In recent months, a troubling trend has emerged that has pet owners and public health experts alike on edge: the spread of bird flu, specifically the H5N1 strain, among domestic cats.
What was once considered primarily a threat to wild birds and poultry is now raising alarm bells as cases of feline infections—and deaths—continue to mount across the United States.
NBC News reported on March 30, 2025, that at least 126 domestic cats have contracted bird flu, with pet owners describing rapid and devastating symptoms in their animals.
Cats infected with the current H5N1 strain, which began circulating widely in the U.S. in 2022, often exhibit severe neurological symptoms—seizures, blindness, and difficulty breathing—along with discharge from the eyes and nose.
The article detailed the experiences of three pet owners whose cats deteriorated quickly after infection, emphasizing the emotional toll and the urgency of the situation.
Similarly, a report from KWGN Channel 2 in Colorado, posted on X on March 27, 2025, revealed that nearly a dozen cats in the state had been infected with this strain, with only one of the 11 surviving.
The high mortality rate underscores the virus’s lethality in felines, a fact echoed by experts cited in various reports.
The Associated Press also noted a case in Oregon on December 25, 2024, where a house cat died after consuming pet food that tested positive for bird flu, pointing to contaminated food as a possible vector.
A recurring theme across these reports is the link between raw diets and bird flu infections in cats. NBC News highlighted warnings from public health experts urging cat owners to avoid feeding their pets raw meat and raw milk.
In one instance, the milk consumed by three infected cats was traced to Raw Farm LLC, a California dairy that issued a recall after samples tested positive for the virus. Although the farm denied any direct link to consumer illness, the incident has fueled concerns about unpasteurized products.
Additionally, a post on X by @outbreakupdates on March 16, 2025, noted that Savage Pet, a pet food company in El Cajon, California, recalled chicken-based cat food due to potential H5N1 contamination, with distribution spanning five states.
These incidents suggest that the virus may be entering feline populations through the food chain, a vulnerability that experts are urging pet owners to address by opting for cooked or processed alternatives.
The spread of bird flu in cats isn’t just a concern for pet owners—it’s raising questions about transmission dynamics. Posts on X by Dr. Eric Ding, a noted epidemiologist, have repeatedly warned about the vulnerability of cats to H5N1, citing cases of human-to-cat transmission as early as February 2025.
Ding also referenced a CDC report—briefly published and then retracted—about household transmission between cats and humans, hinting at a potential zoonotic risk that health authorities may be downplaying.
Adding to the unease, a March 15, 2025, X post by @richardhirschs1 claimed that H5N1 was spreading among New York cats via an airborne route, with the New York City Health Department confirming multiple cases.
While this claim remains unverified by major news outlets, it reflects growing public anxiety about how easily the virus might jump between species.
Public health officials and veterinarians are calling for vigilance. NBC News quoted a cat owner, Hanson, who took precautions like wearing an N95 mask around his infected pet and washing his clothes after hospital visits—measures he hopes will inspire others to act proactively.
The World Organisation for Animal Health, cited in a June 2023 BNO Feed post on X, previously recommended isolating suspected cases and using protective equipment, advice that remains relevant as the situation evolves.
For now, the consensus from experts reported by NBC News and other sources is clear: avoid raw diets, monitor cats for unusual symptoms, and report suspected cases to veterinarians immediately.
While there’s no evidence yet of widespread cat-to-cat or cat-to-human transmission, the rising number of feline infections suggests that this is a threat worth taking seriously.
