Bird flu proves fatal to cats: Here's how to protect your pets

Several quality cases of avian flu (H5N1) person been reported astir the U.S., and the microorganism has besides proven to beryllium fatal to felines.

Dozens of cats person reportedly contracted the microorganism since the commencement of the existent outbreak successful March 2024.

While vertebrate flu has immoderate radical disquieted astir eating definite human foods, what does this mean for the information of your pet's food?

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Jim Keen, DVM, manager of vet sciences astatine the Center for a Humane Economy successful Maryland, noted that infected cats person shown respiratory and neurological symptoms.

"Commercial" favored nutrient that does not incorporate earthy ingredients should beryllium harmless to eat, according to a veterinarian. (iStock)

Felines are "extremely susceptible" to the existent strain that has been circulating successful waterfowl and home poultry, helium told Fox News Digital.

Domestic cats tin beryllium exposed to and infected by vertebrate flu done interaction with infected chaotic birds oregon poultry, live oregon dead, according to experts. Contact with infected dairy cattle and their beverage tin besides origin infection.

"Outdoor cats, feral cats and chaotic cats whitethorn termination and devour wild birds that are sick with vertebrate flu," Keen added.

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Cats tin besides beryllium infected with vertebrate flu by eating earthy poultry oregon unpasteurized dairy products, similar earthy feline nutrient oregon earthy milk.

Although determination person not been reports of dogs being infected with vertebrate flu successful the U.S., according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), determination person been fatal cases successful different countries – but canines usually grounds mild symptoms and debased mortality compared to cats. 

Industry standards

While the FDA is presently investigating contamination of earthy feline food, Keen reassured that commercialized cat food that does not incorporate earthy poultry products "should beryllium safe."

The FDA released an advisory connected Jan. 17 stating the request for feline and canine nutrient manufacturers – who are regulated by the FDA and usage uncooked oregon unpasteurized ingredients from poultry oregon cattle – to "reanalyze their nutrient information plans" to see vertebrate flu arsenic a "known oregon reasonably foreseeable hazard."

The FDA has notified feline and canine nutrient manufacturers to reanalyze their nutrient information plans amid the vertebrate flu outbreak. (iStock)

"The FDA is tracking cases of H5N1 successful home and chaotic cats successful California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington State that are associated with eating contaminated nutrient products," the announcement read.

Fox News Digital reached retired to the FDA for comment.

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Dr. Andrea Y. Tu, main of veterinary behaviour medicine astatine Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group successful New York, shared with Fox News Digital that determination has been a deficiency of regulations regarding earthy foods, which person grown successful popularity among favored owners.

Veterinarians urge cooking earthy favored nutrient to 165 degrees to termination disconnected viruses. (iStock)

In astir cases, favored nutrient that is freeze-dried oregon earthy has not been heated to a blistery capable somesthesia (165 degrees) for the microorganism to beryllium killed off, meaning these diets "are not safe," Tu cautioned.

"The aesculapian assemblage … does not urge earthy foods," she said. "And particularly present with the hazard of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, we bash person grounds showing this is not safe."

Keeping your pets safe

The hazard of mortality successful home cats infected with vertebrate flu tin beryllium arsenic precocious arsenic 67%, according to Tu.

Pet owners should see taking a fewer cautionary measures to guarantee the animals' safety.

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For cats especially, experts urge keeping them indoors to forestall entree to infected birds, particularly successful regions wherever cases person been confirmed.

Experts urge keeping cats indoors to forestall interaction with infected birds.  (iStock)

"This microorganism has been reported successful location mice arsenic well," Tu said. "Cats are going to hunt, truthful trying to support them distant from undocumented sources of nutrient is astir apt my apical recommendation."

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Both Keen and Tu advised against feeding pets earthy milk, earthy pick oregon earthy favored food.

"If you are cooking your ain nutrient astatine location for your pets, marque definite it is heated up to a somesthesia of 165 degrees," Tu reiterated.

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If you fishy that your favored has contracted vertebrate flu, contact your veterinarian.