There have been a handful of reports outside the U.S. of pet dogs or cats becoming infected after close contact with contagious people, including a Hong Kong dog that tested positive for a low level of the pathogen in February and early March.

The agencies have recommended that any pet owners with Covid-19 avoid petting, snuggling or other contacts with their animals as much as possible, including wearing a face covering while caring for them.

The cat's positive tests came a little more than two weeks after another New York cat, a Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, became the first confirmed coronavirus case in a U.S. animal. Four other tigers and three lions at the zoo also tested positive, the zoo said Wednesday.

U.S. authorities, including the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, say that while it appears some animals can get the virus from people, there’s no indication pets are transmitting it to human beings.

The finding, which comes after positive tests in some tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo, adds to a small number of confirmed cases of the virus in animals worldwide.

But the other cat lives in a household where no members had confirmed cases of the virus. It is possible this cat was infected by a household member who was only mildly ill or asymptomatic, the statement said.

But the other cat lives in a household where no members had confirmed cases of the virus. It is possible this cat was infected by a household member who was only mildly ill or asymptomatic, the statement said.

The cats live in different parts of the state, and both showed symptoms of mild respiratory illness and are expected to recover, the agencies said in a statement.

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