Bird flu and cats on Long Island: What to know about the risk
The bird flu outbreak, which has been detected statewide in animals including ducks, geese, squirrels, foxes, raccoons and bobcats, now also is being found in household cats in New York, federal data shows.
In total, 126 domestic cats in 20 states, including at least two recently in New York City, have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza since 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
So far, there have been no reported cases of bird flu detected in cats on Long Island, USDA data shows.
Here's what Long Island pet owners should know about the risk of bird flu and what they can do to protect their feline friends:
Bird flu is a disease caused by avian influenza A viruses that typically spread between birds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's also been documented on dairy cattle farms.
Cases of bird flu have caused poultry purges, including at Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, the Island's last commercial duck farm, which in January lost its entire flock of about 99,000 to an outbreak. The USDA last month lifted one of two quarantines on the business.
In addition, Newsday reported in February that roughly 20 ducks, geese and shorebirds found dead on an East Patchogue beach were likely positive for bird flu.
While the number of cases of cats contracting bird flu remains relatively low, the threat is rising.
On March 15, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported that over the past two months bird flu was detected in two cats that died, while a third case was suspected in a feline that wasn't tested. USDA data shows the cats were in Brooklyn.
The infections were traced to raw poultry packets, sold on Long Island, and manufactured by Savage Cat Food. The company said the product has been recalled.
A spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets said there are no other cases of bird flu being transmitted to cats in New York.
Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals president Gary Rogers said Monday that while there have been no cases of felines on Long Island testing positive for bird flu, the region's large feral cat population — which is more likely to interact with birds than household cats — have created a heightened risk.
"The issue is on our radar," Rogers said. " The public has to be more aware of sick animals in their neighborhood."
Bird flu in cats typically causes severe neurological symptoms, including blindness and seizures, along with breathing issues and heavy discharge from the nose and eyes, often resulting in death, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
While the majority of pet food is heated to a high enough temperature to kill potential pathogens, raw diets containing poultry such as duck, turkey or chicken that was contaminated with the virus can put cats at risk, the AVMA said.
Nationwide, at least three pet food manufacturers have recalled cat food containing raw poultry because of bird flu infections.
Meanwhile, felines have been exposed to the virus by drinking raw milk from infected cows, according to a 2024 CDC report, or from contact with infected birds, the agency has previously reported.
The state agriculture department has advised against feeding pets raw food or raw milk as it may pose a threat to human and animal health.
Highly unlikely, experts said. While it's unclear if infected cats can pass the virus to other felines, the risk of cat-to-human transmission is considered extremely low, but could increase with prolonged, unprotected exposure to infected animals or as the virus mutates, the AVMA said.
In 2016, a vet at a New York City animal shelter who had been testing sick cats infected with a different strain of bird flu was infected with the virus, the city health department said at the time.
Nationwide, there have been 70 confirmed human cases of bird flu since 2024, and one person from Louisiana died, according to the CDC.
The majority of the 70 cases involved people working with infected poultry or cows, the CDC said, adding there has been no known person-to-person spread at this time.
The bird flu outbreak, which has been detected statewide in animals including ducks, geese, squirrels, foxes, raccoons and bobcats, now also is being found in household cats in New York, federal data shows.
In total, 126 domestic cats in 20 states, including at least two recently in New York City, have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza since 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
So far, there have been no reported cases of bird flu detected in cats on Long Island, USDA data shows.
Here's what Long Island pet owners should know about the risk of bird flu and what they can do to protect their feline friends:
How to keep cats safe from avian flu
- Refrain from feeding cats raw meat-based products or unpasteurized milk.
- Keep cats indoors to prevent exposure to sick or dead birds and other wildlife.
- Keep cats away from livestock, poultry and their environments, particularly in areas with known outbreaks.
- Thoroughly wash your hands after handling your cat and after any encounters with poultry, livestock or wild birds and other animals.
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association
What is bird flu and what types of animals typically have been most at risk on Long Island?
Bird flu is a disease caused by avian influenza A viruses that typically spread between birds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's also been documented on dairy cattle farms.
Cases of bird flu have caused poultry purges, including at Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, the Island's last commercial duck farm, which in January lost its entire flock of about 99,000 to an outbreak. The USDA last month lifted one of two quarantines on the business.
In addition, Newsday reported in February that roughly 20 ducks, geese and shorebirds found dead on an East Patchogue beach were likely positive for bird flu.
What about cats and why are felines seemingly at risk of bird flu?
While the number of cases of cats contracting bird flu remains relatively low, the threat is rising.
On March 15, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported that over the past two months bird flu was detected in two cats that died, while a third case was suspected in a feline that wasn't tested. USDA data shows the cats were in Brooklyn.
The infections were traced to raw poultry packets, sold on Long Island, and manufactured by Savage Cat Food. The company said the product has been recalled.
A spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets said there are no other cases of bird flu being transmitted to cats in New York.
Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals president Gary Rogers said Monday that while there have been no cases of felines on Long Island testing positive for bird flu, the region's large feral cat population — which is more likely to interact with birds than household cats — have created a heightened risk.
"The issue is on our radar," Rogers said. " The public has to be more aware of sick animals in their neighborhood."
Bird flu in cats typically causes severe neurological symptoms, including blindness and seizures, along with breathing issues and heavy discharge from the nose and eyes, often resulting in death, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
What is the risk of feeding your cat raw food or unpasteurized milk?
While the majority of pet food is heated to a high enough temperature to kill potential pathogens, raw diets containing poultry such as duck, turkey or chicken that was contaminated with the virus can put cats at risk, the AVMA said.
Nationwide, at least three pet food manufacturers have recalled cat food containing raw poultry because of bird flu infections.
Meanwhile, felines have been exposed to the virus by drinking raw milk from infected cows, according to a 2024 CDC report, or from contact with infected birds, the agency has previously reported.
The state agriculture department has advised against feeding pets raw food or raw milk as it may pose a threat to human and animal health.
Is there a risk my cat could pass the virus to me?
Highly unlikely, experts said. While it's unclear if infected cats can pass the virus to other felines, the risk of cat-to-human transmission is considered extremely low, but could increase with prolonged, unprotected exposure to infected animals or as the virus mutates, the AVMA said.
In 2016, a vet at a New York City animal shelter who had been testing sick cats infected with a different strain of bird flu was infected with the virus, the city health department said at the time.
Nationwide, there have been 70 confirmed human cases of bird flu since 2024, and one person from Louisiana died, according to the CDC.
The majority of the 70 cases involved people working with infected poultry or cows, the CDC said, adding there has been no known person-to-person spread at this time.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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