Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is seeking samples from 220 cats, whose owners have been infected with Covid-19, for a study on cross-infection of the virus between human and felines.

The study, headed by Dr Farina Mustafa Kamal of the university’s veterinary faculty, is to identify the Covid-19 status of the cat and transmission risks between humans and felines.

The researchers are seeking samples from nose and mouth swabs, as well as rectal swabs from cats aged more than six months old.

Their owners must have tested positive for Covid-19 anytime from Jan 1 to date, are aged 18 and above, Malaysian and live in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan or Malacca.

The study is ongoing until August, and participants will be rewarded with cat food.

Earlier, Belgium health authorities reported a cat, suffering from breathing difficulty, vomiting and diarrhoea, was found to be infected with Covid-19.

However, Belgian Scientific Institute of Public Health viral diseases expert Dr Steven Van Gucht said this was an isolated case and the risk of feline-human transmission is very low.

He added there was no evidence that the virus was transmitted from the pet to its human owner, or to other animals.

Meanwhile, the Indian government recently confirmed that eight lions in a national park there were infected with Covid-19 and suffered from breathing difficulties.

Last year, a Malayan tiger in the Bronx Zoo in New York City tested positive for Covid-19, in a first known case of a human infecting an animal.

Nadia, the four-year-old tiger, was believed to have become sick after exposure to an asymptomatic Covid-19 zoo employee.