The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing pet owners and animal caretakers with information about ways to reduce the risk to their animals of contracting Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1).

Felines, including both domestic and wild cats, such as tigers, mountain lions, lynx, etc., are particularly sensitive to HPAI and care should be taken to not expose these animals to the virus.

There have been several recent investigations indicating transmission of HPAI to cats through food, most often unpasteurized milk or raw or undercooked meats. Cats should not be fed any products from affected farms that have not been thoroughly cooked or pasteurized to kill the virus. Cats should also be kept from hunting and consuming wild birds. 

The CDC reported in a July 2024 paper that domestic cats fed unpasteurized milk on a dairy farm with sick cows displayed neurologic signs and died from systemic influenza infections. Researchers in South Korea also documented several cases of HPAI in 2023 at two cat shelters where the animals were fed raw food made from duck meat. The USDA maintains a testing program for detections of HPAI in wild mammals that includes feral and domestic cats. 

Dogs can also contract HPAI, though they currently appear to be less susceptible to the virus than cats. It is also a best practice to limit dog exposure to HPAI following the same recommendations as for cats.

According to the American Veterinary Medical AssociationExternal Link Disclaimer, you should seek veterinary care if your cat or dog appears to have any of the following signs:

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Low appetite
• Reddened or inflamed eyes
• Discharge from the eyes and nose
• Difficulty breathing
• Neurologic signs, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness