Tips To Keep Cats Safe From Bird Flu

• Author: Faye Cormier
• Posted: 2024-03-24

Recent media reports have revealed that some domestic cats have caught bird flu after being exposed to contaminated poultry, pet birds, and wild birds. As the avian flu continues to spread throughout the country, many pet owners are becoming afraid that their cat may be at risk. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of your cat catching bird flu. Here is what you need to know.
 

How Do Cats Get Bird Flu?

Bird flu is the common name used to describe a variety of avian influenza viruses that mainly infect wild migratory birds and domestic poultry. However, captive and pet birds that are exposed can get infected too. Cats can get bird flu when they eat sick or dead birds that have been infected, although there also might be other ways the virus can spread.

The bird flu viruses that cause the most concern for cats are the ones that are considered highly pathogenic, meaning that they can spread quickly from one host to another. Even hosts that don't get sick can still carry and spread the virus. Once an outbreak begins, it can be very difficult to stop it from spreading.

Fortunately, cats becoming infected with bird flu is very rare, but some cases have been reported. Cats are natural hunters and cats that spend a lot of time outdoors are at higher risk of exposure. The risk of people catching bird flu from infected cats is considered to be extremely low.
 

Keeping Cats Safe From Bird Flu

The most surefire way of keeping cats safe from bird flu is to prevent exposure in the first place. Many shelters and cat adoption agencies require potential adoptees to sign a pledge that their cat will be an indoor cat after adoption. Cats that stay indoors are not out hunting and killing the wild bird populations, which has become a problem in many areas.

However, some owners will argue that being allowed outside improves their cat's quality of life and are reluctant to restrict them to a life indoors. In these cases, it is important to take some precautions that will reduce the risk of the cat catching, killing, and eating birds while outdoors. There are several ways these precautions can be implemented.

Some owners choose to go outdoors with their cats, walking them on harnesses attached to leashes to monitor their behavior. Not only does this ensure that the cat is not eating wild birds, it also keeps the cat away from dangerous areas, like roads and drains. However, not all cats immediately take to being on a leash, so it is best to introduce the leash while the cat is indoors and let them get used to it before using it outside.

For pet owners that choose to let their cat go into safe areas, like the backyard, alone, other precautions are needed. One way to limit your cat's hunting outside is to make sure your cat is well fed before letting it outside. Full cats have less reason to hunt and can spend their time outdoors exploring or lounging instead.

Another easy precaution to take is to have a bell or jingle ball on your cat's breakaway collar. The light noise coming from the collar should be enough to prevent the cat from sneaking up on wild birds that are highly attuned to predators. As the cat approaches with the noise, most birds would fly away before it got close enough to pounce.

If you are letting your cat go outside unrestricted in a safe area, it is important to ensure that the area is safe for them. Check regularly for hazards around the yard and if you find any dead birds during your review, restrict your pets from entering the area until the dead bird can safely be removed. The last thing you want is for your cat to be sniffing or chewing on a bird that died from bird flu.

Even with the best precautions taken, there is still a chance that your cat could potentially be exposed to bird flu. If you see signs of illness in your cat, take them to the veterinarian as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the sicker they can get and it can take longer for them to make a full recovery.