Your cat’s behavior of preying on birds might concern you once you fear about their publicity to chook flu and if they may turn into sick with the virus. Sadly, chook flu has triggered illness in numerous mammals, together with home cats.
Chicken flu has been a scorching matter in america for the reason that US Division of Agriculture (USDA) reported an outbreak in February 2022. For over 2 years, the influenza virus has been circulating amongst wild birds, poultry, and bovine herds and contaminated some people. Current reviews recommend it might be on the rise, so we need to focus on the dangers and the best way to hold your feline good friend protected.
Cats Can Get Chicken Flu?
Chicken flu is the widespread identify for the extremely pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1). “Extremely pathogenic” means the illness may be extreme in contaminated animals. The virus has a robust affinity for home poultry, with over 100,000,000 of those birds being affected in comparison with 169 dairy herds, and sporadic infections in different mammals1. Wild birds unfold the virus however solely typically present indicators of sickness.
There are at present 34 reported US instances of chook flu in home cats, with instances in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, South Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, and Ohio2. Instances have additionally occurred in different international locations like Poland, South Korea, and France.
Now, this quantity just isn’t excessive in comparison with the farm animal statistics, so chook flu remains to be thought-about unusual in cats. Nevertheless, extra cats than individuals have contracted chook flu. Consuming contaminated birds or dwelling on a poultry or dairy farm are threat elements in your cat getting chook flu. It’s best to pay explicit consideration to outbreaks in your space, as these are high-risk occasions in your cat.
What Are the Indicators of Chicken Flu in Cats?
Chicken flu can current with respiratory, gastrointestinal, or neurological indicators in cats. Some instances have been extreme and deadly, and others gentle. Immunocompromised, younger, and geriatric cats could also be extra inclined to extreme indicators of chook flu. Indicators to be careful for in case your cat has been uncovered to chook flu embrace:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Pink or watery eyes
- Diarrhea
- Anorexia
- Fever
- Behavioral adjustments
- Muscle ache
- Lethargy
- Wobbly gait
- Panting
- Respiratory difficulties
- Irregular gum colour
- Organ illness
- Melancholy
- Seizures
- Collapse
The way to Shield Your Cat From Chicken Flu
Sadly, there’s no feline vaccination for chook flu, and the illness may be extreme if it infects your cat. One of the simplest ways to maintain your cat protected is to keep away from contact with wild birds since even wholesome birds can carry the virus. At the start, we advocate conserving your cat inside since it’s the solely surefire option to keep away from contact with exterior birds.
Even cats inside a cat enclosure or “catio” may be uncovered to wild birds or their virus-contaminated excretions. In case your cat is thought to hunt and you may’t hold them inside 24/7, you would prepare them to put on a leash and harness and take them for walks.
Keep away from letting them out in peak looking occasions like daybreak and nightfall. Strive placing a bell, bird-safe collar, or bib in your cat to hinder their looking talents.
It’s also possible to attempt to hold wild birds out of your yard, however that isn’t foolproof. Keep away from having chook feeders, baths, or water options that entice wild birds. Don’t go away any meals exterior, together with pet meals, which may entice birds on the lookout for a straightforward meal.
If there are areas the place birds are likely to perch or forage, you should use aluminum foil or fishing wire to discourage them. Predator decoys will also be very efficient in conserving wild birds off your property; the sight of a snake or owl is certain to scare away little birds hoping to keep away from being eaten.
If in case you have pet birds at house, deliver them indoors if doable. Don’t let your cat have any contact with out of doors pet birds. Outside poultry are more than likely to contract the chook flu. Wash your fingers and alter your garments after interacting together with your birds and their coop so that you don’t unfold the virus to your cat.
In case your birds present indicators of chook flu, similar to sudden demise, lethargy, respiratory indicators, diarrhea, and a wobbly gait, name your veterinarian or the USDA toll-free hotline (866-536-7593).
Meals security can be necessary since your cat may very well be uncovered to the virus by meals. Don’t feed your cat uncooked poultry or bovine merchandise, together with meat, eggs, and unpasteurized milk. Cooking to 165°F will kill any virus in these merchandise, and keep in mind to make use of good hygiene so different meals isn’t contaminated by these merchandise.
Continuously Requested Questions
Can Cats Get Sick From Being Round Birds?
Being round birds and their droppings might result in your cat being contaminated with chook flu. Preying on birds and consuming uncooked chook meat will also be a supply of an infection in cats. Cats may additionally be contaminated by cows. Chicken droppings typically include Salmonella micro organism, which may additionally make your cat sick.
Is a Cat With Chicken Flu a Danger to People?
Cats current minimal threat to people since human infections have solely occurred sporadically with publicity to poultry or dairy cows. Presently, solely 11 individuals have been confirmed to have contracted chook flu.
Nevertheless, it’s theoretically doable for a sick cat to contaminate a human, particularly when you have shut contact with the cat. Your cat’s saliva, urine, or feces might include the virus if they’re contaminated.
If in case you have been uncovered to chook flu by way of your cat, monitor your self for any indicators of sickness, together with a sore throat, respiratory indicators, eye issues, complications, muscle aches, diarrhea, and fever.
Pay shut consideration to your well being, particularly within the first 10 days after publicity. Contact your well being division in the event you discover any indicators, and go to the CDC web site for extra data.
Conclusion
Illness outbreaks may be scary, not just for our well being but additionally for that of our beloved pets. Chicken flu can infect cats and folks, however it solely happens sporadically. It’s nonetheless thought-about a low menace to human well being; nonetheless, since flu viruses change always, the CDC is monitoring the scenario.
To be on the protected facet, we advocate taking precautions to stop your cat from being uncovered to chook flu within the first place.
Featured Picture Credit score: megaflopp, Shutterstock
