N.J. cat euthanized after bird flu infection. Pet owners warned. – NJ.com
New Jersey’s first case of bird flu in a cat has been confirmed in a feral cat in Hunterdon County, the state Department of Health announced Friday. The cat had developed severe disease, including neurologic signs, and was euthanized, state officials said. Additional testing of other sick-looking cats on the property yielded another feline case of bird flu. Other tests are still pending and the investigation is ongoing, state officials said. “While the risk of H5 infection to the general population remains low at this time, it is important for people to learn more about the situation and take steps to avoid potential infection through exposure to animals, including feral cats,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston in a press release. “We continue to work with state and federal partners to monitor the spread of this virus and provide public information on mitigating the risks.”Cats are particularly susceptible to bird flu and can get sick from consuming raw milk or raw/undercooked meat contaminated with the virus, infected birds or other animals and their environments, or exposure to contaminated clothing or items worn or used on affected premises, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.The cats tied to the Hunterdon County incident had no known exposures to infected poultry or livestock, nor did they consume raw milk or meat, state officials said. However, the cats did roam freely outdoors, so exposure to wild birds or other animals is unknown, officials said. The H5N1 strain of bird flu is currently widespread in wild birds worldwide, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s wild bird surveillance program. It spreads through contact with bodily secretions from infected birds, including feces, ocular, nasal, or oral secretions. It can also spread via vehicles, equipment and shoes.Other animals — such as dairy cows, rats, and cats —can also contract the illness. Bird flu, which has been detected in all 50 states, is currently causing outbreaks in poultry flocks and U.S. dairy cows, according to surveillance data.New Jersey’s first incident of bird flu in a cat follows previous national reports of confirmed feline cases in other states. According to the state Department of Health, clinical signs of bird flu in cats can include:Bird flu is also a threat to people, although human transmission is rare. Human infections with avian influenza viruses can happen when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled. This most often happens after close, prolonged and unprotected contact with infected birds or other animals.The CDC has reported 70 human cases of bird flu, mostly related to individuals who had close contact with infected livestock or poultry since 2024. The last reported human case of bird flu was in 2022.Cat owners can take the following steps to help protect themselves and their pets:New Jersey residents should contact their veterinarian immediately if they have any concerns. Similarly, residents should contact animal control if they spot any sick stray or feral cats. All suspect feline cases should be reported to the New Jersey Department of Health Communicable Disease Service at 609-826-4872 or zoonoticrn@doh.nj.gov. To report sick or dead wild birds, contact the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Wildlife hotline at 1-877-WARNDEP. To report sick or dead poultry, contact the state Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025).© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.YouTube’s privacy policy is available here and YouTube’s terms of service is available here.Ad Choices
