Prevalence of Sars-Coronavirus 2 and Feline Enteric Coronavirus in Shelter-Housed Cats and Kittens and Shelter-Derived Kittens in the Central Valley of California During 2020

ObjectivesNon-human animals are natural hosts for the virus causing COVID-19 - SARS-CoV-2, and a diversity of species appear susceptible to infection. Cats are of particular concern because of their close affiliation with humans and susceptibility to infection. Cats also harbor feline enteric coronavirus, FECV. Our objectives were to document the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and FECV in feline populations with high turnover rates and high levels of movement among households in the Central Valley of California.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 128 sheltered and fostered cats and kittens in the Central Valley of California was performed from July to December of 2020. PCR was performed on fecal and oropharyngeal samples to detect SARS-CoV-2 and FECV RNA.ResultsAmong 163 fecal and oropharyngeal fluid samples gathered from sheltered and fostered cats and kittens in central California, SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids were not detected from any cat or kitten. By contrast FECV nucleic acids were detected in 18% of shelter-housed cats; 83% of these samples were collected from cats housed in adjacent cages.Conclusions and RelevanceThese data are helpful with allocation of resources to minimize the harm of FECV and COVID in household pets and shelter environments.