If you’re a conscientious cat owner, you’ve probably already heard about the H5N1 bird flu and its deadly affect on cats. According to experts speaking to NBC News, 67% of bird flu-infected cats die. And while most of the 25 or so reported cases of bird flu in cats have been found in felines from dairy farms, a few indoor cats have come down with it too. A cat eating a raw commercial food in Oregon died after contracting the virus. A wildlife sanctuary lost 20 big cats — over half their population — to H5N1.
While the numbers are small right now, this has a lot of cat owners worried, and with good reason. Viruses can spread exponentially if they are not contained properly. And right now, veterinarians and medical professionals are still learning about this latest strain of bird flu.
Here’s what we know so far, and what you can do to keep your cat safe.
The H5N1 virus has only become a concern recently
This bird flu strain was first reported in dairy cats in Texas in March and April of 2024. Since then cases have spread to several other states, including Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and California.
Birds, both wild and domestic, are at risk of getting bird flu, and spreading it to cats.
Cats can become infected with bird flu by eating tainted poultry. They can also become infected from wild birds — both by catching and consuming them, and by coming into contact with their droppings. Pet birds are also at risk if they have exposure to the outdoors.
The H5N1 virus has been found in milk.
Cows may have the H5N1 virus but be asymptomatic. Their milk will carry the virus. Pasteurization will kill most, but not all traces of H5N1. The living conditions for both dairy cows and poultry are loaded with pathogens, so it’s easy for a virus like H5N1 to spread.
H5N1 is especially dangerous for cats.
Right now, this strain of bird flu hasn’t affected dogs much, but has caused severe illness and death for birds and cats.
Right now, no reports exist of cats passing along H5N1 to humans.
For that to happen, the virus would need to mutate, and researchers and scientists are working to prevent that from happening. Viruses are never static, and containment is difficult (as you may remember from the Covid pandemic), so we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.
The main thing most cat owners know right now is they really, really don’t want their cats to become infected with this strain of bird flu! So here’s what you can do right now to keep your cat safe.
If you feed raw, stop for now.
Most of the cases of indoor pet cats contracting the H5N1 virus have been from eating contaminated raw food. So if you are feeding your cat raw, be safe and pause for now. Poultry food especially, but keep in mind that other proteins may be cross contaminated. If you are wondering about freeze dried raw, and raw that has been HPP processed, that’s still a concern. One of the raw brands affected (Northwest Naturals) is HPP processed.
As most of you know, my human is super picky about what I eat, and up until now I’ve been fed a mainly raw diet. So she has been super cautious about switching me over to a high quality canned diet. At the moment, she is only allowing me to have rabbit, venison, and lamb cat food, and she is primarily buying food from New Zealand. She feels that New Zealand is pretty isolated as a country, and their regulations about pet food are very strict, so that’s my safest, healthiest choice. Of course, you should do whatever is best for you within your own budget.
In addition, don’t give your cats raw milk. Cats don’t digest milk well anyway, but it’s tempting to give them some sort of dairy based treat occasionally. Raw milk can contain dangerous pathogens, including H5N1. The death of four cats in the Los Angeles area have been linked to drinking raw milk.
Limit your cat’s access to the outdoors.
When your cat goes out, if unattended, you have no idea what they’re doing — or catching! H5N1 affects wild birds just like it does poultry. So if your cat catches or encounters an infected bird, or its droppings, they are at risk. If you only take your cat outside on a leash and harness, still be very cautious. There could be pathogens outside. If H5N1 has been detected in birds in your area, keep your cat inside completely.
If you find a dead or dying bird in your neighborhood, don’t touch it! Call animal control immediately, and have them take care of it. If you have handled the bird or stepped anywhere near it, remove your shoes, wash your clothes, and thoroughly wash your hands before coming near your cat.
If you work in cat rescue or manage a feral colony, take extra precautions.
Cat rescuers and volunteers need to make sure they don’t bring anything home to their cats. Have a special wardrobe and shoes for your rescue, shelter, or feeding duties. Then remove your clothes and put them in the washer immediately. Wash up completely before coming in contract with your own cat after your visits.
I know a lot of you do this already, but be extra careful right now. And it’s extra important to remove any sick cat and take them to the vet immediately. You do not want this virus spreading through a whole colony or rescue.
Symptoms of the H5N1 bird flu
Most of you will take your cats to the vet as soon as they show signs of illness, but be especially aware of the following symptoms. Although most of these are pretty typical for a lot of illnesses, they may indicate H5N1.
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Discharge from eyes or nose
- Trouble breathing
- Neurological issues, such as tremors, seizures, or balance issues
When a cat gets the H5N1 bird flu, it can get serious very quickly, so bring your cat into the vet immediately. If the clinic thinks it is bird flu, they’ll probably suit up in protective gear to examine your cat. It’s that serious.
I know this was not fun to read, but I hope it was helpful! You can find out more info here:
About Avian Influenza from the American Veterinary Medical Association
From the Centers For Disease Control — Considerations for Veterinarians: Evaluating and Handling of Cats Potentially Exposed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus
If you want something more simple that tells you about the current state of H5N1, this article from PBS is helpful.
Source link