Swine flu confirmed in Iowa cat

November 5, 9:50 AMAtlanta Pet Health ExaminerRebecca Novak

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A cat in Iowa has the swine flu. It's the first confirmed case of the H1N1 virus in a feline. Tom Skinner, spokesman for the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said "We've certainly known this could happen." This isn't the first case of H1N1 spreading to an animal. A ferret in Nebraska died after contracting the virus.

Two people who lived in the home with the cat were sick with flu-like symptoms before the cat became ill. The cat became lethargic, had a loss of appetite and appeared to have trouble breathing. It was confirmed by both Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the U.S Department of Agriculture that it was the H1N1 virus. The kitty and his owners have all recovered.

Officials say to take the same precautions against spreading H1N1 to pets as they would with humans. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) have this reminder: "Pet owners should monitor their pets' health very closely, no matter what type of animal, and visit a veterinarian if there are any signs of illness."

For more information:

AVMA Press Release

List of confirmed H1N1 infection in animals