Domestic cats are at a down risk of get sick , but it ’s significant to know how to keep your pussy safe .
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If you are a cat parent , you may have noticed a late uptick in reports of cats compress bird influenza in the U.S. Although the current strain of bird flu known as H5N1 iswidespread in wild skirt worldwide , it is really rare for cats to be diagnosed at this stage .
Photo:Raphael Ruz / Getty Images
We talked to Anne Kimmerlein , DVM , veterinary epidemiologist ofVCA Animal Hospitals in Sacramento , Calif. , to read more about bird flu in cats and what measure pet parents can take to keep their cats safe .
What Causes Bird Flu in Cats?
" cat may be exposed to bird flu when they have contact with infected animals such as wild shuttlecock or livestock , eat deceased wildlife , drink raw Milk River , or come into contact with contaminated objects such as clothing , shoe , or equipment , " Kimmerlein say .
As such , puke most at jeopardy of contracting the current pains of bird flu are outside farm cat .
Signs of Bird Flu in Cats
If our cat contracts bird flu , they may parade the come after symptom :
to boot , some case of bird flu in cats may be fatal . " Unfortunately , some cats have conk from the virus without march any sign of sickness , " Kimmerlein says .
Can My Cat Give Me Bird Flu?
Even though the illness is called bird flu , it can taint cats and humankind alike . " This version of H5N1 can taint many different types of mammals , including dairy cows , cats , and rarely , people , " Kimmerlein says .
concord to the CDC , three dairy workers have been diagnosed with H5N1 thus far . However , homo are unlikely to abbreviate bird flu from their infected cat , and your cat is unbelievable to spread the unwellness to other animals as well .
" While H5N1 bird flu can strike both animate being and people , cats are not sleep with to be a meaning avenue of infection for humans or other animals , " Kimmerlein say .
Indoor cats are less potential to contract bird flu , " presently , the hazard position by the current H5N1 strain of bird flu to domestic cats is considered low , and scientific investigation are being done to better infer how the virus can be transmitted , " Kimmerlein says .
Treatment of Bird Flu in Cats
The good intelligence is even if your cat contracts bird flu , it ’s potential for them to recuperate . However , because there is no specific treatment plan for bird flu in cats , direct the grimness of a cat ’s symptoms too soon on is authoritative .
If you suspect your qat is acting odd or is sick , it ’s important to involve your veterinarianas soon as possible .
How to Prevent Bird Flu in Cats
At this time , there is novaccineagainst bird flu for cats , so it ’s of import to take extra prophylactic measure to prevent your indoor or out-of-door cat from contracting H5N1 .
" The skillful way to protect cats from bird flu is to throttle their interaction with wildlife , livestock , and any animals of unknown health position , " Kimmerlein state .
Other bar tactics admit :
