Yes, cats can get influenza A, but it depends on the strain and the situation. Some strains cause only mild or even unnoticed illness, while others (like certain H5N1 bird flu viruses) can be very serious or fatal in cats.

Can cats get influenza A?

  • Cats are susceptible to several influenza A viruses (IAVs) that originate in other species, including avian, canine, and human strains.
  • Most infections in cats are rare and often mild or subclinical, but specific strains such as avian H5N1 and some H7N2/H3N2 variants have caused outbreaks with significant illness and death in cats.

Notable influenza A strains in cats

  • H5N1 avian influenza : Cats can become infected through contact with infected birds or their secretions and feces; this strain can cause severe systemic disease and high fatality rates (up to around 70% in reported groups).
  • H7N2 : An outbreak in a New York shelter in 2016 showed cat-to-cat transmission and at least one mild human infection, confirming zoonotic potential.
  • Canine H3N2 : Has occasionally jumped into cats (especially in shelters), causing respiratory signs like fever, sneezing, coughing, and lethargy.
  • Pandemic H1N1 (2009) : Documented cases show cats likely infected by close contact with flu-positive owners, usually with mild to moderate respiratory illness.

How do cats catch influenza A?

  • Direct contact with secretions (nasal discharge, saliva, feces) from infected birds, mammals, or other cats is a key route.
  • Shared environments like shelters, barns, or multi-cat households increase risk, especially where infected birds or livestock (e.g., the recent H5N1 situation in dairy cattle) are present.
  • Human-to-cat transmission is documented for some strains (e.g., 2009 H1N1, shelter H7N2), but remains uncommon overall.

Signs of influenza A in cats

Typical signs resemble a bad upper respiratory infection, but severity varies by strain:

  • Mild to moderate signs: fever, sneezing, nasal/ocular discharge, coughing, reduced appetite, lethargy.
  • With highly pathogenic H5N1: rapid deterioration with breathing difficulty, severe lethargy, high fever, and sometimes neurologic signs such as incoordination, tremors, seizures, or sudden blindness.

If a cat shows sudden severe respiratory or neurologic signs—especially after exposure to sick birds, poultry, cattle, or multiple sick cats—urgent veterinary care is critical.

Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

  • Diagnosis : Vets typically use PCR testing on nasal or oropharyngeal swabs to confirm influenza A infection; paired blood tests can show recent infection in milder or subclinical cases.
  • Treatment : There are no cat-specific flu vaccines and treatment is mainly supportive—fluids, nutrition, oxygen support if needed, and control of secondary bacterial infections with appropriate medications.
  • Prevention tips :
    • Keep cats away from sick or dead wild birds, poultry, and potentially infected livestock environments.
* Isolate sick cats from healthy ones and use basic hygiene (hand washing, cleaning surfaces, separate litterboxes and bowls).

* In suspected H5N1 cases, experts recommend minimizing unnecessary contact and using protective gear (gloves, mask, eye protection), as a very low but non-zero zoonotic risk exists.

Is this a big risk right now?

  • Influenza A infections in pet cats are still considered uncommon , and most cats will never encounter a high-risk strain.
  • However, recent reports of H5N1 in dairy cattle and associated feline cases (including barn and indoor cats) show that the situation is evolving, and vigilance is recommended, especially in areas with known outbreaks in birds or cattle.

If your cat is suddenly sick with respiratory or neurologic signs and has had any exposure to sick birds, poultry, livestock, or a facility with many cats (like a shelter), contact a veterinarian immediately and mention possible influenza A exposure.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.