Recent reports that a 16-lb orange tabby in Iowa caught Swine Flu from ill family members has surprised many vets, and suggests that precautions should be taken if you or your cat become sick with the H1N1 virus.

In this instance, it appears that the humans transmitted the disease to the cat. Even though the odds are remote that you can infect your cat if you become sick, be aware that your pets could be vulnerable — so resist the temptation to cuddle up with them if you catch H1N1.

If you get sick:

• Sequester your pets in an area away from the sick room.
• If you have to handle your pets while sick, use a hand sanitizer and put on a face mask before doing so.
• Don’t kiss your cat on the lips.
• Seek veterinary attention for your cat if she becomes sick.
• If your cat begins sneezing, isolate her from your other cats until you can take her to the vet.

In short, take the same precautions with your pets as you would to avoid transmission of the disease to other people.

Here’s the full story from the Chicago Tribune:

Cat swine flu: H1N1 latest illness shared by owner, pet

Cat with H1N1 was nothing to sneeze at

By William Mullen
Tribune reporter

A 16-pound orange cat in Ames, Iowa, did something last month that will now and forevermore have a lot of cat lovers taking care to sneeze into their sleeves.

The 13-year-old tabby came down with H1N1 swine flu, proving that humans ill with the flu virus should take pains not to spread it to cats as well as humans.

The case surprised human and animal health authorities, who hadn’t seen a human flu virus passed to a cat before, though passionate cat lovers were shaking their heads when it was reported last week.

“The guy talking on the television news acted so surprised by the story,” said Judy Coffey, who runs Catworld, a Berwyn business that sells carpeted “cat trees” for felines to climb on, “but I think knowledgeable cat owners are well aware that our cats catch things from owners all the time.

“If we come down with a cold, pretty soon we see our cats sneezing,” she said.Though that association could be a bit of a stretch, veterinary medical experts and zookeepers say there are a number of diseases that humans can share with the rest of the animal world, and the list seems to get a little longer every year.

The study of zoonotic diseases — diseases transmissible between people and animals — has become an important research area in recent decades with the appearance of deadly new emergent diseases like Ebola, HIV/AIDS and West Nile virus.

But finding a cat sick with H1N1 flu — as that disease spreads to pandemic proportions — surprised health experts.

“This cat is a new development in the H1N1 panic,” said Kimberly May, a veterinary doctor and assistant director of professional services at the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“In general, cats are not considered susceptible to human flu viruses, but this cat got H1N1 flu from his owners. There seems to be no doubt about that, and from our understanding, it seems to be the first time a cat caught flu from a human.”

But experts say there is no evidence as of now that cats or other pets can pass the flu virus onto humans.

The Iowa tabby is an indoor cat never allowed outside, said a report from the Illinois Department of Public Health. It had not been around any humans other than its owners, and in the last week of October, the owners came down with the flu, assumed to be H1N1.

On Oct. 27, the cat fell ill too. The owners called friends who are veterinary researchers at Iowa State University in Ames. The researchers brought in the cat to be studied, and it tested positive for H1N1. It has since recovered and is back home.

Cats now join a small list of other animals known to be susceptible to H1N1, including ferrets, domestic turkeys and pigs. Though sometimes called swine flu, the current strain does not come from swine.

No dogs are known to have caught H1N1, but that possibility can no longer be ruled out, said May.

“Cats and dogs and people all are prone to respiratory diseases,” she said. “Obviously if H1N1 went into a cat, it is not impossible that it could go into a dog,” though she cautioned that it is not likely that H1N1 will become very common in pets like cats and dogs.

“If a cat gets a runny nose, people should not jump to the conclusion that it is H1N1. It probably is not. Cats and dogs have their own little bugs running around, and if they get sick, almost all the time it is due to those bugs, not things passed on by humans,” she said.

In 2004, a new illness showed up in dogs, canine influenza, thought to be a virus that jumped from horses to dogs. Humans and other animals do not get it, but it spread so rapidly in the canine world that last May virologists introduced a vaccine to protect dogs.

At zoos, keepers maintain distance and barriers between humans and animals as much to stop germs from spreading between the two as to protect against any physical dangers.

“While the protection goes both ways, most of our biosecurity protocols are there to keep animals from catching bugs from humans, both from keepers and the public,” said Dominic Travis, a veterinary epidemiologist who is Lincoln Park Zoo’s vice president for conservation and science.

Primates especially are susceptible to human respiratory diseases like flu, so in flu season, keepers wash their hands every time they leave an animal’s station.

As for protecting pets from catching flu from infected humans, animal health authorities recommend humans take the same steps they would to protect family and friends. That includes sneezing into the sleeve of your crooked arm to avoid spreading the flu virus.

“You should wash your hands frequently, cover your coughs and sneezes and don’t let the cat or dog lick your face, which of course isn’t recommended at any time, though hard to avoid,” said May.

For cats, Coffey jokingly offers another possible protection. “I have a cat that likes to sit on a high perch and greet people coming in. Some just go nose-to-nose nuzzling him,” she said. “I have been thinking I should make him one of those little hospital masks you see doctors and nurses wearing around patients in hospitals.”

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In a rural area outside of Council Bluffs, Iowa, this week, Oreo the Cat saved a five-year-old boy from a possible kidnapping:

It’s unimaginable. A mother finds a stranger, standing over her sleeping son. The boy’s mother tells Channel 6 News it happened to her Wednesday evening.

The family lives in rural Pottawattamie County, southeast of Council Bluffs. The 26 year-old mother, Becca, asked that her last name not be used, as the family is still concerned for its safety.

“Scared,” she said. “I don’t want to be home by myself.” She said the ordeal began shortly before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. She had settled her nearly five year-old son in a recliner to watch a movie. Then, she got in the tub with her three year-old.

That’s when something strange happened. Her cat, Oreo, wandered in to the bathroom. “I’m like why is the outside cat in the house?” The cat, she said, was acting strangely.

“I hurried up, got dressed and I came out in the kitchen. And a guy was standing over my five year-old son, just staring at him.”

Her son was sleeping in the chair. “And I yelled at him,” Becca said. “And I told him that if he didn’t get out of the house, I was going to call 911. He came running towards me and hit me in the head.”

She said she grabbed the closest possible weapon off the kitchen floor, her son’s plastic baseball bat. “I hit him in the head with the bat. And he took off, out the door. I don’t know where he went.” She never saw a car.

“If he was after me, he would have come in the bathroom. So, I’m wondering if he’s a child molester or something.”

Sheriff Jeff Danker said the motives are unclear. “It seemed like he was focused on the child, so it is a real concern.”

He calls the case “unusual,” especially in that part of the county where there’s no easy access to homes by sidewalks. “The investigators are going to be canvassing the area and doing what they can to follow up on this.”

Becca used to feel comfortable leaving the door unlocked, but not anymore. “Just because it’s country, you feel like you’re safe. And it’s not safe anywhere.”

She called her cat her “hero.” Ironically, she rescued him more than eight years ago. Now, it seems, Oreo has returned the favor by saving her son.

“I was just scared to death, because if the cat hadn’t come in, he could have taken off with him or hurt him, or do something.” The boy slept through the whole thing, and his little brother didn’t see anything.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s department is looking for a man around 40 years-old. He’s described as having dark hair, hazel eyes and a tattoo on the back of his neck. He’s about 6’1” and weighs around 200 pounds.

Becca said he was wearing blue jeans, a purple shirt and tennis shoes when she saw him. Anyone with information should call (712) 890-2200.

[LINK: wowt.com]

• Update on Baby, the Cat Who Saved Her Family from a Fiery Death
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• Millie the Tortie, Missing 2 Months, Found Buried in Snowbank

A month ago we reported on a tragic fire in Iowa, in which Baby (right) –appropriately enough, a flame point Siamese cat–bravely alerted her owners that their home was in flames, saving the lives of three people as well as the family dogs, cats and goats. At that time, the fate of our heroine, Baby, was unknown. After saving the family, she disappeared into the frozen Iowa snowscape.

I’m happy to report that Baby is safe and sound, and in an exclusive Cat’s Meow interview, we talked with Baby’s owner (John Hadley) about the fire and the fate of the family’s other animals.

Cat’s Meow: What did Baby do to alert your family to the fire?
John Hadley: Baby jumped from the dresser to the bed to wake me. Several times, over and over and over again, she went from the dresser and sprang three feet through the air to land on me to alert me of danger. I finally was awake enough to smell smoke. Thanks to Baby I was able to get my mother and the rest of the family out in time.

Cat’s Meow: You have 4 cats and 3 dogs. What are their names?
John Hadley: My family includes Mom, Jim, Baby (Flame point Siamese), Oscar (golden striped, Large Cat), Apopphis (gray calico Cat), Meiko (gray striped Cat), Ricky (black Toy Poodle), Lucy (mostly white Jack Russell ), Prince (Black with white JackaPoo), Rick and Lucy’s pup and the two goats: Cindy (brown with spots, pictured in news article) and Nanny, an all-white female.

Cat’s Meow: Was it difficult to make sure they all got out of the burning house okay? Were any of them injured?
John Hadley: It was kind of hard to make sure everybody was out. The dogs are always ready to run out the front door, so they went right out quick. The cats live inside and had to be gathered and accounted for. With the smoke and commotion it was a miracle that it did go so smoothly. The goats being nearest and first to know of the danger ran free to their safety in the back yard. The only injury to any of us was some singed hair on Cindy’s back and some minor smoke inhalation. Thank our hero Baby for getting us up in time.

Cat’s Meow: Has either of the goats fessed up to who started the fire?
John Hadley: Neither of the goats have admitted guilt, but knowing how Cindy is the oldest and bossy, I believe she was bullying Nanny for a spot closer to the heat lamp and pulled it down from its hanger.

Cat’s Meow:Baby was missing after the fire. How long was it before she returned home?
John Hadley: The Red Cross was very helpful to us in this time of need. The Fire chief called them and they were on the location within one hour. We were on the way to board the animals at the kennel and they waited for us to return from getting our animals boarded and out of the subzero weather. That took a couple of hours, and when we were done we went back to the house and Baby was there waiting for our return. The fire was still smouldering, with firemen putting out the hot spots.

Cat’s Meow:Was it difficult to find housing for your family and all of your animals after the fire?
John Hadley: Baby, Meecko and I are staying with friends. Jim and Mom are with her cousin, and the goats were given to a local goat farmer equipped to keep them permanently. The three dogs and other two cats are still being boarded at a kennel. Unfortunately, this is going to be quite expensive for the 40+ days they will have to be there.

Cat’s Meow:How are your cats and dogs coping after the fire? Were they traumatized, or is it business as usual?
John Hadley: They all seen to be adapting to their surroundings quite well considering being uprooted so quickly and traumatically in the freezing weather. We are very anxious to get into a new home in town and all be back together.

Cat’s Meow:Did your family lose everything in the blaze?
John Hadley: Yes, everything is gone. The fire burned the house completely to the ground. We were all in complete shock for a week or more after this. Each day we think of something we need and had that was lost. Jim had let the Homeowners Insurance lapse when he had been unemployed and working at a part time job. When he was rehired full time he just never got the Insurance reinstated. What a lessen for ALL to learn by. Have INSURANCE or you will lose everything.

Cat’s Meow:Is there any advice you could give to our readers on evacuating animals from a burning home, based on your experience?
John Hadley: Yes, Stay calm which is very hard to do. Do a head count and make sure the animals don’t run back into their familiar home to hide. Make sure everyone is safe and don’t risk your safety, let professionals do their job with the proper equipment.

Thanks, John, for taking the time to give us an update on Baby and your family. We sincerely hope you will all be back together beneath the same roof soon.

If any of our readers would like to help, a fund was set up by the community to help the family get back on their feet and to pay for boarding the animals until they are relocated into a new home. The Fire Relief Fund was set up for “James Giles and Family” at:

• Read the original Post about Baby saving the day.

As this story proves, no one can predict when disaster will strike. But you can increase your chances of making it out alive with your pets by planning ahead:

• Get a window sticker to alert firefighters that there are pets in your home. Some companies and shelters give these away for free.
• Microchip and tag your pets. Together Tags help ensure that even if your house burns down and you can’t be reached by phone, you and your pet can be reunited. You can upload photos of your pets to Together Tag so that you will have a photo from which to make a lost pet flyer, even if your home and computer are destroyed.
• Have one carrier for each of your pets. We keep extra cardboard folding carriers upstairs and downstairs. This ensures that if you’re able to get your cats into carriers as you evacuate that they won’t sneak back into the home or wander off.
• Keep copies of your pets’ medical information in more than one place. Scan it and email it to yourself, keep a copy at work, give a copy to relatives.

Click here for more tips on emergency preparedness for your pets.

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• Domina the Cat Alerts Owner to Fire and Saves 3 Lives
• Tommy the Tabby Saves Owner’s Life
• One-Eyed Kitten Survives Harrowing Engine Ride

This week in Warren County Iowa, a cat rousted its owner from sleep as their house was burning, saving the lives of three residents, two goats and the family dog.

One of the goats was the likely culprit, when a space heater in an attached shed — placed there to protect the goats from the bitter cold — was knocked over. Neither of the goats was willing to give a statement.

“My cat woke me up and I saw smoke coming out of my fan,” John Hadley told KCCI-TV, Des Moines. “I made sure I got her (Hadley’s mother) out and then I know she loves her animals, so I rounded all her animals up, and by that point, flames and smoke were everywhere.”

The three residents had to wait in the freezing cold for firefighters, who battled frozen roads with tanker trucks to get to the fire scene. There was little they could do once they arrived — the house was swallowed in flames and battling the blaze in the frigid weather was tough on both the firefighters and the equipment.

The cat bolted after escaping the burning house and has not been seen since, but was assumed to be okay.