Special Bird Flu Alert!

H1N1 Avian Influenza is contagious and potentially fatal to cats!

Whatever you call it—Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Bird Flu, or H5N1—it’s becoming a virus of great concern. So far it doesn’t seem to be too contagious to humans, unless they work around infected animals (poultry, dairy cows, etc.), but cats appear to be highly susceptible to it. H5N1 spreads via bodily fluids such as mucus from eye and nose discharges, saliva, and feces. The virus can be carried through the air on dust or droplets and inhaled. It can infect many animals, but carnivores may be more sensitive. Milking equipment may be involved in dairy herd infections.

Twenty big cats at a Washington sanctuary have died of bird flu—more than half the cats living there. The sanctuary thinks the outbreak may have been caused by respiratory secretions passed from infected birds, or by contaminated meat fed to the cats.

The latter theory seems most likely. While flu is not ordinarily passed through foods, a house cat just died from eating contaminated raw food. (Northwest Natural’s Feline Turkey Recipe) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/26/oregon-cat-food-recall-bird-flu This food tested positive for bird flu and has been recalled. The recalled food has “best if used by” dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. Consumers should discard it in a safe manner (where no animals can get to it), and contact the store for a refund.

Raw milk is also a concern, since the virus has been found in the milk from affected dairies, and can survive in it for weeks. Nearly 900 dairies in 16 states have confirmed the presence of H5N1 in their cows. Two cats are confirmed to have died from the virus after drinking raw milk. This is an unusual route of infection for a respiratory virus. No humans are known to have contracted the virus by consuming food or drink.

The symptoms of bird flu start with loss of appetite, lethargy, upper respiratory signs (red or irritated eyes, nasal discharge, trouble breathing), and neurological signs (trembling, head-shaking, seizures). It can progress very quickly. If your cat eats raw meat or drinks raw milk and develops these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately. Early and aggressive supportive care is the best bet to pull cats through this illness.

Raw pet food producers that use HPP (high pressure pasteurization) believe that the process does inactivate the virus, but no studies have confirmed it as yet. Research has shown that high pressure for several minutes inactivates many viruses, including some influenzas, but different virues—in different foods—may be more or less susceptible. [Doyle 2007; Govaris 2021]

At this time, I would recommend avoiding raw milk for cats; and be very careful about consuming it for humans.

Feeding cats a home-made raw diet with grocery-store meat is probably safe, but consult the store butcher to make sure beef doesn’t come from dairy cows. Poultry should be safe. Positive-testing flocks are immediately culled, nearby flocks are quarantined and monitored, and the meat (theoretically) never reach stores.

In eggs, the virus may survive in the yolk, though the risk is very low. In an adult human, transmission is unlikely, but in an animal the size of a cat… well, I’d soft-cook the eggs. Expect egg prices to go up over the next year or two due to loss of production flocks to the virus.

Commercial raw pet diets using HPP are most likely safe.

Dehydrating, freezing, or freeze-drying raw food does *not* inactivate or kill viruses or bacteria. If HPP is not used during production, be extremely cautious.

Lightly cooking a raw diet doesn’t change a food’s nutrition very much (other than removing water), and may be the safest course for now. To make up for loss of the “live” factor in raw food, you can add digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics. This product (which I personally formulated for Only Natural Pet) contains all three. Also add a little extra moisture (water or broth) to maintain hydration.

While it’s not time to hit the panic button, do keep an eye on your pets, and ask your veterinarian about any suspicious symptoms that arise, especially with known exposure.