China coronavirus: killing of 3 cats who tested positive for Covid-19 while owner was in hospital sparks heated debate
- The woman had contracted the virus and was in hospital, while her three cats were being looked after by local community workers
- The workers asked for her permission to euthanise the cats after they tested positive, but it remains unclear if she gave final permission
The cats belong to a confirmed Covid-19 patient living in northeast China’s Harbin. The woman, surnamed Liu, contracted coronavirus on September 21 and was admitted to the hospital, leaving her cats at home with ample food and water, and community workers helped care for them, The Beijing News reported.
On Monday, she received a notice from the community workers that her cats had tested positive for the virus.
“Because there was no prior example of treating the cats, they want to euthanise the cats and wanted me to give them a written authorisation, I did not agree,” she said, adding that she wanted them to receive treatment.
On Tuesday, the community workers told the newspaper there’s no professional treatment available for animals and they told Liu the cats would be euthanised.