The Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture reports a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) case in a domestic cat in southeastern Saskatchewan.
According to officials, the cat was reportedly normal on the morning of April 20, 2026, but became suddenly, severely ill with sudden neurological and respiratory signs and later died the same day. Testing at Prairie Diagnostic Services and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the presence of HPAI (specifically the H5N1 strain).
The cat was known to spend time outdoors, which increases the chance of exposure to infected wild birds or contaminated environments.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, felines, including both domestic and wild cats, such as tigers, mountain lions, lynx, etc., are particularly sensitive to H5N1 and care should be taken to not expose these animals to the virus. Dogs can also contract HPAI, although they usually exhibit mild clinical signs and low mortality compared to cats.
Pet owners can reduce the risk by keeping cats indoors, keeping dogs on leash, preventing pets from hunting or scavenging wild birds, avoiding contact with sick or dead birds, and not feeding pets raw poultry or raw meat from unknown or potentially contaminated sources.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, you should seek veterinary care if your cat or dog appears to have any of the following signs:
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Fever
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Lethargy
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Low appetite
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Reddened or inflamed eyes
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Discharge from the eyes and nose
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Difficulty breathing
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Neurologic signs, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness
