Washington Grant County Cat Dies From Bird Flu, Prompting Pet-Safety Warnings
A Grant County outdoor pet cat tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) after exposure to a wild bird and has died. WSDA warns migratory birds can concentrate and spread the virus to pets and poultry, urging owners to keep pets indoors or in covered areas, practice good hygiene, and avoid feeding pets raw or uncooked meat. No human infections have been reported in this case. Since 2022, 149 domestic cats in the U.S. have tested positive for bird flu, with Washington cases sometimes linked to raw pet food.
