Avian Flu and Your Cat
Lately I’ve been increasingly concerned about an urgent and relevant issue that has been making headlines: avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu, and its potential impact on our feline companions. As I write about frequently, my wife and I have 13 cats, and we care for several TNR’d ferals on our property as well - so I recognize that many cat owners are concerned about the health and safety of their pets during this outbreak. With avian influenza making its way through bird populations and being reported in various mammals, including cats, it’s critical for pet parents to understand what this means for their indoor and outdoor cats.
Avian influenza has two primary strains: low pathogenic and high pathogenic. The latter is responsible for serious illness and death in birds and has caused notable outbreaks among mammals, including wild animals such as big cats, and, more worryingly, announcements of cases in domestic pets. Recently, for my cat behavior podcast Hiss and Tell, I spoke with Dr. Anne Hohenhaus, a senior veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center all about the significant risk avian influenza poses not just to birds, but to felines. Wild birds, especially waterfowl, are known to harbor the virus. The virus can spread through contaminated feces and respiratory secretions. Dr. Hohenhaus pointed out that, while indoor cat owners may not encounter direct exposure, outdoor cats are at higher risk. This is vital information for those who allow their cats to roam freely or live in areas close to wild birds, suggesting a need for increased caution and preventive measures.
Symptoms of avian influenza in cats can range from upper respiratory signs like conjunctivitis to more severe neurological symptoms.
Symptoms to look for:
Lethargy or depression
Difficulty breathing or nasal discharge
Coughing or sneezing
Loss of appetite
Fever
Seizures or lack of coordination
When accompanied by known exposure to infected birds or livestock, these symptoms should spur immediate veterinary care to assess the situation. In discussing susceptibility, Dr. Hohenhaus reminded me that all domestic cats remain vulnerable, emphasizing that cat owners remain vigilant, particularly for those living in suburban or rural areas with increased wildlife interaction.
So how can we protect cats from this virus? Keeping cats indoors is one of the most effective strategies. Many pet owners may be tempted to let their felines enjoy the outdoors, offering them freedom and stimulation. Several of our cats have previously enjoyed harnessed leash walks, however, since the advent of avian flu we have stopped allowing them outdoors. We have also shut down our catio, and implemented a strict shoe quarantine so that we are not bringing any viral particles from our walks into the home.
Raw food diets should also be stopped and switched to safer, cooked varieties. The cats who have been affected by avian flu thus far were all fed either raw food or milk.
Practice good hygiene! If you handle birds (e.g., backyard chickens, pet birds, or even wild birds in a rescue situation), change clothes and wash your hands before interacting with your cats. Disinfect surfaces where bird droppings or raw poultry may have been present.