From March to August 9, 2024, 36 cats tested positive for bird flu in the U.S. Cats are more likely to get bird flu than other mammals because they eat wild birds or are fed raw milk, raw cat foods, or uncooked meat with the virus. While some of the infected cats lived on dairy farms with cows that were infected with bird flu, at least three indoor-only cats died from bird flu in Colorado. Transmission risk to humans from cats is low, but possible.

The presence of bird flu in cats is concerning due to pet cats’ proximity to people. There is a chance that cats could spread bird flu to people who are in close contact with them.

Bird flu is also dangerous for cats and can be deadly. About 67% of all cats who have had bird flu have died.

People with cats should limit their cat's unsupervised outdoor time, avoid feeding cats raw dairy products or food with uncooked meat, and take their cat to the vet if symptoms like trouble breathing appear.

Health officials are still trying to determine how the indoor-only cats got the virus and if the cats can infect humans.