Bird Flu: What you need to know to protect your cats!
Respiratory diseases are very common in cats, and shouldn’t be an immediate cause for alarm. However there is an emerging disease coming- H5N1, better known as Bird Flu.
This started out in wild bird populations, but in March of 2024 was detected in dairy cattle in the US. It was noted not long after that cats on these dairy farms became sick, and many of them died. These cats were drinking raw, unpasteurized milk directly from the cows. It was sequenced and found to be the same strain that the cows had. More recently, cats that have been fed raw diets have also been coming down with the Bird Flu. The bad news is, this is not your usual upper respiratory tract infection. These cats present with pneumonia, loss of appetite, fever, and neurological signs such as tremors, seizures and blindness. Euthanasia is almost always performed for these cats. Cats that have outdoor access are also at risk, as they may hunt wild birds that have H5N1.
Current veterinary recommendations are:
- Keep cats indoors
- Do not feed raw diets, especially those containing poultry (chicken and duck)
- Do not feed raw dairy products
- Keep cats up to date on rabies vaccination, as signs can mimic rabies infection
Speak with your family veterinarian if you have any concerns about your cats, and H5N1.
– Jill K Kirk, DVM, MS, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.
