Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in CATS
HPAI is a highly contagious virus that primarily affects wild and domestic birds and is carried by migratory waterfowl. Around the country, the virus has been detected in various species of wild carnivorous mammals—such as red foxes, raccoons, opossums, skunks, and seals, etc; and in domestic, captive, and wild cats. Cats (such as tigers, mountain lions, lynx, etc.) are particularly sensitive to HPAI and care should be taken to not expose these animals to the virus. HPAI has been detected in captive and wild cats in Washington state too. It has also been detected in cats that consumed contaminated raw milk and raw pet food in other states. To date, Washington dairies have tested negative.