Research overview: cross-species SARS-CoV-2 dynamics among mink, cats and other animals

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a web of animal infections, with cats among the susceptible species alongside mink, ferrets and others. This overview surveys cross-species SARS-CoV-2 dynamics relevant to felids, including the efficient infection of cats, the explosive outbreaks in farmed mink that demonstrated animal-to-human spillback, and concerns about novel reservoirs and variants. It examines how host range is shaped by receptor compatibility, the monitoring of pets and captive wildlife, and the lessons for managing zoonotic and reverse-zoonotic risk. The synthesis places feline susceptibility within the broader animal-infection picture of the pandemic. It aims to help readers understand cats as one node in a network of susceptible species, and why surveillance across multiple animal hosts is essential to anticipate spillover at the human-animal interface.