02/05/2025
PLEASE READ - Avian Influenza in H5N1 in Cats
Raw Diets Warning: Unpasteurized milk and raw or undercooked meat—including retail pet diets that contain raw meat—have been linked to severe illness and death from H5N1 in pet cats and captive big cats.
Since the U.S. outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) in dairy cattle began in March 2024, dozens of cats are known to have contracted the virus, including barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and big cats in zoos and in the wild (e.g., mountain lions, tigers, leopards, and bobcats). Cats were already known to be susceptible to the H5N1 virus, with several feline cases linked to poultry or wild bird exposure before the cattle outbreak began. In cats, the disease typically has been severe, with a high mortality rate. Because several of these signs are often encountered with common respiratory diseases of cats, laboratory confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection is necessary for a definitive diagnosis. It would be prudent to consider HPAI infection on your list of differential diagnoses for cats with respiratory and/or neurologic signs with known exposure to infected animals or a recent history of exposure to, or ingestion of, dead birds or raw diets, treats, cow’s milk, or colostrum.
Caregivers are urged to follow the following tips to prevent infection in cats:
Refrain from feeding cats any dairy products or colostrum that have not first been pasteurized or thoroughly cooked to kill the virus.
Thoroughly cook meat before feeding, and avoid feeding raw meat-based treats or diets.
Keep cats indoors to prevent exposure to birds and other wildlife.
Avoid contact with sick or dead birds and other wildlife yourself.
Keep cats away from livestock, poultry, and their environments, especially in areas with known H5N1 outbreaks.
Thoroughly wash your hands after handling your cat and after any encounters with poultry, livestock, or wild birds and other animals.
Change your clothes and shoes, and thoroughly wash any exposed skin, after interacting with sick or dead animals that may harbor the H5N1 virus, and before interacting with your cat.
Immediately contact your veterinarian if you notice signs of H5N1 or think your cat might have been exposed to the virus. Signs may start with loss of appetite, lethargy, and fever, then quickly progress, with cats exhibiting: Neurologic signs (e.g., ataxia, circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness); severe depression, copious oculonasal discharge; other respiratory signs, including tachypnea, dyspnea, and possible sneezing or coughing.
Use the buttons on this page to learn more about what to do if you or a caregiver suspect a cat has H5N1, and evaluating and handling potentially exposed cats. There is a caregiver webpage on our catfriendly.com website which you can share with your clients.
The Old Lyme Veterinary Hospital provides the very best care to keep your loved ones healthy and happy.
