Can Cats Get Swine Flu?

by Kurt (Cat Lovers Only Admin)

Can cats get swine flu?

The answer to that is yes. MSNBC reported earlier today on air that it was confirmed that a pet cat was diagnosed with swine flu.

Last week, the house cat was treated for swine flu at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. This is apparently the first case of H1N1 to pass from a human to a cat that we know of. The cat has recovered.

The vet who treated the kitty said that people in the home experienced flu-like symptoms prior to the cat becoming sick. Symptoms experienced by the cat included loss of appetite, trouble breathing, and lethargy.

Health officials are warning that pet owners should take the same precautions against spreading swine flu to pets as they do humans. There's no vaccine for cats for H1N1.

The ASPCA press release from April, 2009 had stated that there was little risk for dogs and cats (obviously there were no confirmed cases of the disease at that time).

AVMA has updated their FAQ on Swine Flu to include the recent infections reported in ferrets as well as the cat.

Protect yourself, protect your cats!