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Feline Avian Influenza: Symptoms, Causes, Remedies, and Veterinary Guidance from Specialists

Cat owners should be aware of bird flu, a current disease issue, as it pertains to cats. Familiarize yourself with symptoms, causes, and treatment options for bird flu in felines.

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Cat Owners Alert: Everything About Bird Flu and Its Impact on Felines, Including Symptoms, Causes,...
Cat Owners Alert: Everything About Bird Flu and Its Impact on Felines, Including Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments, as Explained by Our Veterinarian

Feline Avian Influenza: Symptoms, Causes, Remedies, and Veterinary Guidance from Specialists

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, has been a concern recently, with cases reported in cats in the Pacific Northwest, leading to euthanization in some instances. The US Food and Drug Administration has recalled certain raw cat food products due to bird flu-related deaths in Oregon and Washington.

The outbreak originated in dairy cattle in March 2024, but this year, it has affected domestic cats. The risk of cats contracting bird flu increases if they consume raw meat or unpasteurized milk, have contact with infected farm animals, or are in close contact with people who work on infected farms.

Understanding bird flu in cats is challenging due to its rarity – a handful of cases have been reported among the millions of cats in the US. However, it's crucial to learn more about this disease to keep ourselves and our cats safe.

How Cats Get Infected with Bird Flu

Bird flu is caused by the influenza A virus, primarily affecting birds but potentially infecting other animals, including cats, cattle, and humans. The current outbreak involves the H5N1 strain, which can affect mammals.

Dr. Rebecca MacMillan, our in-house veterinarian, explains that the risk of common garden birds carrying the virus is low compared to wildfowl like ducks, gulls, swans, or geese. However, feeding cats raw meat, unpasteurized milk, or having exposure to infected farm animals or people working on infected farms can increase the risk.

Symptoms in Cats

Dr. MacMillan outlines common symptoms in cats, which may include:

  1. Loss of appetite
  2. Lethargy
  3. Fever
  4. Circling
  5. Twitching
  6. Blindness
  7. Seizures
  8. Breathing issues
  9. Discharge from eyes and nose

However, these symptoms are not specific to bird flu and other illnesses should be considered as well.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosing bird flu in cats can be challenging, as other illnesses may present similar symptoms. Your vet will explore your cat's history and perform a physical exam to look for common signs of bird flu before sending samples to a lab for confirmation.

There is no specific cure for bird flu in cats, but supportive care may include intravenous fluids, antibiotics to prevent secondary infections, and anti-seizure medication if needed. Cats infected with bird flu must be isolated, and vets must report the cases to state animal health officials.

Preventative Measures

Avoiding raw cat food and unpasteurized dairy products, keeping cats away from livestock and poultry, and minimizing exposure to sick or dead birds or wild animals can help reduce the risk of infection. If possible, indoor-dwelling cats are advised.

There are currently no commercial vaccines for birds flu in cats, but research is ongoing.

In conclusion, bird flu can affect cats through various routes, such as ingestion of infected birds, contaminated animal products, and interspecies or cat-to-cat transmission. Given the severity of the illness and the high fatality rate, prevention by limiting cats' exposure to potential sources is essential. While treatment options are limited, prompt veterinary care and supportive care can help manage symptoms.

[For more information on feline health and potential zoonotic diseases, visit our articles or consult with your veterinarian.]

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)[2] American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)[3] University of Maryland's School of Public Health[4] World Health Organization (WHO)[5] Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

  1. The current outbreak of bird flu, specifically the H5N1 strain, has affected domestic cats this year, having originated in dairy cattle earlier in 2024.
  2. Dr. Rebecca MacMillan, our in-house veterinarian, emphasizes that cats can increase their risk of contracting bird flu by consuming raw meat, unpasteurized milk, or having contact with infected farm animals or people working on infected farms.
  3. Common symptoms in cats potentially infected with bird flu may include loss of appetite, lethargy, fever, circling, twitching, blindness, seizures, breathing issues, discharge from eyes and nose, and the need for intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and anti-seizure medication.
  4. Diagnosing bird flu in cats can be challenging due to its rarity and symptoms that overlap with other illnesses, requiring exploration of a cat's history, physical exam, and laboratory confirmation.
  5. Preventing bird flu in cats involves avoiding raw cat food and unpasteurized dairy products, keeping cats away from livestock and poultry, and minimizing exposure to sick or dead birds or wild animals, with indoor-dwelling cats being advised when possible.
  6. While research on commercial vaccines for bird flu in cats is ongoing, limiting cats' exposure to potential sources is essential due to the severity of the illness and high fatality rate, and prompt veterinary care and supportive care can help manage symptoms.

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