Pigs were once the reason for incubating new viruses, but cats are no different. The close proximity of cats to humans can spark a new pandemic, a study revealed.

Cats’ parents will never trade their beautiful cats despite their complicated relationship with them. Cats’ parents love their furry babies more than anything else. The study revealed that cats can be pretty dangerous like pigs. The study claimed that pets could be the next zoonotic threat to the health of people.

Cats Diseases and Essential Guidelines for Their Prevention

Scientists have revealed that domestic cats can equally spread public health crises as cats who are not domesticated. The scientists linked domestic cats to be the bridge of H5N1 bird flu. The study revealed that the H5N1 bird flu can mutate and then jump to humans. The domestic cats in homes curl up on beds and sofas. They can provide opportunities for the flu to spread to humans.

Pet Cats: The H5N1 Bird Flu Spreader

Researchers have revealed that cats, similar to pigs, can be the mixing vessels for mammalian influenza and avian viruses reassortment. The cellular receptors in cats make them prone to become virus spreaders. The study stated that cats had died recently because of H5N1 bird flu. These cats had unique mutations. These mutations suggested the adaptation of potential viruses.

Earlier, pigs were considered to be a threat to their health. The cells in pigs could allow for viruses to mix as well as mutate. The strains were capable of sparking human pandemics. Cats are no different than pigs, the study revealed.

The researchers added that the continuous interaction between humans and cats could be the bridge for H5N1 viruses’ cross-species transmission. The continued exposure can lead to viral circulation as well as adaptation. The spread of such viruses can be a big concern for public health.

Findings of Study

The researchers of the study conducted postmortems of 10 cats. A six-month kitten died of H5N1 after consuming dead bird remains caught the attention of the researchers. The samples of this cat’s brains, stomach, and lungs were taken. The study found that the cells had receptors similar to pigs and that’s what makes cats susceptible to avian and mammalian forms of influenza.

The researchers revealed that infected cats can spread systematic infections. They can shed the virus using digestive and respiratory tracts. The cats can create multiple routes and expose the virus to humans. They can persist and adapt to the virus and increase its transmission. Cats are posing a zoonotic threat similar to pigs. However, cats can be a big reason behind the public health implications. Cat parents can look for symptoms like blindness and brain swelling in their pets. Difficulty in breathing and bloody diarrhea can also be a sign that a cat has fallen prey to a deadly virus. In the previous years, many cats have been prone to drawn-out and painful deaths because of contractions of viruses like avian H5N1.