H1N1 flu confirmed in cat

If you have had swine flu and your cat becomes ill, this info. might be something you should mention to your vet.

Release date 11-4-09
AVMA
First case of H1N1 discovered in Iowa cat.

http://www.avma.org/press/releases/0...1_Iowa_cat.asp

Wow, that is scary!

omg, that is really frightening, my daughter is just recovering from swine flu, we have 5 cats and touch wood they seem to be unaffected, I did not realise that cats could catch it, swind flu is rife in my area, thankyou for posting this.x

Very scary! Hopefully this doesn't become widespread.

I suppose that could be a mutation, which the flu virus is very good at.

It IS something to worry about. It may indicate a very scary adaptability in the virus.

I've worried about this since H1N1 became so widespread. I work in a hospital so I am at greater risk for exposure and unfortunately our vaccine supplies are still very limited. Even though this cat recovered, I'm concerned for my two because they both have "underlying health problems" that we've all heard so much about lately.

Originally Posted by tamgirl99

Even though this cat recovered, I'm concerned for my two because they both have "underlying health problems" that we've all heard so much about lately.

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Me too. Riley has breathing problems due to heartworm infection, so this would be very bad for him.

Before I learned about this, I was not going to get the vaccine shot but now, to protect my cats, when it becomes available, I just might do it.

Let's hope this virus does not mutate to the point that the vaccine does not protect.

The virus has been identified in one cat (which survived) and two ferrets (one survived, one did not).

Our best offense in this case is a good defense - wash your hands a LOT, take your vitamins, drink plenty of water, and get enough sleep. If you do get sick, protect your animals the same way you would the rest of your family: don't cough on them, no kissing, wash your hands before feeding, etc.

Dr. Khuly posted about this on the Dolittler bog: Ugh! H1N1 goes feline. I'm not panicking, but I am becoming a little alarmed by what I'm hearing. I have two sisters in the medical field and the stories they tell me..... well, I'm 40+ years old and for the very first time in my life, I'm making it a habit to go to bed early enough to get a full eight hours of sleep.

I've been blessed with a very strong immune system, but I'm going to shore it up every way I can.

well, I guess that settles it - I will get the vaccine, if I can.

Originally Posted by Renovia

well, I guess that settles it - I will get the vaccine, if I can.

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It is still not available here, even for the priority cases so I have no idea when I will get it, but I will when possible.

Originally Posted by AlleyGirl

It is still not available here, even for the priority cases so I have no idea when I will get it, but I will when possible.

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The killed virus shot is not available here either...
only a small amount of the nasal live virus at local health depts.
We have had several deaths in our area but hopefully no cat infections.

I wonder what the symptoms of the cat were that made its owners get it checked for the flu.

Originally Posted by SnickersMom

I wonder what the symptoms of the cat were that made its owners get it checked for the flu.

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It would be helpful to know.

I guess, if we had swine flu and our kitties did not feel well, soon after....
a vet visit would be essential.

From the AVMA:

Q:What symptoms would I see in my dog or cat if it developed H1N1?

A:So far, there haven't been any reports of dogs infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. Based on what's been reported, ferrets and one cat – and probably dogs, if they can become infected with the virus – have shown signs of respiratory illness. These signs can include lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, runny nose and/or eyes, sneezing, coughing, or changes in breathing (including difficulty breathing).

Originally Posted by SnickersMom

From the AVMA:

Q:What symptoms would I see in my dog or cat if it developed H1N1?

A:So far, there haven't been any reports of dogs infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. Based on what's been reported, ferrets and one cat – and probably dogs, if they can become infected with the virus – have shown signs of respiratory illness. These signs can include lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, runny nose and/or eyes, sneezing, coughing, or changes in breathing (including difficulty breathing).

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Thanks for posting this information.