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The Daily Insight

Can Lysol kill cats

Author

Andrew White

Published Apr 15, 2026

If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), you should avoid contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would with people.

Can you be with pets if you have COVID-19?

If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), you should avoid contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would with people.

Can we spray disinfectants on streets and sidewalks during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Streets and sidewalks are not considered as routes of infection for COVID-19. Spraying disinfectants, even outdoors, can be noxious for people’s health and cause eye, respiratory or skin irritation or damage.

Should pets be kept away from people infected with COVID-19?

• People with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should avoid contact with animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife.

What animals can contract COVID-19?

• Recent experimental research shows that many mammals, including cats, dogs, bank voles, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, mink, pigs, rabbits, racoon dogs, tree shrews, and white-tailed deer can be infected with the virus.

How long does COVID-19 survive for on clothing?

Research suggests that COVID-19 doesn’t survive for long on clothing, compared to hard surfaces, and exposing the virus to heat may shorten its life.

How long do COVID-19 patients continue to shed the virus?

The duration of viral shedding varies significantly and may depend on severity. Among 137 survivors of COVID-19, viral shedding based on testing of oropharyngeal samples ranged from 8-37 days, with a median of 20 days.

How long does it take to get COVID-19 after exposure, according to the CDC?

According to the CDC, COVID symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after someone is exposed to the virus. Anyone exhibiting symptoms should get tested for COVID-19.

When can COVID-19 symptoms begin to appear?

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after someone is exposed to the virus and can include fever, chills, and cough.

What is the best household disinfectant for surfaces during COVID-19?

Regular household cleaning and disinfection products will effectively eliminate the virus from household surfaces. For cleaning and disinfecting households with suspected or confirmed COVID19, surface virucidal disinfectants, such as 0.05% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and products based on ethanol (at least 70%), should be used.

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Which animal did COVID-19 originate from?

Experts say SARS-CoV-2 originated in bats. That’s also how the coronaviruses behind Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) got started.

Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?

If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe.

Do minks transmit COVID-19?

Infected workers likely introduced SARS-CoV-2 to mink on the farms, and the virus then began to spread among the mink. Once the virus is introduced on a farm, spread can occur between mink as well as from mink to other animals on the farm (dogs, cats).

Can COVID-19 cling to hair?

Experts believe it’s unlikely. Any virus – including SARS-CoV-2 – can cling to human hair. But merely being deposited on strands of hair does not mean the virus can make you sick. The coronavirus weakens pretty quickly once it’s outside the body.

When should I end isolation after a positive COVID-19 test?

Isolation and precautions can be discontinued 10 days after the first positive viral test.

Should the person who has clinically recovered from COVID-19 continue to wear a cloth face covering in public?

Yes. It is recommended that all persons, with a few exceptions, wear cloth face coverings in public.

When are COVID-19 patients most infectious?

Researchers estimate that people who get infected with the coronavirus can spread it to others 2 to 3 days before symptoms start and are most contagious 1 to 2 days before they feel sick.

How long does COVID-19 live on human skin?

Researchers in Japan have discovered the coronavirus can survive on human skin for up to nine hours, offering further proof that regular hand washing can curb the spread of the virus, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Is it possible to pick up COVID-19 by touching an infected surface?

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about this virus.

What are some of the common symptoms of the COVID-19 disease?

Symptoms may include: fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath; fatigue; muscle and body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.

What are some cleaning products shown to be effective against COVID-19?

Original Pine-Sol was proven effective against the coronavirus after 10 minutes, the EPA says. It joins other Clorox-brand products as well as several from Lysol on the EPA-approved list. Consumers should expect the EPA to continue to add products to its list as they are tested and approved.

Which surface disinfectants work against COVID-19?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a list of disinfectants for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 . Although these products haven’t been tested against this specific virus, they’re known to work against other, harder-to-kill viruses.

What solutions can be used to disinfect surfaces during the COVID-19 pandemic?

For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and most common EPA-registered disinfectant should be effective.

Can we spray disinfectants on streets and sidewalks during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Streets and sidewalks are not considered as routes of infection for COVID-19. Spraying disinfectants, even outdoors, can be noxious for people’s health and cause eye, respiratory or skin irritation or damage.

What is the best household disinfectant for surfaces during COVID-19?

Regular household cleaning and disinfection products will effectively eliminate the virus from household surfaces. For cleaning and disinfecting households with suspected or confirmed COVID19, surface virucidal disinfectants, such as 0.05% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and products based on ethanol (at least 70%), should be used.