Bird Flu (H5N1) and Cats: What US Cat Owners Need to Know
Why cats are vulnerable
H5N1 avian influenza has caused severe, often fatal illness in cats across the US in recent years. Cases have been linked to hunting wild birds, raw poultry diets, and unpasteurized milk — and several raw pet-food products have been recalled after cat deaths.
Practical precautions
Skip raw poultry-based diets and raw milk for now, keep cats indoors where bird contact is common, and don't let them near sick or dead birds. If you keep backyard chickens, wash hands and change shoes before cuddling the cat.
Signs to watch
Lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, breathing trouble, and neurological signs like stumbling, tremors, or seizures. H5N1 moves fast in cats — call your vet immediately and mention any raw-food or bird exposure.
Stay informed, not alarmed
Risk to most indoor cats on cooked commercial diets remains low. This is about closing the known doors — raw products and wild birds — not about fear.
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