Two pet cats in New York and seven more big cats at the Bronx Zoo have tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that they were the "first pets in the United States to test positive".
The cats reportedly experienced mild respiratory illness and contracted the virus from infected humans.
Health officials added that there's no evidence that pets can spread the virus to humans.
Meanwhile, Bronx Zoo officials confirmed that five tigers and three lions have also tested positive for COVID-19.
"Our cats were infected by a staff person who was asymptomatically infected with the virus or before that person developed symptoms," the WCS said on Wednesday. "All eight cats continue to do well. They are behaving normally, eating well, and their coughing is greatly reduced."
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