The recent surge in H5N1 avian influenza cases poses significant health risks to cats, particularly through interactions with infected birds and the consumption of contaminated raw foods. To safeguard your feline companions, consider the following measures:
Keep Cats Indoors
Limiting outdoor access minimizes the risk of contact with infected birds. Indoor environments provide a controlled setting, reducing exposure to potential carriers of the virus. While not recommended by our team, at a bare minimum if you insist on doing outdoor time it needs to be strictly supervised, regardless of your cats fussing at the change in routine. It is current best practices to eliminate cats access to wild birds, livestock and poultry in particular.
Transition Outdoor Access Cats to Leash Walking
For cats accustomed to outdoor activities, strictly indoor time only might cause some pretty harsh regression in behaviors. So this is a fantastic time to introduce and use a leash for walks! This controlled exposure allows them to enjoy the outdoors without the dangers associated with free roaming. The biggest reason not to let them free roam at this time is the obvious fact that they are stealthy amazing hunters and the risk of bird catching is incredibly high.
Here are the top rated harnesses for cats that we have currently tested out:
As an alternative backpacks, strollers and wagons with clip in secured leashes to keep them in are also a great option.
Dive into a Catio
Building or purchasing a catio— which is a secure, enclosed outdoor space— enables cats to experience the outside world safely, with a lot less human involvement during their every day use of this. While time, cost and space intensive this is one of the best long term solutions for cats who are chronic outdoor lovers!
These kinds of setups prevent direct contact with wildlife, thereby reducing infection risks, but also offers a vast amount of mental enrichment and our team sees a ton of behavior issues resolved with this particular option.
Avoid Raw Feeding
While feeding raw can hold lots of debates and spark attention from both sides of the conversation, we know dedicated raw feeders might feel slightly attacked on this one. We promise, this is not an anti-raw blog crusade, this is truly just facts and what you need to know about feeding raw right now during this particular season.
Feeding cats raw specifically game birds, poultry, beef, or unpasteurized dairy products increases the risk of H5N1 infection. Due to these food items not being cooked to a high enough temperature to kill the virus these are just not safe right now. Freeze dried does not have enough evidence supporting being risk free, and freezing does not kill the virus either.... so either start cooking those meals or switch to an alternative diet for the time being. This isn't a no to raw forever, just a temporary safety in place for our beloved felines! Unfortunately, we know that recent cases have linked feline infections to contaminated raw foods.
Opt for Cooked or Commercial Diets
So what are your alternatives to raw if your a raw feeder? You can switch to freshly cooked meals or commercial cat food (like wet canned food or kibble) is advisable. Now before you jump down my throat about kibble... read on.
Nutritional Considerations
We know that both dry kibble and wet canned foods undergo processing that eliminates pathogens through high temperature cooking and then nutrients added back in to make them a safe choice for feeding while still being shelf stable.
When choosing between dry and wet foods, it's essential to understand that both can meet your cat's nutritional needs. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) provides guidelines to ensure pet foods are "complete and balanced," meaning they contain all necessary nutrients in appropriate ratios.
The primary difference between dry and wet foods is moisture content: dry kibble contains about 10-12% moisture, while wet canned food contains approximately 75-78%. This variation doesn't inherently affect the nutritional adequacy, as long as the product meets AAFCO standards.
One excellent option is to grind a portion of kibble before serving (we prefer to do this fresh at each mealtime) using a dedicated grinder. This allows you to rehydrate the kibble by adding warm water, increasing its moisture content without sacrificing its nutritional value. While canned wet food offers convenience and high water content, it often comes with a hefty price tag. By taking these extra steps, you can achieve a similar result at a fraction of the cost and stop paying for water weight!
That said, one caveat we do need to mention is that a foods nutritional content is displayed based on feeding the food as is basis. So if you are changing the state of a food this can skew these numbers slightly. While this shouldn't be drastically skewed, it's always best to do a calculation on the chosen foods proteins level at dry matter basis (which is how all animal feed info is studied at). As long as AAFCO's nutritional minimums are met, it's a safe food to convert over to a rehydrated ground kibble. But if you are concerned in the slightest, then we've got an expert tip for you!
Our expert tip:
Invest in the highest quality kibble you can find. Many premium brands also produce wet food, but the high price can be a barrier for many households. By choosing a top-tier dry food and rehydrating it yourself, you’ll provide your cat with a nutritionally complete meal that offers the same benefits as wet food—without the added expense.
Here are a few of our favorite grinders for this purpose, selected for their convenient, interchangeable cup design. The main benefit of this feature is ease of cleaning, the grinding cup. We also are able to find this one second hand, really easily.
Grabbing one or a second unit so you can interchange the cups with the same base unit, is such a nice feature! This flexibility is especially helpful if you’re managing multiple diets due to allergies, ensuring your cats stay safe and happy. Plus, having a spare cup can double as a solution for your own coffee grinding needs as well!
Stay Informed
Regularly consult credible sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for updates on H5N1 and pet food safety. Maintaining awareness of current information is crucial for protecting your pets.
By implementing these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of H5N1 infection in your cats, ensuring their health and well-being during this outbreak.
As a trusted expert for cats and a biologist... we will try our best to sift through the data and keep you guys updated on the current news for our feline friends! You can follow along by subscribing to our blog or YouTube channel for future updates on this!
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