MP Tom Koutsantonis’ cats got Covid and thankfully there’s a vaccine for that

A Flinders-made pet vaccine might be too late for Tom Koutsantonis’ cats but it could soon be ready to protect other South Aussie moggies.

A Covid pet vaccine has been developed at Flinders University by Professor Nikolai Petrovksy with the support of a Sydney vet but it has come too late for the kittens of MP Tom Koutsantonis.

Ray and Ruby Koutsantonis have just come out of isolation with their human family members after developing virus symptoms.

Vets have confirmed household pets can catch Covid from their masters, though they cannot pass the illness to humans.

ZoosSA has enforced a vaccine mandate for visitors in a bid to prevent animals contracting Covid, as has happened overseas.

Prof Petrovsky has developed a Covid-19 vaccine which is currently approved for use in Iran on people and The Advertiser can reveal a version has been adapted for pets and is due to be trialled.

Animals are on waiting lists interstate to receive PetKovax, Sydney vet Sam Kovac of Southern Cross Vet said.

Dr Kovac’s three dogs, Clara-Belle, Bonnie and Maddisson, will be the recipients of the PetKovax vaccine, as well as 25 pets on the waitlist.

Tom Koutsantonis with his daughters Tia and Helena and their two kittens Ruby and Ray who contracted Covid last week. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“The great thing is that being based on a human vaccine technology where more than six million doses have been safely administered, we can be confident it is also very safe for pets,” Dr Kovac said.

“Indeed extensive testing of the vaccine has been undertaken in a broad range of animal species including cats and this has confirmed it to be safe and effective, as highlighted in published scientific papers.

“Unlike other respiratory viruses, it is now proven that many domestic pets including cats, dogs and pocket pets like ferrets can catch Covid-19 from human close contacts. Just like us, they can catch it via direct contact and handling by an infected human.

“They are at risk of myocarditis, pericarditis, respiratory failure, but may also just have a mild or asymptomatic infection.”

Mr Koutsantonis was the first in his house to contract the virus, prompting his two daughters, Tia and Helena, to demand he not see or have any contact with the kittens.

Unfortunately, the virus spread, leaving no one in the Koutsantonis household Covid-free, even Ray and Ruby. Mr Koutsantonis said his kittens were fatigued and were vomiting.

“I diagnosed them with Covid,” he said and while he didn’t administer a RAT test on his feline friends, he might not be wrong.

The kittens have since made a full recovery and are back to their energetic best.