Bird Flu: A Danger to Felines?
Cornell Feline Health Center
March 3, 2006

Excerpts taken from the Feline Health Center Publication March 3, 2006 of Cornell University:

Reports from Germany of a cat found dead due to a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection have fueled concerns about the risk this emerging virus poses to cats and, subsequently, to the people who care for them. Can cats catch the bird flu? These reports, along with recent studies, say "yes." But might it also be possible for cats to get the flu from us- or for humans to get the flu from cats? The short answer is "no." None of the known strains of influenza virus are transmissible between cats and people. But these viruses are very changeable by nature, so the long answer is a bit more complex.

The German cat is believed to have eaten one of the H5N1-infected wild birds recently found in the same part of the country (in Europe). At the time of this writing, the H5N1 virus is not present in North America. If H5N1or an equally harmful influenza virus were to appear, the safeguards established by governmental agencies should help prevent the kinds of outbreaks that have occurred in other parts of the world. For these reasons, the risk to cats in this country is considered very low.

Other Safeguards
Two additional safeguards can reduce the already-low risk of feline infection. First, don't feed uncooked poultry to cats. Since the H5N1 virus is destroyed at 70