On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Department of Agriculture confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in two house cats in New York.

The two pets were tested by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories and are the first pets in the United States to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

While some may feel concerned with this new development, Dr. Michael Bottorff, a veterinarian with East Lawn Animal Hospital, said “you can’t make many assumptions on two cases.”

Bottorff studied coronaviruses in college and noted that the class of viruses have affected animals for a long time, but typically isn’t very serious in dogs and cats.

“The COVID-19 in cats yesterday came as a bit of a surprise,” he added.

Bottorff said that not much is known about the two cats that tested positive for the virus, other than they live in two separate areas of New York state. He said that he suspects the cats may have already had compromised immune systems before they became infected with the virus.

“I do not think COVID-19 is going to be a problem for our pets here in Iowa,” he said. “I think that if you’re going to see it in a dog or a cat, it’s going to be one that is immune compromised in some way.”

Dr. Bruce Towne, a veterinarian at Gowrie’s Towne Veterinary Clinic, also believes there isn’t a very big risk of household pets contracting the virus.

“Cleanliness should take care of any concerns,” he said.

Bottorff said that while he believes the risk of pets becoming ill with COVID-19 is low, it’s not impossible and pet owners should still take extra care during this time.

“Certainly if someone in your household has it (COVID-19) and you’ve got an immune compromised animal, I would certainly stay away from that animal, as well as any other people that might be in the same condition,” he said.

Currently, there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading the virus in the United States, but public health officials are still learning about SARS-CoV-2.

However, the CDC recommends that pet owners not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household during this time and to keep cats indoors when possible.

“If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would around other people,” the CDC said. “When possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick.”

The social distancing practices brought on by the threat of the COVID-19 has somewhat affected how some veterinary practices do their business.

“We’re trying to cut down on person-to-person contact, while still being able to do our job,” Towne said.

Routine visits from clients and their pets have decreased because pet owners aren’t going out and about as they normally would, he said, but the clinic is still open and doing those routine visits, as well as emergency visits.

Likewise, East Lawn Animal Hospital is still open and doing routine visits, as well as emergency visits and elective surgeries.

“Animals are still getting sick, animals are still getting the treatments and the care they need,” Bottorff said. “We are doing social distancing as best we can.”

In some cases, clinic staff are meeting pet owners outside at their cars and taking the pets into see the vet, while the pet owner stays outside in their car.