NUTRITION & DIET

Bird Flu (H5N1) and Pets in 2026: What Cat and Dog Owners Actually Need to Know

Last updated: October 23, 2026 · Written by Sam, Founder

A cat sitting on an indoor windowsill watching birds outside through the glass

H5N1 bird flu is often fatal in cats, mainly via raw food, raw milk and wild birds. No US dog illness cases so far. Signs, risks and prevention.

Short answer: H5N1 bird flu is rare in pets but very dangerous to cats. The USDA has confirmed it in well over 100 domestic US cats since the virus arrived, and a September 2026 article in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal puts the estimated case-fatality rate in cats at about 90%. Most infected cats ate raw pet food, drank raw milk, or caught infected birds or rodents. Dogs can be infected, but there are no documented US cases of illness in dogs so far. The most effective steps: don’t feed raw poultry-based food or raw milk, keep cats indoors, and keep dogs leashed away from dead birds.

How Pets Get Infected

The main routes, according to the CDC, FDA and veterinary researchers:

Raw pet food and treats, especially poultry-based. Several raw cat foods have been linked to infected cats, including RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats (September 2025, after a San Francisco cat was euthanized — the FDA said genetic sequencing matched the virus in the food and the cat), Wild Coast Raw (March 2025), and Savage Cat Food.
Raw (unpasteurized) milk — many early US cat cases were on or near dairy farms during the 2024 dairy cattle outbreak. A 2026 CDC study found antibodies in 25% of cats tested within 2 km of an affected dairy.
Hunting or scavenging wild birds and rodents. A 2026 CDC case report from an Illinois backyard poultry outbreak found the virus in a cat and in rats on the same property.
Contaminated surfaces, clothing or shoes — the CDC notes indoor-only cats have occasionally been infected this way.

A dog on a leash walking past a flock of geese at a distance in a park — Keeping dogs leashed and away from dead or sick birds cuts off one of the main exposure routes.

Why Cats Are Hit So Hard

Cats are unusually susceptible to this strain, and it often attacks the brain. Infected cats “can deteriorate rapidly and often die within days of exposure,” a University of Sydney feline infectious-disease researcher wrote in September 2026. Early treatment may help: in a University of Maryland case study of four infected cats, two survived after early treatment with the human flu antiviral oseltamivir. There is no vaccine for pets, and no in-clinic test — samples go to a government laboratory.

Symptoms to Watch For in Cats

The CDC lists:

Low energy and poor appetite
Neurologic signs — wobbly walking, circling, tremors, seizures, sudden blindness
Respiratory signs — nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, fast or labored breathing (these may be absent)
Sudden death with no obvious illness beforehand

If your cat has any of these and has eaten raw food, drunk raw milk, caught a bird or mouse, or lives near poultry or dairy farms, call your vet before going in so they can prepare to handle a possible case safely.

Dogs: Susceptible, but No US Illness Cases So Far

Cornell University’s Baker Institute says dogs can be infected, but there are no documented cases of clinical illness or death in US dogs to date. That could change, so the same precautions apply: no raw poultry or raw milk, and keep dogs from eating dead birds or wildlife. (Bird flu is unrelated to the unexplained canine respiratory illness reported in 2023–24.)

How to Protect Your Pets

Stop feeding raw poultry-based diets and raw milk. A leading veterinary infectious-disease expert calls avoiding all poultry-based raw diets “the best avoidance measure.” Freezing and freeze-drying don’t reliably kill the virus. High-pressure processed (HPP) raw food is lower-risk but not proven safe against H5N1. See our coverage of the August 2026 Northwest Naturals raw food recall and raw diet safety.
Keep cats indoors and leash dogs, especially near water birds, poultry or dairy farms.
Bring outdoor food and water bowls inside so they don’t attract wild birds.
Don’t let pets touch dead or sick birds or wildlife. Report sick or dead wild birds to your state wildlife agency rather than handling them.
Change shoes and wash hands after visiting farms, poultry or areas with dead birds.

A person pouring cooked cat food into a bowl while a cat waits on the kitchen floor — Switching from raw poultry diets to cooked or commercially heat-treated food removes the biggest controllable risk.

What the FDA Requires of Pet Food Makers

Since January 2025, the FDA has required cat and dog food manufacturers who use uncooked or unpasteurized poultry or cattle ingredients to treat H5N1 as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard in their food safety plans. That raises the bar, but it doesn’t make raw food risk-free — contaminated lots have still reached stores since then. For the wider picture, see why pet food recalls keep happening in 2026 and how to check whether your pet’s food has been recalled.

Is My Family at Risk From My Cat?

The CDC rates the current public health risk as low. A May 2026 CDC report described the first serologic evidence of possible cat-to-human transmission: one veterinary worker developed antibodies — without getting sick — after treating an infected cat for 11 days while wearing gloves but no eye or respiratory protection. If you’re caring for a sick cat that might have bird flu, use gloves, wash hands often, and tell your doctor if you develop fever, eye redness or respiratory symptoms. People who are pregnant, over 65 or immunocompromised should take extra care.

A Note on the Numbers

There’s no single, up-to-date official count of infected pets in a simple format — the USDA’s mammal-detections list is updated in batches as tests are confirmed. We’ve avoided quoting one exact total; check the USDA APHIS mammal detections page for the latest confirmed cases by state.

The Bottom Line

Bird flu remains uncommon in pets, but for cats it is often fatal and moves fast. The single most effective change most households can make is to stop feeding raw poultry and raw milk. Add indoor living for cats, leashes for dogs, and a quick call to your vet at the first neurologic sign, and you’ve addressed nearly all of the known risk.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace guidance from your veterinarian.

Sources

USDA APHIS — Detections of HPAI in Mammals, updated September 2026
CDC — Bird Flu in Pets and Other Animals; Managing Cats Exposed to Bird Flu; Current Situation
CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases — Seroprevalence of H5N1 in Domestic Cats, California, 2024–2026; H5N1 in a Cat and Rats During a Backyard Poultry Outbreak, September 2026
CDC MMWR — Serologic Evidence of H5N1 Infection in a Veterinary Professional Exposed to an Infected Domestic Cat, May 7, 2026
U.S. FDA — Cat and Dog Food Manufacturers Required to Consider H5N1; RAWR Raw Cat Food H5N1 notice, September 2025; Wild Coast Raw recall, March 2025
Cornell University Baker Institute — H5N1 Avian Influenza
The Conversation — Worried your pet might catch bird flu? Here’s what you can do (Sally Coggins, University of Sydney), September 9, 2026
Worms & Germs Blog (Ontario Veterinary College) — H5N1 in Raw Pet Food, September 2025

FAQ

Can my cat get bird flu?

Yes. The USDA has confirmed H5N1 bird flu in well over 100 domestic cats in the US since the virus arrived, most often after they ate raw pet food, drank raw (unpasteurized) milk, or caught infected birds or rodents. A September 2026 CDC journal article puts the estimated case-fatality rate in cats at about 90%.

Are indoor cats safe from bird flu?

Much safer, but not risk-free. The CDC says it is rare but possible for indoor-only cats to be infected, likely through contact with infected animals, people or contaminated surfaces. For indoor cats, the biggest controllable risk is diet: raw poultry-based pet food and raw milk.

Can dogs get bird flu?

Dogs can be infected, but Cornell University's Baker Institute reports no documented cases of clinical illness or death in US dogs so far. Keeping dogs leashed and away from dead birds and wildlife is still sensible.

What are the symptoms of bird flu in cats?

According to the CDC, signs include low energy and appetite, neurologic problems such as wobbliness, circling, tremors, seizures or blindness, and sometimes nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing or fast or labored breathing. Some cats die with no obvious signs first. Cats can deteriorate within days, so call a vet immediately.

Does freezing or freeze-drying kill bird flu in raw pet food?

No. Freezing and freeze-drying do not reliably kill avian influenza viruses. High-pressure processing (HPP) is thought to reduce risk, but it has not been formally validated against H5N1, so veterinary experts describe HPP raw diets as lower-risk, not risk-free.

Can I catch bird flu from my cat?

It's very rare. A May 2026 CDC report described one veterinary worker who developed antibodies without getting sick after treating an infected cat for 11 days without eye or respiratory protection. The CDC rates the current public health risk as low, but use gloves and handwashing if you're caring for a sick cat and tell your vet about any possible exposure.