5 signs that your cat could have the aviar flu virus – Cats.com

An outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) in dairy cattle occurred in the United States in March 2024. Since then, multiple smaller sprouts have been reported in cats, including both interior pets and wild cats free air.

Cats seem to be vulnerable to this virus, with many cases sadly linked to deaths, so being alert to the signs that your cat could have the avian flu virus, and understanding how cats infect is really important.

How do cats catch the bird flu?

Eating raw meat or non -pasteurized milk has been linked to avian flu. Leka Sergeeva / Shuttersock.com

He American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) List the known causes of transmission of the influenza virus avian cats. Known transmission routes include:

• Non -pasteurized dairy products or limestone
• Raw or little cooked meat
• Exposure to wild birds or poultry (including chickens in the backyard, turkeys and ducks)
• Exposure to people (or their clothes) who work on affected farms (even with dairy cows)

Although these outbreaks are afraid for those of us who possess and love cats, knowing how cats can catch avian flu helps us to know what to help prevent infection.

Disease control strategies recommended by health officials for avian flu prevention in cats, therefore, include:

• Avoid feeding raw meat and non -pasteurized milk to cats (including raw pet food diets)
• Keep cats indoors to avoid exposure to wild birds
• Keep cats away from cattle, poultry and their associated homes
• Note good hygiene, especially if you have been in contact with cattle, birds or wild birds

5 signs that their cats can have the aviar flu virus

The download of the nose can be a sign of avian influenza in cats. Kyliki / Shuttersock.com

The infection with the avian influenza virus is still very uncommon in cats, but being aware of potential symptoms is still important for cat owners.

These are the main signs of avian flu in cats to take into account:

1. General signs of disease

The first signs of avian influenza in cats are often quite vague and not specific. These may include a loss of appetite, lethargy and seem quieter than usual, and fever. Affected cats can hide more, stop playing and seems removed.

If your cat shows any of these signs, a checkpoint is recommended, but it is not scared: these are common symptoms of many viruses and other diseases in cats.

2. Rapid progression of the disease

As the infection progresses, cat fatigue can worsen in severe depression, and these more general signs of disease will quickly progress to more serious and specific symptoms.

3. Neurological signs

The most specific symptoms of avian flu in cats include neurological signs such as ataxia (poor muscle control that causes staggering and disoriented behaviors) and circle behaviors. It may seem that your cat feels dizzy. These neurological signs can quickly progress towards blindness, as well as muscle tremors and then seizures.

4. Fluid discharge

A common sign of avian flu in cats seems to be a discharge of eyes and nose. This current of body fluids can be very heavy, and your cat’s eyes can also be red and sore.

5. Respiratory signs

The avian flu virus can also cause the classic symptoms of ‘flu’ in our pets, such as coughing and sneezing. Affected cats can breathe very quickly or strongly, or start fighting to breathe.

What to do if you think your cat has bird flu

Keeping cats away from any contact with birds is a way to reduce the probability of infection. Evgeniy Medvedev / Shuttersock.com

Aviar flu in cats is still considered rare, so if your cat is not right, they are more likely to have another disease, such as feline herpesvirus or feline calicivirus (known together as a cat influenza). However, all cat owners must be attentive while these outbreaks are ongoing, so this is what you should do if you are worried.

• Call your veterinarian: Your veterinarian must be the first contact, but give them an early warning about what you suspect. They may want to know more about their cat’s symptoms and can organize specific hygiene precautions in advance.
• Contact limit: Keep your cat calm and away from the greatest number of people and other pets as possible, especially if there are immunocompromised individuals at home.
• Maintain hygiene: Wash your hands before and after driving a sick cat, to minimize the transmission of any infectious particle.