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An outbreak of the extremely pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) in dairy cattle occurred within the U.S. in March 2024. Since then, a number of smaller outbreaks in cats have been reported, together with each indoor pet cats and outside feral cats.
Cats look like weak to this virus, with many circumstances sadly linked to fatalities, so being alert to the indicators that your cat may need the chicken flu virus, and understanding how cats grow to be contaminated is absolutely vital.
How Do Cats Catch Chook Flu?
Consuming uncooked meat or unpasteurized milk has been linked to chicken flu. Leka Sergeeva / Shutterstock.com
The American Veterinary Medical Affiliation (AVMA) lists the identified causes of transmission of the avian influenza virus to cats. The identified routes of transmission embrace:
- Unpasteurized dairy merchandise or colostrum
- Uncooked or undercooked meat
- Publicity to wild birds or poultry (together with yard chickens, turkeys and geese)
- Publicity to individuals (or their clothes) who work on affected farms (together with with dairy cows)
Though these outbreaks are scary to these of us who personal and love cats, understanding how cats can catch chicken flu helps us know what to think about to assist forestall an infection.
Illness management methods being advisable by well being officers for the prevention of chicken flu in cats due to this fact embrace:
- Avoiding feeding uncooked meat and unpasteurized milk to cats (together with uncooked pet meals diets)
- Maintain cats indoors to keep away from publicity to wild birds
- Maintain cats away from livestock, poultry and their related housing
- Observe good hygiene, particularly in case you have been in touch with livestock, poultry or wild birds
5 Indicators Your Cats Would possibly Have the Chook Flu Virus
Discharge from the nostril generally is a signal of avian influenza in cats. Kyliki / Shutterstock.com
An infection with the avian influenza virus remains to be very unusual in cats, however being conscious of potential signs remains to be vital for cat homeowners.
Listed below are the principle indicators of chicken flu in cats to look out for:
1. Normal Indicators of Sickness
The primary indicators of avian influenza in cats are sometimes pretty imprecise and non-specific. These may embrace a lack of urge for food, lethargy and seeming quieter than traditional, and a fever. Affected cats might disguise away extra, cease enjoying, and appear withdrawn.
In case your cat is exhibiting any of those indicators then a check-up with a veterinarian is advisable, however don’t panic – these are frequent signs of many viruses and different sicknesses in cats.
2. Fast Development of Sickness
Because the an infection progresses, the cat’s fatigue might worsen into extreme despair, and these extra normal indicators of sickness will shortly progress to extra extreme and particular signs.
3. Neurological Indicators
Extra particular signs of chicken flu in cats embrace neurological indicators similar to ataxia (poor muscle management inflicting wobbly, disorientated strolling) and circling behaviors. It might appear like your cat is feeling dizzy. These neurological indicators can shortly progress to blindness, in addition to muscle tremors after which seizures.
4. Fluid Discharge
A standard signal of chicken flu in cats seems to be a discharge from the eyes and nostril. This stream of bodily fluids might be very heavy, and your cat’s eyes might look purple and sore as properly.
5. Respiratory Indicators
The chicken flu virus may also trigger the traditional ‘flu’ signs in our pets, similar to coughing and sneezing. Affected cats could also be respiratory very quick or closely, or start to battle to breathe.
What To Do if You Assume Your Cat Has Chook Flu
Preserving cats away from any contact with birds is one technique to scale back the chance of an infection. Evgeniy Medvedev / Shutterstock.com
Chook flu in cats remains to be thought-about uncommon, so in case your cat is unwell, it’s extra seemingly that they’ve one other sickness, similar to feline herpesvirus or feline calicivirus (identified collectively as cat flu). Nonetheless, all cat homeowners needs to be vigilant while these outbreaks are ongoing, so right here’s what to do should you’re involved.
- Name your veterinarian: your vet needs to be the primary contact, however give them advance warning about what you think. They might wish to know extra about your cat’s signs and will organize particular hygiene precautions prematurely.
- Restrict contact: maintain your cat quiet and away from as many individuals and different pets as potential, particularly if there are any immunocompromised people within the family.
- Keep hygiene: wash arms totally earlier than and after dealing with a sick cat, to minimise transmission of any infectious particles.
