Bird Flu and Cats: How to Protect Your Cat from Avian Flu

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Bird Flu and Cats: How to Protect Your Cat from Avian Flu

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You’ve been seeing the headlines about bird flu everywhere: “Bird flu has killed 20 big cats including cougars at a U.S. wildlife sanctuary” and “Raw pet food pulled after cats die with bird flu.” If you have cats, you may feel nervous when you see articles about cats getting sick. So, should you be worried?

First things first: What is bird flu?

Bird flu is a respiratory virus that primarily affects animals. Technically known as H5N1, it was first discovered in 1959 in Scotland. In 2021, a variant of the virus started spreading rapidly among birds. In March 2024, it began affecting mammals, such as dairy cows and cats. As of February 2025, there are over 65 confirmed bird flu cases in humans who have had contact with infected animals.

What cats are at risk for bird flu?

Cats most often contract bird flu when they come into contact with unpasteurized dairy or raw meat from an animal with the illness. They can also get it from being exposed to wild birds, poultry, livestock or possibly humans with H5N1.

This means that the following cats are most at risk:

Indoor cats who eat raw animal products

Outdoor pet cats

Cats who live on farms — particularly farms with cows or chickens — or who live in households with livestock workers.

Don't feed your cats raw meat, raw eggs, unpasteurized dairy or freeze-dried foods.

How can I protect my cats from bird flu?

Even if your cats live indoors, it’s important to take precautions to keep them safe. Here’s how:

Keep your cats indoors if you can. They’re less likely to come in contact with infected birds or animals this way.

Don’t feed your cats raw meat, raw eggs, unpasteurized dairy or freeze-dried raw foods. This includes raw commercial pet foods and treats and raw milk. If your cat must be on a raw meat diet, switch to canned wet food or a pasteurized option.

Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat or raw eggs — or interacting with birds or livestock. (This includes adding seed to your bird feeder!) You should always do this, but especially if you plan to pet your kitty.

Don’t rely on your cats to catch mice, as mice can be infected with bird flu, too. If you have a mouse problem, set traps instead!

Don’t let outdoor cats play with dead birds or have contact with farm animals. If you have outdoor cats or if you care for community cats, carefully remove dead birds from the area. Make sure you wear gloves and a mask! If you have barn cats, move cats’ feeding stations away from other animals.

What are the symptoms of bird flu in cats?

In cats, bird flu generally starts with mild symptoms and progresses to pneumonia and neurological symptoms. There’s a long list of symptoms to look out for, and any of these are worth giving your veterinarian a call.

Behavioral Symptoms

Lethargy – Cats sleep a lot, even when they’re healthy! But if you notice your cat is sleeping more than normal or is staying in one place all day, this could be worth a vet visit.

Loss of appetite – If your cat isn’t coming to the food bowl when you fill it or isn’t eating anything, this means they’re not feeling well.

Respiratory Symptoms

Coughing – When cats cough, it sounds like they’re having a hairball, but nothing is coming up. Here’s an example of what that sounds like.

Sneezing – Some sneezing is normal, but if you notice your cat sneezing more than usual, it could be worth checking out. Cats can also have reverse sneezes, which sound like this.

Difficulty breathing – If your cat is wheezing, call your vet.

Runny nose – Check to see if your cat’s nose seems to be running or producing more mucus.

Eye irritation – If you notice redness or extra discharge coming from your cat’s eyes, this could be a symptom.

Fever – If your cat’s ears or paws are unusually hot, they may have a fever. You can check their temperature rectally if you have a designated thermometer for your cats. Over 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit is a fever in felines.

Neurological Symptoms

Tremors – These look like shaking or trembling either while laying down or walking.

Seizures – There are a few kinds of seizures in cats, which can look like falling over and lying stiffly on the floor, biting at the air or walking into walls.

Circling – Walking in circles repeatedly can be a sign of neurological dysfunction.

Confusion – You know your cat best. If your cat is getting lost in your home or seems off, pay close attention.

Call your vet if you notice any of these symptoms in your cat. But remember this: bird flu is still rare, and many of these symptoms could be indicative of a more mild respiratory virus. But neurological symptoms could be indicative of rabies, so take action!

What should I do if my cat is sick?

Get in touch with your vet.
If you think your cat might be sick, call your vet immediately and follow their instructions. Be willing to take the cat in for an appointment if that’s what your vet recommends. Otherwise, monitor your cat closely and track their symptoms.

Keep your cat quarantined.
While there are not yet reported cases of cat-to-human or cat-to-cat transmission of H5N1, it’s still considered a risk by public health officials. If your cat seems sick, keep that cat in isolation from your other pets. Set them up in a room with a closed door and their own litter box, food and water.

Don’t make close contact with your cat.
Now is a good time to stop sharing food or water with your cats (even accidentally), so don’t leave your beverages or food unattended. If you do suspect your cat has bird flu and you need to take them to the vet, wear gloves and a mask when you make close contact with your cat, just to be safe.

Contact officials.
If a vet confirms that your cat has bird flu, contact your state animal health official. You can find a listing here.