Bird flu is infecting cats and cases are rising – What you need to know!

H5N1 Avian Influenza is causing far more trouble than just just high egg prices.  The bird flu has successfully jumped species now able to infect cats and people.  Although the ability to infect humans with the current strain of avian flu (68 human cases to date per the latest data from the CDC), feline cases are on the rise and carry a very high 67% mortality rate.

Per the latest data from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 85 cats to date have been confirmed to have been infected with avian flu.  However, this figure is likely much higher since the early stages of infection resemble other feline respiratory infections and testing may not be recommended or may be declined by owners.

The main source of infection to date has come from indoor/outdoor cats that engage in bird predation, and raw meat poultry based diets fed to cats.  Several raw meat pet foods have been recalled in recent months due to confirmed avian influenza cases that resulted from cat eating their products.  Another source of infection has been dairy farm barn cats consuming raw, unpasteurized milk.

Recognition and early intervention are keys to reducing the mortality rate of avian influenza in cats.  Common clinic symptoms include:

• Severe congestion and runny eyes
• Increased effort to breath
• Severe lethargy
• Poor or no appetite
• Neurological symptoms that include unstable walk, falling over and circling

Prevention of the disease is the best approach to protecting your cats including taking the following steps:

• Keep your cats indoors
• Do not feed you cats raw meat
• Have your cats seen by a veterinarian immediately in the even of any respiratory symptoms, even if mild

Cat to human transition thus far seems rare, however, it is still wise to take precautions if your cat is showing respiratory symptoms, at least until avian influenza has been ruled out through testing or the cat has made a full recovery:

• Wear gloves when handling cats and cleaning out the litter box
• Wear a mask when cleaning out the litter box
• Wash hands after handling the cats or cleaning out the litter box
• Refrain from allowing cats from sleeping in bed with you

Please check back regularly to this blog or my podcast, as I will be posting updates as the situation evolves.

Dr. Roger Welton is a practicing veterinarian and highly regarded media personality through a number of platforms. He is the author of his top selling memoir The Man In The White Coat: A Veterinarian’s Tail Of Love. In addition to this writing this blog, Dr. Welton also hosts the popular Space Coast Pet Podcast.  He is the CEO and chief attending veterinarian of Premier Veterinary Care in Viera, FL.