Bird Flu in Cats: Symptoms, Raw Food Risk and Prevention

Yes, cats can get bird flu, and bird flu in cats is usually serious. The H5N1 avian influenza virus typically starts with fever, tiredness and loss of appetite, then can cause breathing trouble and neurological signs such as tremors, seizures or blindness. Many infected cats die. Most cases trace back to raw pet food, raw milk, wild birds or infected farms, so controlling what your cat eats and hunts is the best protection. The CDC rates the risk to people as low.

A tabby cat wearing a collar and tag sitting on indoor stairs — Photo: Unsplash

Key Takeaways

Cats are unusually sensitive to H5N1; Cornell says up to 70% of infected cats die.
Early signs are fever, low energy and not eating; breathing and neurological signs can follow fast.
Raw pet food (including freeze-dried raw), raw milk, wild birds and farms are the main sources.
There is no cat vaccine and no specific cure, so prevention matters most.
If you suspect infection, phone your vet before you visit.

What Is Bird Flu in Cats?

Bird flu in cats is an infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1), clade 2.3.4.4b, a virus that normally circulates in wild birds and poultry. Cats catch it by eating or touching infected animals or contaminated food, and it often attacks the lungs and brain.

The same strain has spread to US dairy cattle, bringing it closer to farms and milk. The FDA notes that felines, from house cats to lynx and mountain lions, are particularly sensitive to it. USDA APHIS calls cats “typically dead-end hosts”, meaning an infected cat rarely passes the virus on to other animals.

How Do Cats Catch Bird Flu?

Cats usually catch bird flu by eating something infected: raw poultry-based pet food, raw milk from infected cows, or a sick or dead bird. Farms, and clothing or shoes worn around infected animals, are other recognised routes. The CDC says that, while rare, even indoor-only cats have been infected.

Can cats get bird flu from eating birds or dead birds?

Yes. The CDC lists contact with sick or dead birds as a risk for pets, and Cornell advises keeping cats away from them. Outdoor cats that hunt are therefore more exposed. If you find a dead bird, keep your cat away and do not pick it up with bare hands.

Can cats get bird flu from bird poop or feathers?

Possibly. Cornell explains that the virus spreads mainly through nasal secretions, saliva and faeces of infected animals, so droppings are a plausible source. The sources we checked give no specific data on feathers, but any contact with an infected bird carries risk.

Can cats get bird flu from raw chicken?

Yes. Raw poultry is one of the main links to H5N1 in cats, and several frozen raw chicken-based cat foods have been tied to sick cats in the US. The CDC’s food safety guidance says cooking poultry to 165°F (74°C) kills avian influenza viruses. If you cook for your cat, see our homemade cat food guide.

Can cats get bird flu from shoes or humans?

Shoes and clothing can carry the virus indoors, so Cornell advises changing clothes and footwear and washing hands after contact with livestock, poultry or wild birds. Person-to-cat spread is possible but unconfirmed: two Michigan indoor cats whose owners worked on dairy farms may have been infected by the people or their work clothes.

What Are the Symptoms of Bird Flu in Cats?

Symptoms usually begin with fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. Some cats then develop eye or nose discharge, laboured breathing, and neurological signs such as tremors, seizures, circling, poor coordination or blindness. The CDC notes that some cats die suddenly with few obvious signs beforehand.

Body system	What you might notice	What to do
General (often first)	Fever, low energy, not eating	Call your vet the same day, especially after any exposure
Eyes and nose	Red or inflamed eyes, eye or nose discharge	Call your vet promptly
Breathing	Fast, noisy or difficult breathing	Emergency: phone ahead and go now
Neurological	Tremors, seizures, circling, stumbling, blindness	Emergency: phone ahead and go now

Sources: CDC, FDA and Cornell Feline Health Center. Many of these signs also occur with ordinary cat flu, explained in our cat respiratory infection guide. The cat fever checker can help you describe symptoms, but only laboratory testing can confirm H5N1.

What is the incubation period?

The CDC, Cornell and the FDA do not give a firm incubation period for H5N1 in cats. Once signs appear, though, illness can move very fast: a 2025 systematic review in the journal Animals found a median of 2 days from first signs to death in cats where timing was recorded.

Mortality Rate: How Serious Is H5N1 for Cats?

H5N1 is frequently fatal in cats. The Cornell Feline Health Center states that up to 70% of infected cats die, and other reports show similar figures. Mild cases may be under-counted, because mainly the sickest cats get tested.

Source	Finding
Cornell Feline Health Center	Up to 70% of infected cats die
CDC MMWR, May 2026 (Los Angeles County)	14 of 19 ill cats died or were euthanised; 9 tested positive
Bonilla-Aldana et al., Animals, 2025	About 74% of cats in published case reports had a fatal outcome

Treatment: What Can a Vet Do?

There is no specific cure. Vets provide supportive care such as fluids, nutrition and nursing while keeping the cat isolated. The 2025 Animals review noted there is no standard veterinary antiviral protocol. Never give a cat human flu medicines at home; leave all treatment decisions to your vet.

What to do if you suspect bird flu

Phone your vet before visiting so the clinic can protect staff and other patients, as Cornell advises.
Describe any exposure: raw food or treats, raw milk, hunting, or contact with farms. Keep food packaging so lot numbers can be checked.
Separate the cat from other pets and avoid face-to-face contact.
Wash your hands after touching the cat, its bowls or litter tray.
Watch your own health and see a doctor if you develop fever or eye or breathing symptoms, as the CDC advises.

A cat that stops eating can decline for many reasons; our cat not eating guide explains when it is urgent.

Raw Cat Food and Bird Flu: What Owners Should Know

Raw pet food is the bird flu risk owners can control most directly. Several US raw cat foods have been linked to infected cats, and the CDC advises against feeding pets raw pet food or raw milk. According to the FDA, heat treatment such as cooking, pasteurising or canning inactivates H5N1.

Brands named in FDA and Cornell notices include Northwest Naturals, Wild Coast Raw, Savage Cat Food and RAWR; in September 2025 a cat was euthanised after eating frozen RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats. Since January 2025 the FDA has required covered pet food makers using uncooked poultry or cattle ingredients to plan for H5N1, a notice it reissued in September 2025.

Does freezing or freeze-drying kill bird flu?

None of the official sources we checked say freezing or freeze-drying makes raw food safe. The FDA and CDC name heat as the way to inactivate H5N1, several implicated products were sold frozen, and Cornell advises against freeze-dried raw foods and treats as well.

If you feed raw now, our cat raw diet guide sets out the trade-offs, and the complete cat nutrition guide covers choosing a cooked or canned diet. Switch foods gradually.

Can Dogs Get Bird Flu Too?

Dogs can be infected with H5N1, but they are much less affected than cats. The FDA says dogs usually show mild signs and low mortality, and that HPAI had not been detected in US dogs as of its January 2025 update, although fatal cases have occurred elsewhere. The same precautions protect cats and dogs alike.

Is Bird Flu Still a Risk for Cats in 2026?

Yes. H5N1 is still circulating in 2026: USDA APHIS keeps updating its list of infected mammals and the CDC published new findings on cats and people in May 2026. The CDC still rates the risk to the general public as low.

That CDC report (MMWR) covered 19 sick cats in Los Angeles County fed raw milk, raw meat or raw pet food in late 2024 and early 2025. Of 25 exposed people whose blood was tested, one veterinary professional who had treated an infected cat without eye or breathing protection had H5N1 antibodies. The person had no symptoms and no onward spread was found; the CDC called this possible cat-to-human transmission. Handwashing keeps the risk low, and our zoonotic diseases guide covers other infections shared between pets and people.

Is There a Bird Flu Vaccine for Cats?

No. The Cornell Feline Health Center states there is currently no H5N1 vaccine for cats, and the core feline vaccines do not protect against bird flu. Avoiding exposure is the only protection. Routine shots still matter for overall health; see our cat vaccination schedule.

Prevention Checklist

Feed cooked, canned or heat-treated food; avoid raw meat, raw pet food, freeze-dried raw treats and raw milk.
Keep your cat indoors or supervise outdoor time so it cannot hunt birds.
Keep cats away from poultry, dairy cattle, farm buildings and bird feeders.
After working with animals or birds, change clothes and shoes and wash your hands.
Check FDA pet food notices and your brand’s recall announcements.
Call your vet promptly if your cat has a fever, stops eating or shows neurological signs.

Indoor cats need outlets for hunting instincts; our indoor enrichment guide for cats has play ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can cats get bird flu?

Yes. Cats are among the animals most severely affected by H5N1 avian influenza. Infections have been linked to raw pet food, raw milk, wild birds and infected farms. The illness often progresses quickly and many affected cats die, so safe feeding and limiting contact with birds are important.

What are the first signs of H5N1 in a cat?

The earliest signs are usually fever, tiredness and loss of appetite. These can quickly progress to eye and nose discharge, difficult breathing, and neurological signs such as tremors, seizures, stumbling or blindness. Call a vet promptly if a cat with possible exposure shows any of them.

Can indoor cats get bird flu?

It is rare, but the CDC confirms indoor-only cats have been infected. Likely routes are contaminated raw food or raw milk, and virus carried in on people’s clothing or shoes. Feeding heat-treated food and changing out of work clothes after farm contact removes most indoor risk.

Can humans get bird flu from cats?

It is rare, and the CDC rates the public risk as low. A May 2026 CDC report found H5N1 antibodies in one veterinary professional who treated an infected cat without protection, which it called possible cat-to-human spread. The person stayed well. Handwashing and keeping sick cats away from your face reduce risk.

Is raw pet food safe during the bird flu outbreak?

The CDC advises against feeding pets raw pet food or raw milk, and Cornell extends that advice to freeze-dried raw foods and treats. Several raw cat foods have been linked to H5N1 cases. Cooked, canned and other heat-treated foods avoid this risk because heat inactivates the virus.

Is there a cure or vaccine for feline bird flu?

There is no specific cure and, according to Cornell, no H5N1 vaccine for cats. Vets provide supportive care such as fluids and nursing while the cat is kept isolated. Because outcomes are often poor, preventing exposure through safe food and keeping cats away from birds is the best protection.

Should I worry about my cat’s holiday leftovers?

Raw or undercooked poultry scraps carry the same risk as raw pet food, so keep raw turkey and chicken away from cats while you cook. Fully cooked, plain, boneless meat in small amounts is a different matter; our guide to Thanksgiving foods for dogs and cats explains which leftovers are safe.