Experts are urging cat owners to refrain from feeding their pets raw meat or unpasteurized milk after the bird flu virus was detected in two indoor domestic cats in Michigan.
The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory said cats appear to be highly susceptible to the HPAI A(H5N1) strain of avian influenza and “increased vigilance is needed to both protect cats from infection and to better understand virus transmission between animal species.”
The two cats that were infected with the highly pathogenic strain of bird flu both lived with dairy workers who had no known direct exposure to the virus, according to a CDC report. They had both consumed either raw meat or unpasteurized milk, as well.
Courtney White, vice president of veterinary medicine at the Humane Society of Huron Valley in Ann Arbor, said risk to humans and widespread exposure to community and domestic cats is considered low, but owners and caregivers at shelters should be aware of the risk factors.
“Are they going outside? Do you have a backyard flock? Do you live near a poultry farm or a dairy farm? … Were there a lot of wild birds found dead within the area where you live?” White said in a press release Monday by the Michigan Pet Alliance.
Owners and caregivers of outdoor cats may choose to remove bird feeders and bird baths from their yard to limit possible exposure.
Signs of infection in cats can included decreased energy and appetite progressing to neurologic signs like lack of coordination, inability to stand, tremors and seizures. Respiratory signs like nasal discharge, coughing or sneezing may or may not be present.
If a pet owner suspects their cat may be infected, they should isolate the animal from other pets, if possible, and call a veterinarian.
“With cats, their incubation period is very short,” White said. “They might start showing signs within one to two days after exposure.”
H5N1, which was first detected in 1996 in China and was found in the United States in 2022, has affected 160 million poultry across the nation. In Michigan, it's also been found in red foxes, possums, racoons, coyotes, dairy cattle and two humans.
“Any mammal is potentially susceptible to the bird flu just by the nature of how influenza virus continues to mutate and change,” White said.
The virus can be transmitted through contact with infected animals from their saliva, feces or urine, in addition to raw meat or unpasteurized milk derived from the infected animal.
Birds remain the most vulnerable population, White said. HPAI can be spread from flock to flock by wild birds, through contact with infected animals, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has said.
For steps to prevent the spread of bird flu and information about how to report suspected cases, visit MDARD's avian influenza webpage.
The United States has spent billions on battling the bird flu. Farmers have worked to keep the virus out of flocks, and the price of eggs has soared.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
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