Can Cats Get Hen Flu? Our Vet Explains Indicators & Prevention Ideas
Your cat’s behavior of preying on birds might concern you if you fear about their publicity to fowl flu and if they might change into sick with the virus. Sadly, fowl flu has prompted illness in varied mammals, together with home cats.
Hen flu has been a scorching matter in the US because the US Division of Agriculture (USDA) reported an outbreak in February 2022. For over 2 years, the influenza virus has been circulating amongst wild birds, poultry, and bovine herds and contaminated some people. Latest experiences recommend it might be on the rise, so we wish to focus on the dangers and easy methods to preserve your feline buddy secure.
Cats Can Get Hen Flu?
Hen flu is the frequent title for the extremely pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1). “Extremely pathogenic” means the illness could be extreme in contaminated animals. The virus has a powerful affinity for home poultry, with over 100,000,000 of those birds being affected in comparison with 169 dairy herds, and sporadic infections in different mammals1. Wild birds unfold the virus however solely generally present indicators of sickness.
There are at the moment 34 reported US instances of fowl flu in home cats, with instances in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, South Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, and Ohio2. Circumstances have additionally occurred in different international locations like Poland, South Korea, and France.
Now, this quantity shouldn’t be excessive in comparison with the farm animal statistics, so fowl flu continues to be thought-about unusual in cats. Nevertheless, extra cats than folks have contracted fowl flu. Consuming contaminated birds or dwelling on a poultry or dairy farm are danger components in your cat getting fowl flu. It is best to pay explicit consideration to outbreaks in your space, as these are high-risk instances in your cat.
What Are the Indicators of Hen Flu in Cats?
Hen flu can current with respiratory, gastrointestinal, or neurological indicators in cats. Some instances have been extreme and deadly, and others gentle. Immunocompromised, younger, and geriatric cats could also be extra vulnerable to extreme indicators of fowl flu. Indicators to be careful for in case your cat has been uncovered to fowl flu embrace:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Purple or watery eyes
- Diarrhea
- Anorexia
- Fever
- Behavioral adjustments
- Muscle ache
- Lethargy
- Wobbly gait
- Panting
- Respiration difficulties
- Irregular gum coloration
- Organ illness
- Despair
- Seizures
- Collapse
Find out how to Defend Your Cat From Hen Flu
Sadly, there’s no feline vaccination for fowl flu, and the illness could be extreme if it infects your cat. The easiest way to maintain your cat secure is to keep away from contact with wild birds since even wholesome birds can carry the virus. Initially, we suggest maintaining your cat inside since it’s the solely surefire approach to keep away from contact with exterior birds.
Even cats inside a cat enclosure or “catio” could be uncovered to wild birds or their virus-contaminated excretions. In case your cat is understood to hunt and you’ll’t preserve them inside 24/7, you may prepare them to put on a leash and harness and take them for walks.
Keep away from letting them out in peak looking instances like daybreak and nightfall. Strive placing a bell, bird-safe collar, or bib in your cat to hinder their looking skills.
You can too attempt to preserve wild birds out of your yard, however that isn’t foolproof. Keep away from having fowl feeders, baths, or water options that entice wild birds. Don’t depart any meals exterior, together with pet meals, which might entice birds on the lookout for a straightforward meal.
If there are areas the place birds are likely to perch or forage, you should use aluminum foil or fishing wire to discourage them. Predator decoys may also be very efficient in maintaining wild birds off your property; the sight of a snake or owl is certain to scare away little birds hoping to keep away from being eaten.
When you have pet birds at residence, deliver them indoors if doable. Don’t let your cat have any contact with out of doors pet birds. Out of doors poultry are most certainly to contract the fowl flu. Wash your arms and alter your garments after interacting together with your birds and their coop so that you don’t unfold the virus to your cat.
In case your birds present indicators of fowl flu, comparable to sudden demise, lethargy, respiratory indicators, diarrhea, and a wobbly gait, name your veterinarian or the USDA toll-free hotline (866-536-7593).
Meals security can also be essential since your cat might be uncovered to the virus by meals. Don’t feed your cat uncooked poultry or bovine merchandise, together with meat, eggs, and unpasteurized milk. Cooking to 165°F will kill any virus in these merchandise, and bear in mind to make use of good hygiene so different meals isn’t contaminated by these merchandise.
Continuously Requested Questions
Can Cats Get Sick From Being Round Birds?
Being round birds and their droppings may result in your cat being contaminated with fowl flu. Preying on birds and consuming uncooked fowl meat may also be a supply of an infection in cats. Cats may also be contaminated by cows. Hen droppings usually include Salmonella micro organism, which might additionally make your cat sick.
Is a Cat With Hen Flu a Danger to People?
Cats current minimal danger to people since human infections have solely occurred sporadically with publicity to poultry or dairy cows. At present, solely 11 folks have been confirmed to have contracted fowl flu.
Nevertheless, it’s theoretically doable for a sick cat to contaminate a human, particularly if in case you have shut contact with the cat. Your cat’s saliva, urine, or feces may include the virus if they’re contaminated.
When you have been uncovered to fowl flu through your cat, monitor your self for any indicators of sickness, together with a sore throat, respiratory indicators, eye issues, complications, muscle aches, diarrhea, and fever.
Pay shut consideration to your well being, particularly within the first 10 days after publicity. Contact your well being division in case you discover any indicators, and go to the CDC web site for extra data.
Conclusion
Illness outbreaks could be scary, not just for our well being but in addition for that of our beloved pets. Hen flu can infect cats and folks, but it surely solely happens sporadically. It’s nonetheless thought-about a low menace to human well being; nonetheless, since flu viruses change continually, the CDC is monitoring the scenario.
To be on the secure aspect, we suggest taking precautions to stop your cat from being uncovered to fowl flu within the first place.
Featured Picture Credit score: megaflopp, Shutterstock
