A PSA: Avian Bird Flu (H5N1) and your house cat(s)

We have two house cats who spend a portion of each day outdoors and on patrol around the immediate neighborhood.  There are several feral cats in the vicinity that they keep at bay, and along with standing guard, deliver an almost daily present of some… thing.  There are times I feel like I am a forensic detective on “CSI: Tiverton” – having to identify the kill from a tuft of fur or feather.  Last year, I kept a journal of the findings.  

They are cats, that is their nature.  Thankful that they keep the rats, moles and vole population in check.  Not so pleased for the songbirds.  Don’t look forward to snake season (mid/late Spring) when “…the string that plays with me!” the Garter snakes begins to come out of hibernation; nothing quite as bad as trying to corral a really pissed off garter snake. 

My concern this year, and the point of this post, is about the Avian Bird Flu that is running rampant though the country.  At this time, it is decimating the poultry industry and, in some cases, jumping to livestock and even humans that have been in close contact with the virus.  I was concerned about our duo and their exploits in the wilds of our yard.  Keeping them confined to the house is just not an option.  So I began researching.  In case you are interested...

• There is no vaccine for cats (or dogs)
• The (so far) one case of a cat dying from the virus was as a result of eating a raw, poultry-based cat food from a contaminated processing source, and a few other from drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk.
• H5N1 is currently contained in poultry and waterfowl.  There is little to no risk unless you either raise / own chickens (Tiverton is a “Right To Farm” community, there are a lot of backyard coops) or have access to waterways where waterfowl roost. 
• All wild fowl are carriers of some form of the pathogen; not every bird is infected by H5N1
• Wild birds visiting your hanging feeders are not generally considered high risk, nor are pigeons.  At this time, you do not need to bring down your feeders. 
• H5N1 has not been found to cross over into rodents or reptiles.
• H5N1 is predominantly transmitted via fecal droppings and lost feathers, not via air.
• The lifespan of the H5N1 virus outside of the host is about 26 hours.
• The wild turkeys that periodically strut through our neighborhood and across our yard are a potential vector for the virus through their fecal and feather droppings. As a precaution, if wild turkeys come through the yard, observe for any droppings or feathers – clean up, accordingly and wait a day before letting a pet out into the yard.  Again, not every flock is infected – just an abundance of caution.
• For dog owners, be wary of what your dog starts chewing on or rolling in when you take it for walks.  
• As for humans - for now, make sure your eggs or poultry are cooked thoroughly (common sense).
  

So, for now, the duo still get to visit the great outdoors.  I’ll make an updated post if things evolve or change.  

 

Rade

Sources:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/avian-influenza

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10045683/

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/two-cats-in-california-died-after-drinking-raw-milk-recalled-for-bird-flu-their-owner-says