Cat in Italy is diagnosed with UK Covid variant

Animal and owners are recovering, report says

Scientists have warned pets may need to be vaccinated against the virus (File photo) (OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

A cat in Italy has been diagnosed with the a variant of coronavirus that originated in Britain, according to a report.

The eight-year-old male began showing respiratory symptoms about 10 days after its owners went into isolation at home in the northern province of Novara, west of Milan, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The Animal Health Research Institute of Piedmont, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta said it detected the British variant in the cat.

"This diagnosis and the identification of the Briish variant shows that the pandemic control and integrated management systems are effective and ready to respond," said Angelo Ferrari, the director of the institute.

The institute said the cat and its owners were recovering.

Earlier this year, a group of scientist warned cats and dogs may need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to prevent the spread of the virus.

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In an editorial for the journal Virulence, they warned continued evolution of the virus in animals followed by transmission to humans "poses a significant long-term risk to public health".

"It is not unthinkable that vaccination of some domesticated animal species might ... be necessary to curb the spread of the infection," they said.

Nearly 100 pet cats and dogs have contracted Covid-19 in the US, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this month.