Your cat’s tendency to hunt birds may worry you when you worry about their exposure to bird flu and whether they could contract the virus. Unfortunately, bird flu has caused disease in a variety of mammals, including domestic cats.
Bird flu has been a hot topic in the United States since the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported an outbreak in February 2022. For more than 2 years, the influenza virus has been circulating in wild birds, poultry, and cattle and infected some. people. Recent reports suggest this may be on the rise, so we want to discuss the risks and how to keep your feline friend safe.
Can Cats Get Bird Flu?
Bird flu is the common name for highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1). “Highly pathogenic” means that the disease can be severe in infected animals. The virus has a strong association with domestic poultry, with more than 100,000,000 of these birds affected compared to 169 dairy herds, and sporadic infections in other mammals.1. Wild birds spread the virus but sometimes show only signs of the disease.
There are currently 34 reported cases of bird flu in the US in domestic cats, with cases in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, South Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, and Ohio2. Cases have also occurred in other countries such as Poland, South Korea, and France.
Today, this number is not high compared to farm animal statistics, so bird flu is considered uncommon in cats. However, more cats than people are infected with bird flu. Eating infected birds or living on a poultry or dairy farm are risk factors for your cat to get bird flu. You should pay particular attention to outbreaks in your area, as these are high-risk times for your cat.
What Are the Signs of Bird Flu in Cats?
Bird flu can have respiratory, gastrointestinal, or neurological signs in cats. Some cases are severe and fatal, and others are mild. Immunocompromised, young, and geriatric cats may be more susceptible to severe signs of bird flu. Signs to watch for if your cat has been exposed to bird flu include:
- Coughing
- Sneeze
- Red or watery eyes
- Diarrhea
- Anorexia
- Fever
- Behavioral changes
- Muscle pain
- Dizziness
- Wobbly walk
- Breathing
- Breathing difficulties
- Abnormal gum color
- Organ disease
- Depression
- Seizures
- Collapse
How to Protect Your Cat From Bird Flu
Unfortunately, there is no cat vaccine for bird flu, and the disease can be serious if it infects your cat. The best way to keep your cat safe is to avoid contact with wild birds because even healthy birds can carry the virus. First of all, we recommend keeping your cat inside as this is the only sure way to avoid contact with outdoor birds.
Even cats inside a cattery or “catio” can be exposed to wild birds or their droppings contaminated with the virus. If your cat is known to hunt and you can’t keep him inside 24/7, you can train him to wear a leash and harness and take him for walks.
Avoid letting them out during peak hunting hours such as dawn and dusk. Try putting a bell, bird-safe collar, or bib on your cat to hinder their hunting ability.
You can also try to keep wild birds out of your yard, but that’s not foolproof. Avoid having bird feeders, baths, or bodies of water that attract wild birds. Do not leave any food outside, including pet food, which may attract birds looking for an easy meal.
If there are areas where birds often perch or forage, you can use aluminum foil or fishing wire to block them. Predator decoys can also be very effective in keeping wild birds off your property; the sight of a snake or an owl is sure to frighten the little birds hoping to avoid being eaten.
If you have pet birds at home, bring them indoors if possible. Do not let your cat have any contact with outdoor pet birds. Outdoor chickens are more likely to get bird flu. Wash your hands and change your clothes after contact with your birds and their cage so you don’t spread the virus to your cat.
If your birds show signs of bird flu, such as sudden death, lethargy, respiratory signs, diarrhea, and a shaky gait, call your veterinarian or the USDA’s toll-free hotline (866-536 -7593).
Food safety is also important because your cat can be exposed to the virus through food. Do not feed your cat raw chicken or beef products, including meat, eggs, and unpasteurized milk. Cooking at 165°F will kill any virus in these products, and remember to use good hygiene so that other food is not contaminated with these products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cats get sick around birds?
Being around birds and their droppings can lead to your cat contracting bird flu. Catching birds and eating raw bird meat can also be a source of infection in cats. Cats can also be infected by cattle. Bird droppings often contain Salmonella bacteria, which can also make your cat sick.
Is Cat With Bird Flu a Danger to Humans?
Cats pose little risk to humans because human infections have only occasionally occurred through exposure to chickens or dairy cows. Currently, only 11 people have been confirmed to have bird flu.
However, it is theoretically possible for a sick cat to infect a person, especially if you have close contact with the cat. Your cat’s saliva, urine, or feces may contain the virus if they are infected.
If you’ve been exposed to bird flu through your cat, monitor yourself for any signs of illness, including a sore throat, respiratory symptoms, eye problems, headaches, muscle aches, diarrhea, and fever
Pay attention to your health, especially in the first 10 days after exposure. Contact your health department if you notice any signs, and visit the CDC website for more information.
Conclusion
Disease outbreaks can be scary, not only for our health but also for our beloved pets. Bird flu can infect cats and humans, but this is rare. It is still considered a low threat to human health; however, because flu viruses are constantly changing, the CDC is monitoring the situation.
To be safe, we recommend taking precautions to prevent your cat from being exposed to bird flu in the first place.
Featured Image Credit: megaflop, Shutterstock
