Cats and Caged Fur Animals Across the Globe at Risk for Avian Flu
An H5N1 avian flu outbreak has killed wild birds and poultry and is now spreading to mammals across the globe.
Citizens say that more needs to be done about an out-of-control H5N1 outbreak at fur farms in Finland and an outbreak among domestic cats in Poland.
The outbreak of H5N1 among pet cats in Poland this summer killed at least 29 cats, and as many as 89 are sick animals. The cats may be eating mammal meat from sick animals or it may be spreading in cat food.
H5N1 was also detected recently in Seoul, South Korea. There, the authorities recalled two types of suspected cat food.
Fur producers in Finland are dealing with outbreaks among its captive minks, foxes, and other animals. Minks are susceptible to both human and avian influenza, which puts humans at risk for the viruses. Fur animals like minks and foxes ordinarily hunt in solitude. Caging these hunters together in cramped quarters is cruel and can cause the outbreak of epidemics.
The H5N1 outbreak could also spread to humans. Read the story at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/opinion/bird-flu-h5n1.html
Mary Bates Helps Psychologists Debunk Myths About Cats
Think that cats don’t need to socialize? Science writer Mary Bates, PhD, published an article in Psychology Today to help psychologists understand cats’ needs and challenge myths about cats. Read the article titled “5 Harmful Feline Myths, Debunked” (September 28, 2023) at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-minds/202309/5-harmful-feline-myths-debunked
Heroes on Maui Still Working to Help Save Cats
According to the Maui Humane Society, as of September 25, there were still about 500 cats in the Lahaina burn zone. Nonprofits have been working to rescue animals from the burn zone since last month, when they were first being escorted into the zone by the National Guard. Seventy-five feeding stations have been set up to provide food and water to the animals.
Owners of lost pets can search through photos of found pets on the Maui Humane Society website and/or go to the Humane Society’s facility in Puunene to look for their missing pets. After 30 days, rescued cats who have not been claimed are available for adoption.
To help house a growing number of undersocialized cats the Humane Society may be seeking out barn cat programs and rescues on the U.S. continent for help.
Read the article at https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/wildfires/2023/09/25/maui-humane-society-500-cats-remain-lahaina
New "Grimace" Scale Will Help Tune Into Feline Pain Level
Marina C. Evangelista and colleagues published their validated, feline pain “grimace” scale at Grimace Scale Training Manual. Designed for professional use, the scale includes pictures that help people read a cat’s face to understand his or her pain level.
Pet Lovers Battle to Help Animals After Disaster.
After eighteen days of protests, animal rescuers battling bureaucracy, and ultimately the threat of a lawsuit, rescue teams were finally allowed into the Lahaina burn zone to rescue any animals that managed to survive without human-provided food or water.
On the ground in Maui, the TNR rescue organization Neighborhood Cats is recruiting trappers, purchasing equipment, and responding to requests for assistance, such as veterinary care. Read more at Animals 24/7
Good Samaritans Helped to Prepare Shelters on Maui
To make room in the shelters, the nonprofits Greater Good Charities and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue teamed up with with Southwest Airlines and the nonprofit to fly 33 dogs and 103 cats from Maui to Portland, Oregon, in an emergency airlift. Southwest Airlines donated a charter flight to transport the pets. Other animals were sent to San Francisco and hopefully have connected with forever homes by now. Read more at Animals 24-7
Good News for Cats on Cyprus
Good news! Following the sad news about a virulent COVID strain that’s been killing ca on an island in Cyprus, Vets on Cyprus have been given 8,000 pill of an anti-Covid drug (molnupiravir, marketed as Lagevrio), to give to cats beginning this Tuesday. Experts believe a mutated and highly virulent feline coronavirus strain is driving the current outbreak.
Research has found that molnupiravir can help most cats recover and the Cyprus government’s veterinary services director verified that 80,000 pills will be distributed to vets in the coming weeks to combat the virus.
Read the full story at Help for cats
Cat Serves as Ears for Deaf Owner: Wins National Cat of the Year Award
When the phone rings, Zebby the cat taps his caretaker, who is deaf, to alert her. When a visitor is at the door, Zebby paces in front of her to let her know. Zebby also has learned on his own to retrieve his caretaker’s slippers and newspaper!
Because he is such a big help, Zebby has become Britain’s National Cat of the Year! Read the story at Zebby the Cat Wins Prestigious Award
Tragic Loss of Humans and Pets on Maui
The wildfires that swept across the island of Maui have devastated the lives of countless people and animals.
On August 8, wildfires tragically spread to homes on portions of Maui, Hawaii, killing over 100 people [Hawaii News] and destroying over 3,000 buildings, making it the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history [Hawaii wildfires]. The Maui Humane Society, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, and local veterinarians are organizing the veterinary emergency response to help animals who were burned, inhaled smoke, and/or lost during the disaster.
Some main takeaways:
- According to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation https://www.avma.org/news/maui-relief-efforts-progress-after-wildfires, the Maui Humane Society expects to take in hundreds of injured and/or lost animals.
- The Maui Humane Society has veterinarians offering pet supplies and emergency kits.
- Pet caretakers whose homes were lost to the fire can find supplies and emergency kits right now at at Lahaina Gateway and Napili Plaza.
- Anyone with lost and injured pets, as well as anyone willing to assist with gathering and/or by taking in an injured pet can connect with others on. the Humane’s Society’s Facebook group.
We send our thoughts and support to those who call Maui their home and especially to those who lost human or animal loved ones. The Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund is taking donations at hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong. If anyone would like to specifically help the cats on Maui, two groups in need of donations are https://www.mauihumanesociety.org (which is working to keep pets with their caretakers and bearing much of the immediate burden of surrenders, medical care, etc.) and https://donate.neighborhoodcats.org(which is helping community cats and colony caretakers).
Our hearts go out to all those who lost precious loved ones in this tragic fire. Resources for dealing the grief from losing a pet can be found at Pet Loss Grief. 💙💙💙