Protect Your Cat from Swine Flu

Your Feline Companion can Catch the H1N1 Virus

Nov 5, 2009 Jo Jackson

An indoor cat in Iowa has tested positive to H1N1 and appears to have caught it from his owners who recently had flu. Protect your cat from catching human swine flu.

On Wednesday 4 November 2009 the first confirmed case of H1N1 in a cat was reported by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Two of the three members of the Ames family, who own the 13-year-old orange tabby had suffered from influenza before the cat became ill. The cat became lethargic and lost his appetite.

The cat was taken to the Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment and was tested for H1N1 after family members mentioned they had recently been ill. The test was positive and was later confirmed by additional tests by the US Department of Agriculture. Since the cat is an indoor pet who has no contact with other animals it is assumed he caught it from his owners.

Background of the H1N1 Influenza Virus Known as Swine Flu

The H1N1 or swine flu virus contains genetic material from four different influenza viruses, including human, swine and avian influenza viruses. It was first reported in March 2009 in people in Mexico. It was reported in Canadian pigs in May, and in turkeys in Chile in August. Since then there have been reports of infected swine and poultry in many areas around the world.

Since pets do not normally become ill with human influenza there had been no reported incidences in cats or dogs until this one in Iowa although there had been reports of pet ferrets being infected. However since the Iowa report, large numbers of people have been contacting their vets with reports of other cats who have become ill when humans in the house have had swine flu.

Swine Flu Symptoms of the Cat Infected with H1N1

The cat initially stopped feeding and grooming himself. He also sat hunched over on all four feet rather then lying down sprawled on his side, and this is an indicator of respiratory discomfort. He had also been seen vomiting. Due to his advanced age (13) his immune system may not have been as capable of fending off influenza as a younger cat.

The examining vet diagnosed a respiratory condition and took bronchial fluid to determine the cause. Further testing was positive for H1N1. The cat was given fluids for dehydration and put on antibiotics to prevent a secondary bacterial infection. The good news is that both cat and owners have largely recovered from their illness.

How to Prevent Your Cat From Getting Swine Flu

It is well known how easily flu is transmitted between family members, so it is not surprising that a sociable friendly cat that interacts with family members will also come into contact with the virus. It is common for cats to share beds and other furniture with family members and this should be avoided during illness of a family member.

People who are worried about spreading H1N1 flu to their pets should follow the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for protecting virus transmissions between people. This includes washing hands thoroughly, particularly before handling the pet or preparing food; covering coughs and sneezes; and avoiding close contact with the pet cat until recovery from illness.

You may also be interested in How Frequently Should a Cat be Wormed?

The copyright of the article Protect Your Cat from Swine Flu in Cats is owned by Jo Jackson. Permission to republish Protect Your Cat from Swine Flu in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Cats can Catch Swine Flu	Wash Hands to Prevent Giving Swine Flu to Cats	Cover Coughs and Sneezes to Protect Cats
Banish Cats From Beds When People Have Swine Flu	Don't Cuddle Cats if You Get Swine Flu