What are the symptoms shown by a cat who suffers from bird flu?

Answer 1

Hi there...here's what I found with regards to cats who are infected with the bird flu from National Geographic's website.

Symtpoms:
"The cats soon showed signs of disease: raised body temperature, decreased activity, and labored breathing. All developed severe lung disease. One cat died after six days of infection."


CATS CAN CATCH AND SPREAD BIRD FLU, STUDY SAYS

by Stefan Lovgren
for National Geographic News
September 2, 2004

A bird flu virus killed 26 people in Asia and led to the vast slaughter of poultry several months ago. Now a new study says the flu CAN ALSO INFECT CATS, and that cats CAN SPREAD THE FLU TO OTHER CATS. The finding raises the possibility that they may eventually spread the flu to other mammals, including humans.

Scientists previously believed domestic cats were resistant to diseases from influenza A virus, to which the bird flu virus—also known as H5N1—belongs.

The new research suggests that domestic cats are at risk of disease or death from the avian virus. The cats can also play a role in the transmission of the virus, scientists say.

"That cats could so easily be infected and could transmit the infection to other cats means that in areas where poultry are infected with H5N1 virus, cats could act as vectors," said Thijs Kuiken, a veterinary pathologist in the department of virology at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Holland.

"Cats could transmit the virus from one poultry farm to another, or could transmit the virus to people," said Kuiken, an author of the study described in tomorrow's issue of the journal Science.

Surprising Answers

The avian influenza A virus was responsible for massive poultry slaughters in eight Asian countries in 2003 and 2004. Thirty-seven cases of direct bird-to-human transmission, 26 of them fatal, were officially reported. Anecdotal reports of fatal infections in cats also emerged during the outbreak.

Kuiken and his colleagues investigated whether the virus could make cats sick when the pathogen was introduced into their airways or when the cats ate infected chickens.

The researchers introduced the H5N1 virus into the airways of three cats. Three other cats were fed an infected chick. Finally, two cats were exposed to the virus by being placed in the same cage as the first three cats.

The cats soon showed signs of disease: raised body temperature, decreased activity, and labored breathing. All developed severe lung disease. One cat died after six days of infection.

"Were we surprised? Yes!" Kuiken said. "Although we had expected to see some pathologic change in the lungs—because of the anecdotal reports of cats dying from H5N1 virus infection in Thailand—we didn't expect them to be so severe and present in all animals."

"Often an infectious agent that causes mortality in the field has a much less severe effect when the infection is performed in the laboratory," Kuiken added. "With H5N1 virus, the experimental infection also resulted in severe lesions."

....please see website for full story: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/09/0902_040902_birdflu.html

Answer 2

I honestly do not think that is possible. Most forms of bird flu are strictly for birds. Humans can get some types of influenza A. I have never heard of a cat/dog/etc getting any strain of avian influenza. It is pretty much impossible. The only slightly possible way is that your cat caught it from some dead or diseased birds that had it (Would have to eat several) of a form that could be passed to felines or caught it from another cat that was infected with a contagious strain.
It is NOT transmissible from cat to human or vice versa, so like I said, it is 99.99% impossible.
It is probably just a cat flu/cold

Answer 3

To tell you the truth I don't know if a cat can catch bird flu.
If people can, maybe cats can also.

If you believe that your cat is sick, please take him/her to the Vet.
Only your Vet will be able to tell you what's wrong and would be the only one who could tell you with 100% accuracy whether of not it's possible for a cat to get the bird flu.

Please consider making your cat indoor only, then you don't run the risk if him/her falling victim to deadly illnesses like rabies or bird flu...if they can indeed get it.
Also a car can't hit them or another animal can't attack them if they're in your house.

Answer 4

I don't think a cat can catch the Bird Flu.
Keep your cat inside and reduce the risk of infection.
If your concerned take you cat to her/his Vet.
Good Luck.

Answer 5

it chirps, and sits on the curtan rods lol.

Cats can't get bird or human flu.

Answer 6

You could probaly that he/she you see it's ill.

Answer 7

aww poor kitty if he does have it =[