What Pet Owners Need to Know & How to Protect Your Cat

Center for Pet Safety (CPS) consulted feline expert Ingrid King for insight on H5N1 bird flu and its impact on cats. We appreciate her contribution. CPS will continue monitoring transmission data and will update this article as new information becomes available.

What Is Bird Flu (H5N1)?

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is caused by influenza viruses adapted to birds. The current circulating strain, H5N1, spreads easily among birds through direct contact, droppings, and contaminated surfaces.

H5N1 Is Deadly for Cats

The current H5N1 strain is fatal in up to 90% of infected domestic cats.

Common symptoms include:

• Coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever, lethargy, loss of appetite
• Tremors, seizures, paralysis

Because cats lack natural immunity, symptoms progress quickly. Immediate veterinary care is essential.

How Cats Become Infected

1. Contact With Infected Birds

Cats may hunt or consume wild birds carrying the virus.

2. Contaminated Surfaces

Bird droppings can contaminate:

• Bird feeders
• Outdoor water bowls
• Patios, decks, and yards

Even small amounts of droppings can carry the virus.

3. Raw Milk and Raw Poultry Diets

• Cats have died after drinking raw milk from infected cows.
• Multiple feline deaths in California and Oregon were linked to raw poultry diets, even in indoor cats with no access to wild birds.

Symptoms of H5N1 in Cats

Seek immediate veterinary care if your cat shows:

• Respiratory distress
• Sudden weakness or lethargy
• Neurological signs (tremors, stumbling, seizures)

The disease progresses quickly. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve.

Why Mutation Risk Matters

If a cat becomes infected, the virus could mutate and spread more easily between cats – or potentially other species. This is why prevention and early reporting are essential.

How to Protect Your Cat

1. Keep Cats Indoors

Limit exposure to wild birds and contaminated outdoor environments.

2. Clean and Disinfect High-Risk Areas

Regularly clean:

• Bird feeders
• Outdoor bowls
• Patios and areas where birds gather

3. Remove Shoes at the Door

Tiny amounts of bird droppings on shoes can bring the virus inside.

4. Report Sick or Dead Birds

Notify your local animal control or wildlife agency.

• Avoid Raw Poultry and Raw Milk
• Feline veterinarian Andrea Tasi, VMD, advises pausing raw poultry diets and avoiding raw, unpasteurized milk.

If you choose to continue feeding raw-style diets, heat to 165°F to inactivate the virus:

• Sous vide is preferred
• Gentle sautéing on low heat is acceptable
• Serve all cooking liquid with the food
• Do not microwave, as it heats unevenly

Stay Informed With Center for Pet Safety

Bird flu poses a serious threat due to its high mortality rate, lack of feline immunity, and potential for mutation. Pet owners can reduce risk by staying informed and following evidence-based guidance.

Center for Pet Safety will continue monitoring developments and providing trusted, research-backed updates to help you keep your pets safe.

About the Author

Ingrid King is the publisher of Purrs of Wisdom and an award-winning author of five cat books, including Buckley’s Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher. She is a former veterinary hospital manager and certified veterinary journalist. She lives in Northern Virginia with her 15-year-old tortoiseshell cat, Allegra. Learn more at IngridKing.com.