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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Bird flu (H5N1) can infect pets, including cats and dogs, through contact with infected animals, contaminated environments, raw pet food, or unpasteurized milk. Keep pets away from these hazards; if a pet with a plausible exposure becomes ill, contact a veterinarian and tell the clinic before you arrive. CDC says infection from an infected pet is unlikely but possible, so people with relevant exposure should monitor their health and seek medical advice if symptoms develop.
What is bird flu?
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is caused by influenza A viruses that mainly circulate among wild birds and domestic poultry. Some avian influenza viruses, including H5N1, can also infect mammals and pets. The term “highly pathogenic” describes the severe disease pattern in birds; it does not predict exactly how sick a person or other animal will become.
Can cats and dogs get bird flu?
Yes. Cats and dogs can be exposed through contact with infected birds or other animals, contaminated objects or environments, and raw animal products. CDC’s veterinary guidance identifies risk factors including raw or undercooked meat from infected animals, commercially produced raw pet food containing infectious virus, and unpasteurized milk or dairy products from infected animals.
In the United States, CDC reports that most identified cat infections have been associated with H5N1-affected farms; some have been linked to commercially produced raw pet food and unpasteurized raw milk. Indoor-only cats can rarely be infected, likely through infected animals or people or contaminated surfaces such as clothing. Keeping a cat indoors reduces some opportunities for contact but does not remove all risk.
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What are bird flu symptoms in cats and dogs?
Possible signs include fever, low energy or appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes or nose, breathing difficulty, and neurologic changes. In cats, neurologic signs can include incoordination, circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness. These signs can have many causes and are not a way to diagnose H5N1 at home. Respiratory signs may be absent, and severe illness can occur.
If your pet develops concerning signs after a plausible exposure, seek veterinary care and disclose the exposure. Call the clinic before arriving so staff can give you instructions for transporting and handling your pet.
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How can pets be exposed?
- Contact with wild birds, poultry, dairy cows, or other potentially infected animals.
- Contact with sick or dead birds, carcasses, droppings, or contaminated water.
- Contaminated clothing, shoes, equipment, or other objects and surfaces.
- Raw or undercooked meat from infected animals, raw pet food, or unpasteurized milk and dairy products.
CDC notes that indoor cats can rarely be exposed through infected animals or people, or contaminated surfaces. Do not assume that indoor status makes exposure impossible.
How to reduce risk for pets
- Keep pets away from potentially infected animals. Prevent them from contacting wild birds, backyard poultry, dairy cows, sick or dead wildlife, and contaminated areas.
- Avoid raw animal products. Do not feed pets raw pet food or unpasteurized milk. CDC does not recommend raw pet food or treats for dogs and cats.
- Choose suitable prepared food. CDC says safe pet foods are generally cooked or heated enough to kill germs. Choose food labeled “complete and balanced” for your pet’s main diet, and ask a veterinarian what is suitable for your individual animal. This is not a guarantee against H5N1.
- Do not handle suspicious animals or materials bare-handed. Avoid sick or dead birds, droppings, contaminated water, and surfaces. If contact cannot be avoided, follow current official instructions for protective equipment.
- Call ahead about a possible exposure. If your pet may have contacted an infected animal or contaminated material, tell your veterinarian what happened and when before bringing the pet to the clinic.
Can I catch bird flu from my cat?
CDC says it is unlikely that a person would become sick with bird flu from direct contact with an infected pet, but it is possible. Human infections most often follow close, prolonged, unprotected contact with infected animals or contaminated surfaces. These statements describe risk qualitatively; they do not provide a household probability.
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A CDC investigation in Los Angeles County, California, during November 2024–January 2025 identified 139 people exposed to 19 infected domestic cats. Twenty-five people received serologic testing, and one asymptomatic veterinary professional had serologic evidence of infection after occupational exposure. This specific investigation is not an estimate of risk to a typical household. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026.)
What should people do after a relevant exposure?
CDC guidance for people exposed to infected animals calls for monitoring through 10 days after the last exposure. Follow current instructions from public-health authorities, and seek medical advice if symptoms develop.
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- End the exposure. Move away from the animal or contaminated material and avoid further contact.
- Note what happened. Record when it occurred, the animal involved, the kind of contact, and whether you used protective equipment.
- Monitor your health. Follow public-health guidance through 10 days after your last exposure.
- Call for advice if you become ill. Contact a healthcare provider and your state or local health department, explain the animal exposure, and call ahead before visiting a clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my pet ate a dead bird?
Keep your pet from further contact with the bird and call your veterinarian before visiting the clinic. Explain what your pet touched or ate, when it happened, and whether the bird appeared sick or dead. Follow veterinary and local public-health instructions.
Can pets get bird flu from raw food?
Raw or undercooked animal products can be a source of exposure. CDC identifies commercially produced raw pet food containing infectious virus as a risk factor and does not recommend raw pet food or treats for dogs and cats. Ask your veterinarian about a cooked, complete-and-balanced diet appropriate for your pet.
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What are bird flu symptoms in cats?
Possible signs include low energy or appetite, fever, eye or nasal discharge, breathing difficulty, and neurologic changes such as incoordination, circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness. These signs are not specific to H5N1. Contact a veterinarian if a cat with a plausible exposure becomes ill, and call before arriving.
Can I catch bird flu from my cat?
CDC describes infection from an infected pet as unlikely but possible. If you have had relevant contact, follow public-health monitoring guidance and seek medical advice if symptoms develop.
Does keeping my cat indoors eliminate the risk?
No. Indoor-only cats can rarely be exposed, likely through infected animals or people or contaminated surfaces such as clothing. Keeping cats indoors can reduce some opportunities for contact, but it does not eliminate every possible exposure.
Quick Recap
Sources
- CDC, “Bird Flu in Pets and Other Animals,” March 7, 2025.
- CDC, “About Pet Food Safety,” January 30, 2025.
- CDC, “Considerations for Veterinarians: Evaluating and Handling of Cats Potentially Exposed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus,” July 22, 2025.
- CDC MMWR, “Serologic Evidence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection in a Veterinary Professional Exposed to an Infected Domestic Cat — Los Angeles County, California, December 2024–January 2025,” May 7, 2026.
- CDC, “Preventing Bird Flu Infections,” April 23, 2025.
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