​Cat dies after catching highly pathogenic avian flu in southeast Sask.

A domestic cat in southeastern Saskatchewan has died after contracting “highly pathogenic avian influenza,” according to a news release from the provincial Ministry of Agriculture.

The cat that contracted the illness seemed normal on the morning of April 20, but very quickly deteriorated — showing sudden neurological and respiratory signs.

It died the same day. 

Post-mortem testing from Prairie Diagnostic Services and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the presence of the H5N1 strain of the highly pathogenic avian flu, the news release says.

The risk of exposure is higher during spring migration, when wild waterfowl activity increases.

The cat that died in this case was known to spend time outdoors. 

A single case of avian flu in a house cat is concerning but likely won’t cause widespread infections, said Bryce Warner, a research scientist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan.

“What we worry about as virologists is this virus being able to consistently reproduce and replicate in mammalian species,” Warner said in an interview.

“When we see more and more infections occurring in mammalian species, that’s when the virology red flags go up and we want to investigate … How did it become infected? What other animals or people did it interact with?”

While there is a single case of animal-to-human transmission in Canada, the risk of people catching it is relatively low, Warner said. But when they do, it can be fatal.

Vets warned

“This case highlights the potential for rapid disease progression in cats,” reads a disease alert memo sent to local veterinarians on May 5. 

The memo says that “veterinarians should maintain a high index of suspicion” for cats that have acute respiratory distress or other neurological symptoms, like seizures. 

“This confirmed case underscores that HPAI H5N1 is a relevant and emerging differential diagnosis in cats in Saskatchewan, particularly during periods of high environmental exposure risk,” the memo says. 

“Vigilance and timely reporting are essential to support animal and public health surveillance efforts.” 

The memo notes that cats with outdoor access could be exposed to the flu through contact with infected wild birds, scavenging or predation or environmental contamination. 

Avian flu is predominantly found in poultry populations and is highly pathogenic. Once inside the body, it rapidly replicates and infects multiple organ systems, eventually reaching the brain.

“Once that happens, animals will not live much longer,” Warner said.

The virus is typically spread by water fowl, which shed it in feces, often contaminating farm yards and water sources shared with other animals. A cat or dog might also catch the virus from a dead bird.

Backyard songbirds don’t typically carry the virus, so backyard bird baths are generally safe for pets to be around, but the risk goes up in large green spaces with ponds or standing water, Warner said.

“It’s more of a concern if they’re walking a dog in a big park or someplace where geese would have been,” he said, adding that people should keep dogs on a leash and make sure their pets don’t touch or eat dead birds.

Signs that a pet may be infected include trouble breathing, coughing, weakness, extreme lethargy, loss of coordination, or a sudden and unexplained death. 

Pet owners who suspect their animal might be infected are encouraged to call ahead if they need to bring their animal to a veterinary clinic so staff can take precautions.

The government says the risk to people “remains low when people avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds.”