Since the U.S. outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) in dairy cattle began in March 2024, dozens of cats are known to have contracted the virus, including barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and big cats in zoos and in the wild (e.g., mountain lions, tigers, leopards, and bobcats). Cats were already known to be susceptible to the H5N1 virus, with several feline cases linked to poultry or wild bird exposure before the cattle outbreak began. Cats appear to be particularly susceptible to severe illness, often resulting in death. The good news is that infection can be prevented with a few simple practices.
How to prevent H5N1 infection in cats
Caregivers are urged to follow the following tips to prevent infection in cats:
- Refrain from feeding cats any dairy products or colostrum that have not first been pasteurized or thoroughly cooked to kill the virus.
- Thoroughly cook meat before feeding, and avoid feeding raw meat-based treats or diets.
- Keep cats indoors to prevent exposure to birds and other wildlife.
- Avoid contact with sick or dead birds and other wildlife yourself.
- Keep cats away from livestock, poultry, and their environments, especially in areas with known H5N1 outbreaks.
- Thoroughly wash your hands after handling your cat and after any encounters with poultry, livestock, or wild birds and other animals.
- Change your clothes and shoes, and thoroughly wash any exposed skin, after interacting with sick or dead animals that may harbor the H5N1 virus, and before interacting with your cat.
- Immediately contact your veterinarian if you notice signs of H5N1 or think your cat might have been exposed to the virus. Signs may start with loss of appetite, lethargy, and fever, then quickly progress, with cats exhibiting: Neurologic signs (e.g., ataxia, circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness); severe depression, copious oculonasal discharge; other respiratory signs, including tachypnea, dyspnea, and possible sneezing or coughing.
Click on the links below to learn more about what to do if you suspect your cat has H5N1 and handling potentially exposed cats.
- H5N1 in Cats
- If You Are Exposed
- Avian Influenza (general)
- H5N1 in Dairy Cattle & Impact on Other Animals
- Unpasteurized Raw Milk
What should you do if you suspect your cat has H5N1?
To play it safe, you should:
- Call your veterinary practice—before taking your cat in to be seen—and describe any clinical signs you have noticed so that the veterinary team can be ready when your arrives. Don’t have a veterinary practice – search here.
- Limit your cat’s contact with immunocompromised individuals if any exposure to the virus is possible.
- Protect yourself and others from influenza by following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Monitor your family and other animals that might have been exposed for signs of illness, and report any human illness to your local public health official.