Dairy Workers’ Cats Died With Bird Flu, but Unclear How They Were Infected: CDC Study

The CDC said it remains unclear how the cats got sick or whether they spread the virus to people in their respective households.

A cat at a farm in a file image. Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images

Two cats that belonged to Michigan dairy workers became infected with bird flu and later died, but it’s unclear how they became sick, according to a new study published on Feb. 20 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The cats lived in two separate households and developed severe illnesses after becoming infected with bird flu in May 2024. One cat was euthanized on day four and the other cat died within 24 hours of illness.