Antibody to SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) detected in cats in Wuhan, China: apparently cats are susceptible to the novel coronavirus

(Olive Oyl wants to know when dinner is going to be served)

A Chinese report published on the pre-print (not peer-reviewed) server BioRxIv states that, of 102 cats surveyed after the novel coronavirus outbreak, fifteen tested positive for virus and eleven had neutralizing antibodies (indicating immunity).  This report suggests that cats are susceptible to infection with the novel coronavirus, although there is no indication of increased mortality.  So cats can catch it, but we don’t know and doubt that they get really sick from it.  Our cats are susceptible too.