Helping cats dodge the bird flu

Helping cats dodge the bird flu


In the U.S., H5N1 avian influenza — aka the bird flu — has been sickening and killing wild and commercially raised birds since 2021. The virus has also spread to some mammals, including livestock and pets.

Cats are particularly vulnerable, especially outdoor cats that hunt birds. They don’t need to eat their prey — close contact is enough for an infection to spread. And once infected, cats have a high death rate from bird flu.

Feeding cats raw meat diets, especially poultry — also increases the risk of infection. Now with the appearance of H5N1 in cattle, feeding raw beef is risky, too. Offering unpasteurized milk also puts cats at risk.

Avoiding these risks can give cats the best chance of dodging potentially deadly infections.

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