Experts worry about cats and bird flu. Should owners care?

Cats of all shapes and sizes have come down with bird flu.

First there were barn cats that drank raw milk. In recent days, 20 wild cats at a Washington State animal sanctuary that probably ate infected birds, and reports of indoor cats that died from eating contaminated raw food.

Though more may have been infected without attracting the attention of owners or veterinarians, the ones that did often suffered terrible neurological symptoms like tremors, seizures and blindness.

Infected cats that have been identified have died at high rates. Their unique roles in our homes and the animal kingdom could put them − and us − at greater risk. Here’s why.

Why do cats get bird flu?

Unlike many dogs, cats explore and hunt smaller prey, such as birds and mice, which can carry bird flu. By their very nature, cats have more “opportunity” to get infected with bird flu, said Dr. Michael Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which has released guidance for cat owners.

“We don’t know if the cats are more susceptible than anybody else,” he said. “It’s just the fact they’re exposed to higher viral burdens because of where they go.”

Domestic cats have been known to carry bird flu since 2004.

But the death rates seen in the current U.S. outbreak seem dramatically higher than what’s been seen around the world, said Kristen Coleman, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

Before, about half of cats died, now with bird flu spreading among cows, about 90% seem to be dying, said Coleman, who has been tracking those deaths.

What are the symptoms of bird flu in cats?

The AVMA recommends pet owners look out for signs such as loss of appetite, lethargy and fever. A bird flu infection can quickly progress with neurologic signs, such as tremors, seizures, not being coordinated, or blindness.

Additionally, cats can have severe depression, discharge from their eyes or nose, and respiratory signs like rapid breathing, shortness of breath, and sneezing or coughing.

If your cat shows these symptoms and you think it might have been exposed to bird flu, also known as H5N1, you should call a veterinarian immediately.

Sick animals may be able to transmit influenza virus to people in their saliva, poop and other bodily fluids. People can get infected by breathing in the virus or by touching something that has virus on it and then touching their mouth, eyes, or nose.

If you suspect your cat may be infected with bird flu ‒ or any other potentially infectious disease ‒ try to limit their contact with other pets and people in your household, particularly anyone who is immunocompromised, while waiting for veterinary guidance, according to the AVMA. Although the risk of cats spreading H5N1 to humans is considered extremely low, it is not zero.

Following guidance from the CDC, you should monitor yourself and your family for any flu-like symptoms and contact a healthcare provider if concerns arise. Wash your hands after handling your cat or cleaning up after them, such as their litter boxes or bedding.

How do I protect my outdoor cat?

Cats that spend time outdoors are at greater risk with exposure from dead animals, as well as wild birds or mice, which can also carry bird flu.

Bailey and Coleman recommend trying to reduce their time outside.

The main goal, both said, is to reduce their risk of consuming a dead animal, and certainly to stop it from bringing any dead animals into your home.

How do I protect my indoor cat?

Cats indoors have a lower risk of contracting bird flu, but people should still take precautions.

People should avoid feeding their cats raw foods, like uncooked meat or unpasteurized milk, since these can contain virus. Raw food for pets has been trending, but the AVMA discourages people from feeding dogs or cats raw or undercooked animal-sourced food. Cooking meat or pasteurizing milk neutralizes the virus.

Mice can also end up in homes. Cats can be great pest control, but an infected mouse could pose threats to their health.

People should wash their hands after touching their cat and after encountering wild birds, livestock or other animals, the AVMA said. If a person has been in contact or near sick or dead animals, they should change clothes and shoes and wash any exposed skin.

What about dogs?

While dogs have previously contracted bird flu, for now, they appear less susceptible to it than cats, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Bird flu hasn’t been found in dogs in the U.S.

The same precautions taken for cats should also be used to protect dogs, according to a Dec. 13 FDA update.

‘Mixing vessels’

More than 60 people have been infected with bird flu in the U.S., mostly with mild symptoms. People have mostly gotten sick while working on dairy or poultry farms. There has been no transmission between humans yet.

Cats haven’t been known as a main spreader of virus circulating in the U.S. ‒ but that could change in the future.

“If us humans don’t care for our animals, it’s probably not going to end well for us,” Coleman said.

Cats can not only catch bird flu, they can also catch human flu viruses. That means cats can serve as a “mixing vessel” for the two types of flu, allowing them to combine and create a version of bird flu that is much more likely to infect people, according to a study published in December.

The U.S. isn’t fully capturing spread in pets like cats, compared to surveillance for livestock and people, said the study’s senior author, Suresh Kuchipudi, a professor and chair of infectious diseases at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.

“In my view, cats should be on the top of that list,” he said.