Cat dies after catching coronavirus from its Spanish owner - who also succumbed to the disease

• The four-year-old feline was taken to the vet with breathing difficulties
• He was suffering with heart disease so staff decided to put him to sleep
• His body was sent to researchers who discovered traces of coronavirus

A cat in Spain has died after catching coronavirus from its owner. 

The four-year-old feline contracted the killer bug in Catalunya and was taken to a veterinary hospital with breathing difficulties. 

Staff discovered he had heart failure as well as a temperature of 38.2°C and low platelet levels.

The cat, who already suffered from a genetic heart condition, was put to sleep after it was decided he was unlikely to recover.

His body was then sent to a research centre for analysis, where experts discovered traces of coronavirus in samples taken from his nose and digestive tract (file photo)

His body was then sent to a research centre for analysis, where experts discovered traces of coronavirus in samples taken from his nose and digestive tract. 

It is believed the cat contracted the disease from his owner, who was also killed by the bug according to local media LavanGuardia.

Joaquim Segales, a researcher at the Centre for Research in Animal Health (CReSA), said: 'He is a collateral victim of the disease in human' (file photo)

Joaquim Segales, a researcher at the Centre for Research in Animal Health (CReSA), said: 'He is a collateral victim of the disease in human'. 

Negrito is one of six cats to have become infected with the disease, Spanish news site Olive Press reported. 

Although CReSa director Natàlia Majó said the chances of cat-to-cat transmission are 'currently unknown', a study from earlier this year in China ran blood tests on 102 cats in Wuhan. 

They found cats and ferrets were susceptible to catching the virus but that it was rarer in dogs. They said pigs, chickens and ducks were not susceptible at all. 

The study concluded that 'the virus transmits in cats via respiratory droplets'. 

Majó said the most reasonable hypothesis for cats being able to catch coroanvirus is because 'the present receptors in cells for viruses' in the same way as humans. 

Neither the World Health Organisation nor the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has said pets can catch or transmit the disease from or to humans. 

Last month it was revealed eight big cats at the Bronx Zoo in New York City had  tested positive for coronavirus after experiencing breathing difficulties.