Cats can infect each other with the novel coronavirus, and may be able to easily spread the pathogen, Japan's Mainichi newspaper cited a study carried out by a team that includes researchers at the Institute of Medical Science at the Japan's University of Tokyo.

Chinese researchers recently claim that cats are susceptible to the coronavirus and can transmit the novel virus to other cats through respiratory droplets, while the infection risks are lower in dogs.  The Harbin Veterinary Research Institute team also concludes that chickens, pigs and ducks are not likely to catch the virus.