CATS ARE GETTING SICK AND DYING FROM BIRD FLU IN THE US

The CDC says the risk to public health remains low, but cat H5N1 genomes could “bridge” bird flu infections to other species.

At least 14 cats have either fallen ill or died due to a multi-state outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S.

The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that the cats became sick after consuming raw animal products. The H5N1 virus is especially deadly to cats, and the FDA plans to implement additional safety measures for manufacturers of raw food for pets.

“The FDA is aware of reports of illness or death in 13 domestic cats across eight households, one exotic cat in a single household, and an unknown number of animals at two sanctuaries for large felids,” the FDA said, according to CBS News.

The new feline cases have been reported in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington State. While the exact way the bird flu virus has spread to companion animal food remains unclear, a strain of the virus found in an infected cat—and in raw food—has been traced back to a turkey flock.

Cat H5N1 genomes show ‘unique mutations’

The news of infected cats comes shortly after the first reported human death from H5N1 in the U.S. So far, 66 human cases have been confirmed, with infections most commonly seen among dairy farmers and agricultural workers.

H5N1 has now been detected in over 200 mammals, including farmed cows, and more than 13 million commercial and backyard poultry, such as turkeys. In late December, zoos in Arizona, San Francisco, and Seattle reported infections and deaths among their resident animals, including exotic birds, as well as a cheetah and a tiger.

At least 60 cats have tested positive for H5N1 to date. In 2024, 12 barn cats died after drinking unpasteurized milk from infected cows. Although the virus has not been detected in U.S. dogs yet, other countries have reported fatal canine cases of the highly transmissible virus.

The American Veterinary Association (AVMA) highlights that while the signs in cats are better known, pet owners should seek veterinary care if their cat or dog shows symptoms such as low appetite, inflamed eyes, difficulty breathing, lethargy, nasal discharge, fever, or other neurological signs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current public health risk remains low, with no cases of human-to-human transmission reported. However, a 2023 study suggested that cat H5N1 genomes had “unique mutations,” raising concerns that feline infections could help the virus adapt and potentially “serve as a bridge” to other species.