By Ingrid R Niesman MS PhD

An opinion piece in Thursday’s Washington Post by Leana S. Wen, a physician and columnist for the paper, titled How to protect your cat from bird flu, subtitled “Don’t feed it raw milk or meat, and watch for symptoms,” contains some good information, but also contains misleading information about pet food safety in light of H5N1.Continue Reading

By Ingrid R Niesman MS, PhD

In May of 2024, I told you not to panic about H5N1. I am now revising that statement to tell you that anxiety and concern are appropriate reactions to current events.

The reality is that cats are highly susceptible to H5N1 and some of our worst fears appear to be manifesting.Continue Reading

By Ingrid R Niesman MS, PhD

Part One: Protecting Your Cats

In May of last year, I wrote that the current newsworthy avian influenza strain of H5N1 was infecting and killing domestic cats. At the time, I noted that while surveillance and caution were prudent, we shouldn’t panic.

Like many scientists, I believed we needed to observe, test and evaluate data before creating a public stir. Continue Reading

Written by Ingrid R. Niesman MS, PhD

When 38 out of 40 cats die from a disease, it’s time to take notice. A 2024 report out of South Korea describes a swift wave of infections in a closed cat shelter (1). Between June and July of 2023, symptoms of high fevers, anorexia and neurological issues were evident within the shelter, ultimately killing nearly all the cats. H5N1, clade 2.3.4.4b, was confirmed by a private lab in July.  As the cats were housed separately, in groups of 4-5 cats, infected poultry in the cat food is a suspected route of transmission.Continue Reading