Bird Flu Center

The avian influenza virus has been known to cross species and with domesticated animals being the closest sources of infection for humans, concerns arise that bird flu might even infect cats.

There is very little documented evidence of H5N1 afflicted felines, however in recent years some instances of this occurrence have been highlighted. During the spread of the virus across Southeast Asia, several cats living in a Thailand household were found to be infected with the virus and tigers kept in a Thai zoo were later found to bear the same disease. More recently, a cat in Germany is believed to have died following an infection with the same virus and this case in particular is worrying pet owners worldwide.

However there are positive examples as well. In February 2006, in the southeastern Austrian province of Styria, three cats were found to be carriers of the H5N1 bird flu virus. Several days later, two of the felines, living in an animal shelter near the town of Graz, were proven to have fought off the virus, as further tests came out negative and the animals showed no sign of illness.

So cats have been known to become infected with the virus and experiments have shown they are able to transmit it within their own species, however very little is known about the possibility of cats infecting people or poultry with bird flu. Concerned pet owners in Western countries have been known to keep their cats indoors, re-home them or even have them euthanized, worried of a possible bird flu infection. Authorities warn such measures are exaggerated and the animals should simply be kept away from waterfowl and poultry, while basic hygiene practices should be followed when handling cat or bird feces.

More scientific information is expected to be unveiled about the way bird flu might affect cats, as the virus situation evolves on an international level. Until then common sense and normal hygiene measures are the simplest way to fight off a possible infection of the beloved pets.