Avian Influenza in Cats

By: Deb Haines

We are getting numerous posts concerning the meme floating around on Facebook on Cats catching Avian bird flu. While the risk of cats contracting and spreading bird flu to humans is low, cat owners should be aware of the potential risks and take precautions to protect their pets and themselves. The information gets people in a panic, but instead it’s to bring awareness depending where you are.

This information below is from AVMA I copied partly sinse it’s difficult to get members to read links.

The actual AVMA link: Avian influenza A (H5N1) in cats

How do cats become infected?

Recent investigations implicate food as a source of infection for cats, most often unpasteurized milk and raw or undercooked meat (e.g., poultry). Other potential sources include:
Raw colostrum and other unpasteurized dairy products (like cream)
Exposure to infected wild birds or poultry
Exposure to infected livestock and their environments
Exposure to people who work on affected farms and to their clothing or other fomites.
What are the clinical signs of H5N1 in cats?
Illness may start with loss of appetite, lethargy, and fever, then quickly progress, with cats exhibiting:
Neurologic signs (e.g., ataxia [incoordination], circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness)
Severe depression
Heavy discharge from the nose and eyes
Other respiratory signs, including rapid or difficulty breathing, and possibly sneezing or coughing

What should cat owners do if H5N1 is suspected?

To play it safe, cat owners should:

Call your veterinary clinic—before taking cats in to be seen—and describe any clinical signs you have noticed so that the veterinary team can be ready when the patient arrives.
Limit your cat’s contact with immunocompromised individuals if any exposure to the virus is possible.
Protect yourself and others from influenza by following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Monitor your family and other animals that might have been exposed for signs of illness, and report any human illness to your local public health official.

How can H5N1 infection be prevented in cats?

No vaccine is available yet to protect cats against H5N1. Cat owners and caretakers can help keep their cats safe by following these tips:
Refrain from feeding cats any dairy products or colostrum that have not first been pasteurized or thoroughly cooked to kill the virus.
Thoroughly cook meat before feeding, and avoid feeding raw meat-based treats or diets.
Keep cats indoors to prevent exposure to birds and other wildlife.
Avoid contact with sick or dead birds and other wildlife yourself.
Keep cats away from livestock, poultry, and their environments, especially in areas with known H5N1 outbreaks.
Take steps to prevent contact between captive big cats and wild birds (e.g., cover enclosures with netting and remove bird attractants nearby) in areas where H5N1 is circulating.
Thoroughly wash your hands after handling your cat and after any encounters with poultry, livestock, or wild birds and other animals.
Change your clothes and shoes, and thoroughly wash any exposed skin, after interacting with sick or dead animals that may harbor the H5N1 virus, and before interacting with your cat.
If you feed birds or walk near bird feeders or other places birds (including poultry) gather, change your shoes or disinfect their soles before entering your house.
Immediately contact your veterinarian if you notice signs of H5N1 or think your cat might have been exposed to the virus.