Cats are “exquisitely sensitive” to highly avian influenza virus, expert says. Since December 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) had confirmed more than 130 feline cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) type A H5N1 infection across the country, from California to New Jersey. They range from barn and feral cats to pet cats, including those kept strictly indoors, to big cats in zoos and the wild. Results from a recent review by the University of Maryland School of Public Health (UMDSPH) of more than 40 studies from over two decades suggest cats are potential reservoirs and vectors for avian influenza viruses, particularly highly pathogenic H5N1 strains, adding to growing calls for greater HPAI monitoring of domestic cats to mitigate pandemic risk.
Feline avian influenza cases spark concerns
- Published May 27, 2025