--- title: "Cats in China Are Wearing Face Masks to Ward Off Virus" description: "People in China are dressing up their cats in makeshift face masks in an attempt to protect them against the coronavirus." date: "2020-02-13" modified: "2020-02-21" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/cats-china-face-masks-deadly-virus" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "cats" - "covid-19" - "covid19" - "virus" --- # Cats in China Are Wearing Face Masks to Ward Off Virus ![In photos and videos posted to social media, people can be seen dressing up their cats in odd makeshift protective wear, including masks with cut out eyes.]() *\Image: Asiawire/Victor Tangermann\* With more than 1,000 confirmed deaths and almost 60,000 cases, the devastating coronavirus COVID-19 is causing global supplies of [face masks to run out](), [stock markets to plummet](), and cruise ship trips to be [cancelled](). Luckily, many Chinese residents haven't forgotten about their furry companions. In photos and videos posted to social media, cats in makeshift protective wear — including face masks with cut out holes for their eyes — can be seen wandering the streets, [*The New York Post* reports](). https://twitter.com/Cobeh09/status/1227013657290108928 Futurism wasn't able to verify the legitimacy of the images, or where they fall on the spectrum from meme fodder to actual protective measure. A key question: can cats and other pets actually catch and transmit the deadly virus? "At present, there is no evidence that companion animals such as dogs or cats can be infected with COVID-19," reads a FAQ by [the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association](). "No, you won’t get or give the coronavirus to your family pet," reads a [blog post]() by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "\[Coronaviruses\] tend to be very species specific and cross-species transmission is uncommon." COVID-19 could genetically change to jump species, as unlikely as that may be — it is currently believed, after all, to have spread [from animals]() to humans before this outbreak. And Chinese authorities claim there is reason to be cautious. "If pets go out and have contact with an infected person, they have the chance to get infected," spokesman and epidemiologist Li Lanjuan from China's National Health Commission told *The New York Post*. "By then, pets need to be isolated. In addition to people, we should be careful with other mammals especially pets." READ MORE: [Cats in China are wearing face masks amid coronavirus crisis]() \[*New York Post*\] More on the virus: *[China Announces Spike in Deadly Virus Infections, Deaths]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()