In Germany, a cat died of the H5N1 virus (aka the bird flu that everyone is so worried about) after it ate an infected bird (so the authorities suspect). The World Health Organization has issued a statement about cats and bird flu to try to keep people calm about their pets.
There is no present evidence that domestic cats play a role in the transmission cycle of H5N1 viruses. To date, no human case has been linked to exposure to a diseased cat. No outbreaks in domestic cats have been reported.
Unlike the case in domestic and wild birds, there is no evidence that domestic cats are a reservoir of the virus. All available evidence indicates that cat infections occur in association with H5N1 outbreaks in domestic or wild birds.
The press release goes on to recite a number of cases where large cats in Asia have died from association with birds with bird flu - mainly eating chickens in captivity.
This is definitely a topic that will get much more discussion over the future months. It is only a matter of time before the bird flu hits North America (perhaps when the birds migrate back from further afield) and we'll see a lot of discussion about keeping cats and dogs indoors in areas where the flu hits.
The press release goes on to recite a number of cases where large cats in Asia have died from association with birds with bird flu - mainly eating chickens in captivity.
This is definitely a topic that will get much more discussion over the future months. It is only a matter of time before the bird flu hits North America (perhaps when the birds migrate back from further afield) and we'll see a lot of discussion about keeping cats and dogs indoors in areas where the flu hits.