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On Dec. 25, Santa Barbara County reported that two domestic cats from different households had died from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) or bird flu. While no house cats in San Benito County or nearby counties have been infected, public health officials are urging caution.
These were not the first cats, either domestic or wild, to die from the disease. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) at least 52 domestic cats have been diagnosed with bird flu since March 2024. The University of Maryland reports a 67% mortality rate for the disease in cats.
The number of wild cats infected is unknown, but the virus has been found in a dead bobcat and two mountain lions in California. In a wildlife sanctuary in Washington, 20 large cats died, and two have died in an Arizona zoo.
The AVMA says human exposure to the virus can come from consuming unpasteurized milk and raw or undercooked meat poultry. Other potential sources include:
- Raw colostrum and other unpasteurized dairy products such as cream
- Exposure to infected wild birds or poultry
- Exposure to people who work on affected farms and to their clothing or other disease-carrying materials
Symptoms of avian flu in cats include:
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Appetite loss
- Difficulty breathing
- Red eyes
- Eye discharge
- Runny nose
- Seizures
- Death
The AVMA recommends people who suspect their cat is infected call their veterinary clinic before taking cats in to be seen, and describe any clinical signs noticed so that the veterinary team can be ready when the patient arrives.
It also recommends limiting cat’s contact with immunocompromised individuals if any exposure to the virus is suspected.
Cats can infect people
People can protect against further infection by following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Monitor family, pets and other animals that might have been exposed for signs of illness and report any human illness to a local public health official.
Cat owners and caretakers are urged to follow these tips:
- 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.
- Keep cats away from livestock, poultry and their environments, especially in areas with known H5N1 outbreaks.
- Take steps to prevent contact between captive big cats and wild birds (by covering enclosures with netting and removing bird attractants nearby) in areas where H5N1 is circulating.
- 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.
The VCA Animal Hospital website states it is unlikely that people would become infected with bird flu viruses through contact with an infected cat, but it is possible. It adds that sick animals might be able to transmit the virus to people through their saliva, feces or other body fluids. Human infections can occur when the virus is inhaled or gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth.
While there is no documentation of human-to-human transmission, recent research has shown that a single mutation of one of its proteins could make transmission of the virus between humans easier.
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