Bird Flu Detected in House Cats
Friends and Neighbors,
Since August 20, 2024 the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reported 40 domestic house cats infected with avian influenza also known as Bird Flu. No need to panic just yet! Here’s all the necessary info:
The kitties infected were both indoor and outdoor cats. Infection occurred in a variety of ways. including consuming infected dairy (farm kitties drinking infected milk, for example,) and hunting infected prey (house mice or birds). However, two of the infected cats were indoor only cats, reported by the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association. This, of course, raises some eyebrows.
Veterinary officials and public health organizations in the affected areas are working on figuring out how the indoor cats became infected. There is no sure answer just yet, but one possible explanation is that the indoor cat got ahold of an infected field mouse that entered the home.
While there are no known cases in cats in Illinois (the closest being Michigan), we encourage all cat owners to prevent their cats from catching field mice, birds and similar prey. Here at BLVD, we will continue our regular, strict safety protocol of using personal protective equipment (gloves, gowns and masks,) when handling sick patients. Symptoms include:
Lethargy
Fever
Difficulty breathing
Coughing
Runny nose
Goopy eyes
Red eyes
Squinty eyes
As the news of Bird Flu floats around, we simply want to inform you of the updates. There is no need to panic at this stage. We have no known cat cases in Illinois and will continue to monitor the situation. The CDC lists the current public health risk as low. Keep an eye on your kitties and be sure to contact us or your nearest emergency veterinarian if any of these symptoms present. The CDC recommends that pets and humans do not consume raw milk, unpasteurized cheeses, or undercooked meat.
We hope you find these tips useful and that they help keep your pets happy and healthy. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit. We’re always here for you and your pets!
Sincerely,
The BLVD Team