If you’ve ever had a cat, you might have heard your veterinarian mention “cat flu”, probably telling you that you don’t need to worry about catching Felix’s sniffles. It’s true that the infections we traditionally call “cat flu” aren’t transmissible to humans – but what about actual influenza viruses? Are our feline friends vulnerable to the same strains that we are?

What is cat flu?

According to the veterinary charity Blue Cross, the upper respiratory tract infections that are commonly called cat flu are usually caused by a calicivirus or herpesvirus. There are also some possible bacterial causes, like Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bug that also causes kennel cough in dogs.

For the sake of bringing some clarity to proceedings, we’re just going to focus on viruses.

The viruses behind many cases of cat flu are not transmissible to humans – confusingly, they’re also not related to influenza viruses. The symptoms that kitties get, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat, are similar to human cold/flu symptoms, which is where the name comes from. 

Can cats catch the same flu viruses as humans?

Scientists have come to understand that cats are also vulnerable to influenza viruses, including some seasonal human flu viruses and – this one’s important – bird flu viruses. 

News about the ongoing outbreak of H5N1, or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as you may see it called, is becoming inescapable. While it undoubtedly poses a big threat to the world’s birds, its ability to jump into a huge range of mammal species has sparked the most concern about the potential risk to humans. 

Unfortunately, cats – both big and small – can also get H5N1. Since outbreaks in dairy cows across multiple US states were first seen in March 2024, feral and farm cats have become infected through direct exposure to cattle or contaminated raw milk. In numerous cases, the disease has led to death. 

Recently, the focus has also shifted to domestic pets and the risk of exposure from raw pet foods. In December 2024, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) reported that a house cat in Washington County had died after consuming food that later tested positive for H5N1. 

“We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food,” said ODA State Veterinarian Dr Ryan Scholz in a statement. The company, based in Portland, has since issued a voluntary recall of certain food batches. 

A similar case in Los Angeles County saw a house cat testing positive for bird flu after eating food from Monarch Raw Pet Food. It was assumed that several other cats in the household had also become infected. Another case under investigation by local authorities was thought to link back to raw milk – in that case, four cats from one household died.

The H5N1 situation is still developing – we’re likely going to be hearing a lot more about it as we move through 2025. Some experts have issued stark warnings that authorities are not paying close enough attention and may not be adequately prepared for a possible future pandemic. We’re not at that stage yet, but if you’re a cat owner you might still be wondering whether you too could be at risk if your beloved pet should be exposed to the virus.

Can you catch bird flu from your cat?

Humans can catch avian flu from exposure to infected birds, but it’s rare and tends to be seen only in those whose occupations bring them into a lot of prolonged contact with animals.

We now also know that people can catch H5N1 from infected cattle. Again, those who work with animals, such as farm workers and vets, are most at risk and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advice on how those people can best protect themselves. 

But you’re here to talk about cats. 

“CDC believes that the risk of humans becoming infected with an influenza virus from an infected cat is low,” the agency writes, “but risk is likely dependent on the characteristics of the virus and the duration and intensity of exposure.”

“In general, not much is known about the risk of an infected cat spreading flu to people.”

We can learn some lessons from previous outbreaks of bird flu in cats. In July 2023, the World Health Organization was alerted to an unusual spate of cat deaths across Poland. Samples were taken from 47 felines, of which 29 tested positive for H5N1. By June 30, 11 cats were reported to have died and 14 had been euthanized.

It was a very sad situation for the cats and their owners – but one important takeaway is that there were, to the best of the authorities’ knowledge, no cases of humans developing flu after exposure to the infected cats. That might give us some cause for optimism that cat-human transmission is rare, though the CDC does note that there have been some sporadic cases in the past. 

A 2024 preprint study that is yet to undergo peer review also backed up the possibility of transmission of flu viruses from domestic cats to their human owners servants, based on 20 years of data. 

What to do if you suspect your cat has a respiratory infection

As with any signs of illness in your pet, your first port of call should always be your veterinarian. If your kitty has cat flu, they will be able to advise on the best treatment options depending on the virus or bacterium causing the infection.   

Prevention is best, and there is a vaccine available for cat flu, so make sure that Felix is up to date with his boosters.

Many cats will recover well from cat flu – but some can become carriers, with symptoms potentially occurring and germs having the potential to be shed for the rest of their lives. It can also be more serious in kittens, so take extra care with young cats and seek veterinary advice as soon as possible if they become sick.

As to protecting yourself from whatever is ailing your feline pal, practicing good hand hygiene is a great place to start, particularly after cleaning out the litter box. The CDC recommends that anyone at higher risk of flu complications, such as those who are pregnant or with compromised immune systems, take particular care. 

You should watch out for any signs of illness in human members of the household and report anything suspicious to local public health officials.

The American Veterinary Medical Association also recommends various steps that cat owners should take to limit exposure to H5N1, like not feeding them raw meat or dairy products, and keeping them indoors to avoid exposure to wild birds.

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.  

All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.