COVID-19 in a Tiger: What Pet Owners Should Know 🐅🦠

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

In a surprising but important discovery, a tiger at New York’s Bronx Zoo tested positive for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in early 2020. The infected tiger showed symptoms including a dry cough and decreased appetite, and was believed to have contracted the virus from an asymptomatic zookeeper. 🧑‍⚕️

This incident, now well-documented, taught us a great deal about cross-species transmission of COVID-19 and the role pets and wildlife may play in zoonotic disease cycles. 🧬

🧪 What Happened at the Bronx Zoo?

• 🐅 A Malayan tiger developed symptoms on March 27, 2020
• 🦁 Three additional tigers and three lions showed mild respiratory signs
• 🩺 Only one tiger was tested due to the need for anesthesia to collect samples
• 🌡️ All affected animals were expected to recover

Importantly, the zoo had already closed to the public by March 16—meaning the virus likely came from staff and not visitors. 😷

🤔 Why This Matters

While not completely shocking—since domestic cats had already shown susceptibility—the tiger case raised questions about:

• 👣 How much exposure is needed for animal infection?
• 🐈 How often are domestic cats infected by humans?
• 🧫 Could cats act as reservoirs or sources of reinfection for people?

What’s notable is that zoo cats have minimal direct contact with humans. So if they got infected, even minimal, indirect exposure could be sufficient. 🧩

🐱 What About Domestic Cats?

At the time of this tiger case, domestic cats were known to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 in laboratory settings. Most infections appeared mild or asymptomatic, but the potential for reverse zoonosis—humans infecting animals—was already real. 🧬

Key Concerns:

• 🤒 Can cats infect other cats? → Yes, experimentally
• 🔁 Can cats infect people? → Still no strong evidence in real-world settings
• 🏠 Should COVID-positive people isolate from pets? → Yes, as a precaution

🧼 Practical Steps to Protect Pets

To reduce any risk—however small—veterinarians and public health experts recommend these steps:

• 🚷 Limit contact with pets if you are sick
• 🐾 Keep pets indoors or in your private yard
• 🚫 Avoid letting your pets interact with people or animals outside your household
• 🧴 Practice good hygiene before and after handling animals

As Dr Duncan Houston emphasizes: “Social distancing includes your pets.” 🧍‍♂️🐾

📊 Did Pets Fuel the Pandemic?

No. SARS-CoV-2 remains a primarily human-driven pandemic. But animal cases like this tiger’s remind us that monitoring animals is part of the One Health approach—the intersection of animal, human, and environmental health. 🌍

📱 Ask A Vet App for COVID & Pet Questions

Worried about your pet’s cough or exposure to a COVID-positive person? The Ask A Vet app can help:

• 📸 Upload symptoms and videos for vet review
• 🧫 Ask about animal testing and precautions
• 💬 Talk to a licensed vet about isolating or monitoring pets

🏁 Final Takeaway

Yes—a tiger did catch COVID-19. And yes—pets can be susceptible. But there's still no need for panic. Just practice smart hygiene, social distancing (even for your pets), and stay informed. With a One Health mindset, we can safeguard animals and humans alike. 🐅🧠❤️