important that information and advice for the public is clear and we regret that this story will have caused worry and upset amongst cat owners.

“We are not advising that all cats are kept indoors. Only cats from infected households or where their owners are self-isolating, and only if the cat is happy to be kept indoors.

“Some cats cannot stay indoors due to stress-related medical reasons.”

“There have been a tiny number of cases of COVID-19 in animals and in all cases, it is likely that the transmission was human to animal. There is no evidence that pets can pass COVID-19 to their owners.”

She said that while dogs do not show coronavirus symptoms cats can show clinical signs, but added that there had been a “small number of cases”.

Dos Santos also pointed out that the virus could be on cats’ fur “in the same way it is on other surfaces, such as tables and doorknobs”, and so encouraged pet owners to be especially vigilant about hand hygiene.

“It is very important that people don’t panic about their pets,” she said. “There is no evidence that animals can pass the disease to humans.”